$1.26M Bonding Project Approved For Norwalk's Carver Center

NORWALK, CT ­— A $2.1 renovation project for the George Washington Carver Community Center in Norwalk will move forward after the Connecticut General Assembly approved a grant bonding request late last week which will cover more than half the project.

The General Assembly OK’d the bonding request that totals more than $1.26 million after State Representatives Stephanie Thomas (D-Norwalk, Westport, Wilton) and Lucy Dathan (D-Norwalk and New Canaan) filed the initial request for funding in January. The project will include interior and exterior renovations to the community center and the remaining $860,000 will be covered by funds that were raised privately by the Carver Center.

Novelette Peterkin, executive director of the Carver Center, called the announcement of the approved funding a big step that will benefit Norwalk’s young people for generations to come.

"I have been fortunate to meet many Carver alumni and these impressive young people are making their mark in every industry," Thomas said in a news release. "In addition to serving students before-school, after-school and during the summer for every school in Norwalk, Carver serves as an active year-round community hub for people of all ages, hosting community events and welcoming hundreds of volunteers from throughout Fairfield County. I am pleased to have played a role in securing funding for this important community asset."

Dathan said that the Carver Center ensures that young people in Norwalk can be on “equal footing” on their education and contributes toward closing the detrimental achievement gap that may exist.

Norwalk Mayor Harry Rilling also applauded the approval of the grant funding and said that the Carver Center has become a vital resource for the community. He said the funding will allow state-of-the-art renovations to be completed at the facility, which is located at 7 Academy St.

"The Carver Center is a tremendous asset for our city and our kids," Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk), said in the news release. "Learning doesn’t stop when the school day ends and the Carver Center does so much for the academic, social, and emotional education of our children.

“This new bonding money will help the Carver Center finish much-needed renovations so the staff and volunteers can continue the great work that they do every day. I want to thank Governor Lamont for approving this funding and the entire Norwalk delegation for advocating for this important project."