Larson Announces $500,000 in New Federal Funding with Mayor Arunan Arulampalam to Support Renovations at Hartford Public Library
Hartford, CT – Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) announced $500,000 in new federal funding with Mayor Arunan Arulampalam to support renovations and restoration efforts at Hartford Public Library, ahead of an anticipated full reopening of the Downtown Library on Main Street later this year.
“Libraries are vital to the strength and well-being of every community," said Larson. “When repairs are complete, the Downtown Library will once again be able to fully serve Hartford residents – with expanded services such as homelessness assistance, summer meals for children, and adult education and workforce services. This investment is about more than recovering from flood damage—it’s about restoring a touchstone of the community and ensuring it remains accessible, resilient, and ready to serve for generations to come. At a time when the Trump Administration is trying to defund the Department of Education, cancel grants for libraries and museums, and stop services like passport help at local libraries, I was proud to secure bipartisan support in Congress to help complete these renovations.”
After the Downtown Library suffered catastrophic water damage due to flooding in 2022, Larson requested funding in Congress to restore the building through the Community Project Funding (CPF) process, securing bipartisan support to rehabilitate the Downtown Library, enabling the community hub to offer expanded services, including homelessness assistance and adult education and workforce development programming.
“I am grateful for the advocacy and support of our federal partners, especially Congressman Larson, in providing this critical support to the Hartford Public Library,” said Mayor Arunan Arulampalam. “These dollars will go directly towards ensuring that the library is a functional, community-based space that serves Hartford families and provides the tools our young people need to learn and grow.”
“Thank you to Congressman Larson for championing this vital funding and to the City of Hartford for their continued, valuable partnership,” said Bridget E. Quinn, Hartford Public Library President and CEO. “The $500,000 from the Community Project Funding program is critical support that enables us to reimagine the Downtown Library as a modern, inclusive space that reflects the needs of our community, and serves as a model for urban libraries nationwide."
The $500,000 in federal funding announced today will support the ongoing construction work to restore the Downtown Library. Hartford Public Library continues to work with private and public sector partners to continue community programming and prepare for an anticipated full reopening later this year.