Larson, Local Officials Celebrate Groundbreaking of New East Hartford Fire Station
For Immediate Release: August 16, 2010
Contact: Paul Mounds 860-278-8888
LARSON, LOCAL OFFICIALS CELEBRATE GROUNDBREAKING OF NEW EAST HARTFORD FIRE STATION
Only Town in Connecticut to Receive Federal Fire Construction Funding
(Left to Right: East Hartford Fire Chief John Oates, Oldest Living East Hartford Retired Fire Fighter Sam Cipolla, East Hartford Mayor Melody Currey, U.S. Congressman John B. Larson)
East Hartford, CT- Today, U.S. Congressman John B. Larson joined East Hartford Mayor Melody Currey and Fire Chief John Oates for a groundbreaking ceremony to commemorate the beginning of construction on the town’s new Fire House. Last year, Congressman Larson was influential in helping to secure approximately $3.5 million in federal funding to support the construction of the new building.
“I am unbelievably proud of the fire department and the entire town of East Hartford for this great addition to our public safety infrastructure. This project will create jobs immediately and enhance overall safety and emergency response in our community,”said Congressman Larson.“Today’s ceremony wouldn’t have been possible without the funding provided by the Recovery Act and the hard work of Mayor Currey, Chief Oates, and their respective staffs.”
Fire House 5, located on Brewer Street, in the southwest portion of East Hartford, received funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act’s Assistance to Firefighters Fire Station Construction Grants (SCG) program. East Hartford was the only town in Connecticut and one of only three in New England to receive the SCG funding.
The new fire house will be Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certified, thus meeting the highest energy efficiency and green building standards in our nation. The LEED rating system was designed by the U.S. Green Building Council to encourage and facilitate the development of more energy efficient, environmentally safe and sustainable buildings.
Congressman Larson added,“The new Fire House 5 will be an invaluable resource in providing for the safety of the families and visitors of East Hartford. The LEED-certified rating will help save taxpayers’ money and make this a model for future fire house construction in the state and across our nation.”
In the spring of 2009, Congressman Larson supported East Hartford’s grant application with a letter to the Department of Homeland Security, and in December 2009, Vice President Joe Biden visited East Hartford to officially announce funding for the project.
Today’s groundbreaking was the culmination of a long effort on the part of East Hartford who first presented plans to replace the old Fire House 5 over five years ago. It was not until East Hartford received federal funding that the project was finally able to move into the construction phase. Construction of the new fire house is expected to be completed within one year.
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