STRATFORD, CT — Stratford’s state delegation is applauding the State Bond Commission’s approval of $2 million in bond funding to complete a renovation project at Stratford’s Alliance for Community Empowerment Child Care, located on the Holy Name of Jesus Child Care Center campus.
The renovation, which includes a new HVAC system, windows, plumbing, floors, walls, etc., is scheduled to “begin soon with this infusion of funds,” according to a news release.
“The project will significantly improve the safety, functionality, accessibility, and overall learning environment for children and families while ensuring the facility remains a cornerstone of the community for generations to come,” officials wrote in the news release.
The Alliance for Community Empowerment Child Care serves more than 140 families each year, providing high-quality, safe, affordable childcare for children ages 6 months to 5 years old.
The funding came together thanks to a state bond request from Joe Gresko (D-Stratford), according to a news release from Connecticut House Democrats.
“It’s vitally important that our families have access to high-quality programs like the Alliance’s program,” Gresko said. “This project will greatly enhance the overall learning environment at the early learning facility. I thank Governor Lamont and the State Bond Commission for making this funding a reality. It’s nice to see my former grammar school finding new life.”
Read more from the news release below:
“The $2 million is a critical investment for Stratford families who rely on the Alliance of Community Empowerment and their programs for high-quality, affordable childcare,” State Rep. Kaitlyn Shake (D-Stratford) said. “I’m grateful we could answer Dr. Ferguson’s call for additional funding for this childcare facility, ensuring the Alliance of Community Empowerment can stay on track to complete this project by the end of the year. Thanks to the legislature's historical investment of now $600 million in the Early Childhood Endowment Fund, Connecticut is positioned to strengthen our support for children and working families here in Stratford and across our state. Thank you, Governor Lamont and the State Bond Commission, for helping to deliver this funding to Stratford.”
State Sen. Herron Keyon Gaston (D-Bridgeport) said, “When we invest in the earliest years of a child's life, we set the trajectory for everything that follows. Improvements to the safety, functionality, and accessibility of this facility mean that generations of children will have the high-quality learning environment they deserve. I'm proud to have fought for this funding, and I look forward to watching this community grow stronger because of it.”
“The approval of $2 million in funding for this renovation is a major investment in families and early childhood education,” said State Sen. Jason Perillo (R-Shelton), the ranking member on the Committee on Children. “This project will ensure that Stratford families continue to have access to high-quality, affordable childcare in a modernized facility designed to support children during their most important developmental years. We must continue to support parents and invest in the future. Access to reliable childcare is a straightforward way of doing just that. I thank the Bond Commission for making this a priority.”
Dr. Monette Ferguson, Executive Director of Alliance for Community Empowerment, said “This collaborative effort is a testament to the unwavering commitment of Stratford’s legislative delegation, Governor Ned Lamont, and the dedicated staff of Alliance for Community Empowerment, whose passion and perseverance continue to strengthen opportunities for children and families for the last 54 years and every day. Together, these investments represent not only a renovation of a building, but a powerful investment in the future of Stratford’s children, working families, and community.”
In 2023, Alliance for Community Empowerment was awarded more than $6 million in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to purchase and renovate this child care facility. The investment recognized both the program's longstanding impact and the urgent need to modernize and preserve high-quality early childhood infrastructure for the Stratford community.
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