State Senator Tony Guglielmo, R-Stafford, today announced that the State Bond Commission has approved a grant in the amount of $1.2 million for the Town of Vernon.  The funding, which was approved earlier today at the Bond Commission’s monthly meeting in Hartford, will assist the town in the demolition and cleanup of the former Roosevelt Mills site located on East Main street in the Rockville section of town.

The grant will fund the demolition of several building on the site as well as asbestos, lead paint, PCB and mercury abatement.  The Town in cooperation with Loom City Lofts LLC has entered into an agreement to redevelop the site for residential and commercial use including 68 residential apartment units and 10,000 square feet of commercial space.

“The effort to redevelop Roosevelt Mills has been underway for some time and with today’s approval, the project will take a major step forward,” said Sen. Guglielmo.  “Vernon is a great place to live and I commend Governor Rell and Mayor McCoy for their efforts to convert this property into an attractive place that will add to the character of the Rockville section of town.”

 “Connecticut has many cities and towns that are trying to convert vacant mill sites into new uses,” Governor Rell said. “The adaptive re-use of former industrial properties is consistent with my responsible growth goals and helps the towns’ economic base in the process.  This grant will spur the creative redevelopment of a mill that for too long has been an eyesore and safety hazard in Rockville.”