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Dear Neighbor,
This week's newsletter is what you might call eventful - because it's full of events!
A lot is going on in our area over the next several days, and I think I've captured many highlights in this week's newsletter, but there's always something to do in the 41st district.
Legislatively, I've included an item on an Education Cost Sharing Plan that House Dems announced at the beginning of the week, and the implementation of new federal workforce Pell grants through the state's Office of Workforce Strategy.
Without further ado, this week's newsletter topics include:
- ECS Funding Plan Announced
- New Federal Workforce Pell Grants
- Early Childhood Resource Fair
- Also on Saturday...
- Bridging The Shore Event Tomorrow
- GPS Hiring Event This Month
- Groton Budget Public Hearing
- Soon: Connecticut Foodshare Forum
- Groton Litter Cleanup in April
- Dialed In: 211
- Inside Scoop With Ian
- CT Dept. Of Transportation News
- Vets Resources & Updates
- Sign up for Safe Boating Classes
- Community Events
Do not hesitate to contact me with any thoughts or concerns you may have at Aundre.Bumgardner@cga.ct.gov or 1-800-842-8267.
Have a great weekend. Remember, Daylight Saving Time begins. Don't forget to set your clock ahead one hour on Sunday, beginning at 2 a.m.
Sincerely,
Aundré Bumgardner
State Representative
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We announced a plan on Monday aimed at easing the financial burden on towns and cities to fund their local school systems, while continuing to emphasize the importance of fully implementing the Student-Centered Funding Model.
This approach is expected to save municipalities in our region millions of dollars by addressing tuition costs associated with magnet schools and other school choice programs.
For more details, please click HERE. |
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The state will implement new federal Workforce Pell Grants through the Connecticut Office of Workforce Strategy (OWS), marking a major expansion of financial aid for short-term, career-focused training.
Enabled by H.R. 1 Workforce Pell expansion, the policy allows low-income students to use Pell Grants for programs lasting 8–15 weeks (150–599 hours). Previously, only programs of at least 15 weeks and 600 hours qualified. This change is designed to open faster, more flexible pathways into high-demand fields, especially for working adults and non-traditional learners.
OWS will coordinate a broad statewide effort involving agencies and institutions such as the Connecticut Office of Higher Education, Connecticut Department of Labor, Connecticut State Colleges and Universities, and the University of Connecticut, along with workforce boards and credentialing bodies. The goal is to align training programs directly with employer needs and regional labor shortages.
To qualify for Workforce Pell funding, programs must meet strict performance and quality standards:
- Align with high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand industries
- Lead to a recognized, stackable postsecondary credential
- Achieve at least a 70% completion rate and 70% job placement rate
- Result in wages above the state median for high school graduates
- Be in operation for at least one year
The initiative is intended to strengthen Connecticut’s talent pipeline while making education more accessible and outcomes-driven. Workforce Pell Grants are scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2026.
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The Early Childhood Resource Fair in Groton kicks off at 10 a.m. tomorrow at Thames River Magnet School, 250 Brandegee Ave.
There will be games, activities, and info from community partners, including the Thames Valley Council for Community Action TVCCA's Head Start and Little Learners Early Childhood Education programs. |
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| Got kids? This is the place to be! |
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| Hiking for a great cause opportunity tomorrow at Bluff Point State Park, beginning at 2:30 p.m. |
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Bridging the Shore is an interdisciplinary art and environmental project that transforms invasive shoreline plant species into large-scale sculptural installations, creating a powerful visual and experiential exploration of land, ecology, and human history.
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Led by artists Aymar Ccopacatty and Kristine Holohan through Pattagansett Art Center, the project centers on the ethical harvesting of invasive phragmites and their transformation into interactive sculptures.
Bridging the Shore: Art, Ecology, and Creative Environmental Stewardship will be held tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Groton Long Point Housing Association putting green.
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| Looking for a new opportunity? Groton Public Schools is hiring, and we’d love to meet you! Stop by one of our upcoming hiring events to chat with our team and learn about open positions across the district. |
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Upcoming Events:
- Central Office Drop-In Hiring Event - Tuesday and Wednesday - 9-12
- Department of Labor Job Fair, Montville, – Wednesday, 10-12:30
- UConn Education Career Fair – Tuesday, March 24 (new date)
Whether you’re an educator, support staff member, or just exploring opportunities in education, we encourage you to stop by and say hello!
Learn more and see all our upcoming events HERE.
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| A Public Hearing to discuss the fiscal year 2027 Groton budget will be held on Monday at Thrive 55+ Active Living Center, 102 Newtown Road, beginning at 6 p.m. |
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| Don't miss this opportunity to make your voice heard! |
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Join CTNERR as we partner with the Baker Cove Watershed Committee (BaCWaC), Eastern Connecticut Conservation District (ECCD), Mystic Aquarium, Town of Groton, and City of Groton to clean up various sites in Groton, CT. Neon vests, gloves, pickers, and bags will be provided.
All you need to do is sign up and show up! Questions or need accommodations? Email Larissa at Larissa.Graham@uconn.edu
To register, fill out the Google form HERE. |
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You don't get emails like this one often, but when you do, it warms the heart.
Dear Representative Bumgardner,
Lys has been a 211 Contact Specialist for four years. One particular call stays with her.
“I will never forget the night a mother and her young teen daughter called on one of the coldest days of winter, with nothing but the clothes on their backs,” she recalls. “They were freezing, hungry, exhausted and carrying the weight of survival on their shoulders.”
Lys helped them identify a place to spend the night and connection to a social worker who supplied warm coats, food, boots and other essentials to help them.
"That call taught me that every basic need met is a small miracle in someone’s life,” she says. “In a world that often feels chaotic and fractured, 211 creates moments where someone’s entire world shifts because they were heard, supported, and believed for the first time.”
