On Thursday, March 31, 2022, the State Bond Commission is expected to approve a $1,500,000 grant for construction of the new Veterans and First Responder Center on Kaatz Pond. The 5,500 SF facility will be a multi-use building that will serve the over 30,000 veterans in the area with access to healthcare, job training and other supports. The facility will be home to the VFW and American Legion groups that have been without a facility since 2017, when the former building on the same site was condemned due to a collapsed foundation. The facility will also be utilized for first responder training, including water rescue and dive team training. Town Boards, civic organizations, and business groups will hold meetings and events at the center. The total construction cost is estimated at $3,000,000. The Town and Trumbull Veterans and First Responder Center (TVFRC) Building Committee are pursing federal funding for the balance of the construction costs.
“We are extremely grateful to Governor Lamont and Senator Marilyn Moore, Senate co-chair of the sub-committee on Bonding , for their leadership and support for this important project. There are many people behind this effort, including the TVFRC Building Committee members who have been meeting since February 2019. This project is “shovel ready,” meaning it is fully designed and ready to go to construction bid once all of the funding is lined up. Having a home for our veterans groups and being able to offer more services to our veterans is extremely exciting. Our first responders, who all have increased training requirements, will benefit greatly from this facility, as will civic groups and residents. The project is a win for Trumbull and the region,” stated First Selectman Vicki Tesoro.
“We thank Senator Moore and all of our supporters for securing this funding. We are eager to move this project along so we can activate services and training for our veterans and first responders. Residents will be able to rent the facility once built, and they can commemorate family members and friends who have served our country and our community in the Patriots Gallery,” stated Raymond Baldwin, Vietnam Marine Corp Veteran, Former First Selectman and Building Committee Chairman.
For more information on the project and to follow the construction project, visit www.trumbullvfrc.org .