More Federal Funding Secured For UConn Crumbling Foundation Research

MANSFIELD, CT — U.S. Rep Joe Courtney Thursday said the latest federal spending package includes a funding boost to the University of Connecticut's continued research into the crumbling foundation crisis in north central and eastern Connecticut.

The omnibus spending bill has been passed by the House, it will move on to the President’s desk for a signature.

Passage of the 2023 Omnibus package marks the second consecutive year that Congress has approved specific, targeted funding for local projects requested by members of Congress, known as "Community Project Funding."

The foundation research funding is one of 15 local projects throughout eastern Connecticut in the full 2023 spending agreement.

"The government funding package we passed (Wednesday) includes funding specifically for important projects that many of our towns and community partners otherwise couldn’t afford,"Courtney said.

A total of $4 million has been earmarked for research into mitigation strategies for the crumbling foundations crisis, Courtney said. So far, the program has secured a variety of resources both to directly support homeowners and to conduct research on how to mitigate the crisis. The 2023 Omnibus includes his request to provide direct funding to the University of Connecticut so its research team can continue studying the effects of the mineral pyrrhotite in concrete.

"This critical funding will help UConn continue in its work to offer assessments that are quick, accurate, and minimally intrusive for Connecticut residents whose homes may have been built with the problematic concrete blend," UConn President Dr. Radenka Maric said. "As the state’s land-grant higher education institution, UConn is committed to using the expertise in the School of Engineering's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering to address real-world issues such as these."

Maric added, "UConn’s experts will work on standards for acceptable levels of pyrrhotite in concrete aggregate, as well as detection, prevention, and remedial tools. We are immensely grateful to Representative Courtney and the Connecticut Congressional Delegation for securing funding to allow us to continue to conduct this critical work, and to be a trusted resource for our state’s affected homeowners as we navigate this complex issue together."

The UConn research program was initiated in 2020.