July 14, 2006

WASHINGTON- Eligible Waterbury residents and business owners who experienced damage from the storm that struck the area on June 2, 2006 may begin applying for low-interest rate loans to help repair damage to their property, Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Joe Lieberman (D-CT) announced today. The storm, which dumped seven inches of rain on the city in two hours, damaged roads, washed out hillsides, and flooded many homes and businesses.

June 20, 2006
Mr. President, let me begin again by thanking my colleague from Massachusetts and others who have fought so long and hard over the last decade to have an increase in the minimum wage in our country, from the $5.15 that was adopted about a decade ago to the suggestion today that we raise this some $2.10. I know $2.10 may -- apparently it's quite a bit of money to many of my colleagues here. To many, of course, it's nothing more than a cup of coffee at a high-priced coffee shop today or a few sodas or a sandwich along the way, but it makes a difference, Mr. President, that $2.10 increase after a decade in the minimum wage will add some $4,400 to the incomes of people who are -- who are depending upon the minimum wage to provide for themselves and their families.

January 26, 2006
Georgetown Special Taxing District Receives $72 million for Environmentally Friendly Redevelopment Initiative
WASHINGTON - Congressional colleagues Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), Senator Joe Lieberman (D-CT) and Congressman Christopher Shays (R-CT) announced Georgetown Special Taxing Project as a Green Bond award recipient. The U.S. Treasury Department designated the Georgetown Special Taxing District, which will oversee redevelopment of the former Gilbert & Bennett Wire Mill, as a qualified green building and sustainable design project allowing the Taxing District to issue more than $72 million in special tax-exempt bonds.

Downtown Hartford is in the midst of an important revival. Business is picking up. The Adriaen’s Landing project on the riverfront, including a brand-new convention center and hotel, is set for completion next year. The Hartford Civic Center Mall is undergoing major renovations, and new apartments are being built in the area, as well.

This week’s opening of the Charter Oak Marketplace, though, is an especially welcome piece of news. It’s a sign that Hartford’s renaissance is spreading beyond downtown and into communities that have been hit hardest by tough economic times. It will create 800 new jobs, most of which will go to local residents. It will fill a critical gap in the community by giving residents of the Behind the Rocks Neighborhood a convenient and safe place to shop, eat, and spend time with family and friends. Next to the retail stores, a new federal Job Corps center will serve the community by providing a place for young people to learn the skills they will need to start a career. And if the Charter Oak Marketplace proves to be a success, more development in the area should follow.