Here is another article in The Patch about our renovation plans for the community center.

NORWALK — The State Bond Commission has approved a $1.2 million grant to renovate the George Washington Carver Community Center on Academy Street.

The grant, which goes toward urban development projects, was funded by the Office of Policy and Management and approved by the Bond Commission Friday morning.

The Carver Center renovation required $2,121,767, and $860,000 was provided by private contributions, according to Bond Commission documents. The commission approved funding for the remaining $1,261,767.

“This changes everything,” Carver Center Executive Director Novelette Peterkin said. “The Carver Community is deeply grateful for the trust and generosity of the Norwalk delegation. Norwalk’s young people will benefit from this gift for generations.”

The funds will be used to complete interior and exterior renovations, according to state documents.

“The Carver Center is a vital resource for so many in our community,” Norwalk Mayor Harry Rilling said. “I am thrilled that they are receiving this state grant to complete state-of-the-art improvements at the facility. Thank you to Reps. (Stephanie) Thomas and (Lucy) Dathan for helping secure these funds for the Carver Center — it is going to make a difference for so many in Norwalk.”

The agenda for the first meeting of the state Bond Commission was a preview of what could be “a pretty robust” year for state borrowing, Gov. Ned Lamont said.

The governor said it’s “a unique time” to be making these investments given historically low-interest rates that allow the state to borrow more at a lower cost to taxpayers, an improved bond rating, and a large number of residents still unemployed.

“This is a time to get people back to work, get people back to work with good-paying jobs, a lot of them good paying construction jobs,” the governor said.

The commission approved nearly $1.1 billion in state borrowing, including $300 million for school construction projects and more than $500 million in transportation projects, including finishing upgrades to the Merritt Parkway.

abigail.brone@hearstmediact.com; Includes reporting by Julia Bergman