House Republican Press Release

March 11, 2008

Press Office: 860-240-8700

Rep. D’Amelio Urges Commerce Committee to Support Funding for Waterbury Industrial Commons Project

Also Testifies in Favor of Funding for Silas Bronson Library Renovations, Upgrades

State Representative Anthony J. D’Amelio today urged the state legislature’s Commerce Committee to support legislation (House Bill 5883) that would provide funding to help the city form a public-private partnership to remediate and develop the Waterbury Industrial Commons, and to establish a greenway biking and walking trail that will connect with Naugatuck.

The measure, which has been cosponsored by Representatives D’Amelio, R-71^st District, Selim Noujaim, R-74^th District, Jeffrey J. Berger, D-73^rd District, and state Senator Sam S. F. Caligiuri, R-16^th District, also would authorize a state grant to help the city finance improvements, renovations and upgrades to the Silas Bronson Library.

Representative D’Amelio said the city will be making a sizeable investment in the site (the former Chase American Brass property) where the Waterbury Industrial Commons will be established “to enable the Public Works Department and the City Yard to be consolidated at a single centralized location.”

“Companies currently doing business at the site also will make a significant investment in the project,” Representative D’Amelio added.

“The site is a contaminated brownfield that has been in need of remediation for many years. After the contaminants are removed, the development of the Waterbury Industrial Commons – and the greenway biking and walking trail – can go forward,” Representative D’Amelio told the committee.

“The new employers that will move to the Waterbury Industrial Commons will create new jobs for Greater Waterbury residents and enhance the city’s tax base. The greenway biking and walking trail will provide additional recreational opportunities for area residents,” Representative D’Amelio said.

“Once the remediation and development work is completed, the Waterbury Industrial Commons will serve as a model for the rest of our state – and elsewhere in New England – of what can be accomplished when state and local government and the private sector work together in public-private partnerships,” Representative D’Amelio testified.

The renovations and upgrades to the Silas Bronson Library that would be funded under the legislation include “long-overdue upgrades to the library’s heating and air conditioning system and repairs to the roof. The improvements will make the library safer and more comfortable for both the staff and the thousands of patrons who use the facility every year,” Representative D’Amelio said.

Both Waterbury and Greater Waterbury residents are served by the library, Representative D’Amelio said.