Mayor, Lawmakers Laud Approval of $5 Million for Coltsville

(December 16, 2011) --- The State Bond Commission's approval of $5 million for the Coltsville project is another positive step toward the site's National Park designation, Mayor Pedro E. Segarra said.

"I am thrilled at the continued momentum toward achieving this objective, which reinforces our housing revitalization efforts in the area, not to mention the iQuilt partnership and our heightened focus on enhancing and promoting Hartford's cultural assets," Mayor Segarra said. "This collaborative investment is another step forward in our efforts to revitalize and increase vibrancy in Connecticut's Capital City."

Mayor Segarra also expressed his gratitude to Connecticut's Congressional delegation – Sens. Joseph Lieberman and Richard Blumenthal, and Cong. John Larson – for their leadership in moving the project forward through H.R. 2504, the Coltsville National Historic Park Act.

"As we continue to advocate for legislation to create Coltsville National Historical Park, this commitment by the state government underscores the fact that support for Coltsville can be found all across Hartford and the entire state. I will continue to work with my colleagues in Washington, and Governor Malloy and Mayor Segarra, to advance this truly historic project," said Senator Lieberman.

The $5 million will come in the form of supplemental funding for the municipal open space grant-in-aid program, and will ensure that land acquired with the bond monies remain in open space and be accessible to the public. The funding was approved overwhelmingly at a special meeting of the Bond Commission this morning.

"This $5 million commitment by the state underscores the broad base of support that Coltsville enjoys between all levels of government, our non-profit partners and the private sector," Congressman John Larson said. "This project has been 10 years in the making but we are closer today than we ever have been in the past to seeing Coltsville become a National Historic Park. I want to thank Governor Malloy for his consistent leadership on this issue – the support of the Governor has been critical to this project."

Earlier this month, Congressman Larson and Mayor Segarra testified in front of the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands in Washington on behalf of the Coltsville Historic District's bid to become a National Historic Park. In September, the pair welcomed Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar to Hartford to tour the Coltsville facility.

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