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I’ve got another week’s worth of news for you today. When we last spoke, the Environment Committee was having its final public hearing of the year.
This makes sense, as the committee has wasted no time getting important bills screened, heard, and referred out of committee ASAP. Two bills I noted last week ended up passing through committee that day: HB5523 and HB5524, both co-sponsored by Representative Bumgardner.
HB5523 will create a partnership between the state and Native American tribes to manage wildlife and fisheries resources, which is mutually beneficial and a gesture of goodwill. HB5524 is a much larger bill, but the gist of it is that it will greatly improve our environmental efficiency by pushing food donations instead of food waste and prohibiting the use of many single-use food service items (i.e. straws, containers, etc.) in restaurants across the state. |
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This week has not taken its foot off the gas, as Representative Bumgardner had several public hearings and committee meetings ranging from Transportation to Finance & Bonding. I wanted to update you on the other prominent Bumgardner bill I mentioned last week, HB5536, that had its hearing in Finance on Monday.
There were many proponents and opponents of the bill, split largely into organizations and landlords, respectively. Opponents of the bill were not very critical of the bill itself, but worried about the future possibilities of a rental registry’s information collection.
Proponents of the bill, the mayors of New London, Groton and Guilford, to name a few, cited the toll taken on public services & housing as a reason for more information collection to properly regulate it.
That’s all I have for you this week, and I look forward to giving you the scoop next time. Remember: Politics is not a spectator sport!
Sincerely,
Intern Ian |
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The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) will conduct a virtual public information meeting concerning customer service upgrades at 28 Metro-North Railroad stations along the New Haven, New Canaan Branch, and Danbury Branch Lines on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.
The public information meeting is being held to provide the public and local community with the opportunity to offer comments or ask questions regarding the proposed project. The meeting will take place on Zoom, and registration is required.
A question and answer (Q&A) session will immediately follow the presentation, which will be recorded. For instructions on accessing the meeting and ways to provide comments and ask questions, please click HERE.
Right-of-way impacts are not anticipated.
Installation is expected to start in spring 2027, depending on funding. The estimated implementation cost for this project is approximately $43 million. This project is anticipated to be undertaken with 100% state funds.
Individuals with limited internet access can listen to the meeting by calling (877) 853-5257 and entering Meeting ID 812 7559 9239. Individuals with hearing and/or speech disabilities may dial 711 for Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS). Individuals with limited internet access may also request that project information be mailed to them within one week by contacting Nazana Weeks at Nazana.Weeks@ct.gov or (860) 594-3257.
Language assistance may be requested by contacting the CTDOT Language Assistance Call Line (860) 594-2109. Requests should be made at least five business days prior to the meeting. Language assistance is provided at no cost to the public, and efforts will be made to respond to timely requests for assistance.
Non-English language closed captioning will be available on Zoom. The recording will also be posted following the meeting in CTDOT’s public meeting playlist HERE.
Members of the public can submit comments and questions during the two-week public comment period following the meeting. Please submit comments and questions by Tuesday, April 7, 2026, to (860) 594-2020, or Nazana Weeks at Nazana.Weeks@ct.gov or (860) 594-3257. Please reference Project No. 0300-0199 in the email or voicemail.
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As the State Representative for Groton, Mystic, and Stonington, home to a strong military community and the U.S. Naval Submarine Base, I am committed to ensuring veterans, active-duty service members, and military families have access to the latest updates, resources, and opportunities.
Below are important events, legislative updates, and benefit programs that may be of interest to our district’s veterans. |
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How to Get a Copy of Your DD 214
- Your DD 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) is critical for accessing VA benefits. Here’s how to obtain a copy:
- Check with your Town Clerk – Many veterans file their DD 214 with their local town clerk.
- Contact CT Veterans Affairs – They have an archive of 130,000 DD 214s. Email oaa.dva@ct.gov for assistance.
- Submit a Request to the National Archives – The fastest way is online: Request Here
- If Needed for Burial or Military Honors – Funeral directors have priority retrieval access.
Applying for a Discharge UpgradeVeterans with less-than-honorable discharges due to PTSD, TBI, Military Sexual Trauma (MST), or sexual orientation (Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell) may be eligible for an upgrade. Learn more and apply online: Discharge Upgrade InstructionsMunicipal Veterans Representative ProgramEach town must appoint a Veterans Representative to help veterans access services. Find your local VetRep here: Locate Your Rep2025 Veterans Benefits Guide Available for DownloadThe latest edition of the VA’s "Veterans Benefits for Veterans, Dependents, Survivors, and Caregivers" is now available: Download Here
Stay Connected & Get Involved
I encourage all veterans, military families, and community members to stay informed and engaged. You can sign up for the Connecticut DVA Newsletter to receive future updates: Subscribe Here.For those looking to connect with fellow veterans, share stories, and access important resources, consider attending a veterans' Coffeehouse near you. These gatherings provide a welcoming space for veterans to socialize and receive information about benefits and services:
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- Groton – 2nd & 4th Friday of the month, 9 a.m. – 11 AM
- Groton Public Library – 52 Newtown Road
- Mystic – 1st & 3rd Thursday of the month, 9 AM – 11 AM
- Mystic Congregational Church – 43 East Main Street
- Pawcatuck – 2nd & 4th Thursday of the month, 9 AM – 11 AM
- Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center – 27 Chase Street
For more locations and information, contact:
Gina King, Director, Senior Volunteer Services
gking@tvcca.org | 860-425-6617
If you have any issues, concerns, or ideas related to veteran services, military families, or legislative priorities, please feel free to reach out to my office. Your service and sacrifices deserve to be honored with the best support possible.
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