• Gov. M. Jodi Rell announced that construction bids for a major component of the New Haven Rail Yard have been opened and came in far below expectations. The bids are for the 293,000-square-foot “change-out” shop where trains that run from New Haven to New York City on Metro-North commuter lines, will be maintained. The low bid of $124.786,100 came from O&G Industries of Torrington is less than half of project estimate of $291.5 million calculated by Hill International, a firm hired in 2008 to review rail yard project.
• Shipman & Goodwin LLP announced the launch of a new website, www.ctschoollaw.com, with a unique focus on school law. The new site has been developed by members of Shipman & Goodwin’s school law practice group. The www.ctschoollaw.com site will track emerging school law issues at both the national and local levels and will serve as a convenient resource for school professionals and others who wish to remain informed of the most recent developments in school law.
• Farmington Savings Bank has committed an additional $1 million in mortgage financing to the city of New Britain’s Home Ownership Program (HOP). The HOP offers qualified, low income first time home buyers down payment assistance of up to 30 percent, with an additional five percent available for closing costs. The announcement marks the third $1 million commitment Farmington Savings Bank has made to the New Britain HOP in less than two years. To date, the Bank has provided 20 HOP mortgages totaling more than $2.1 million.
• The U.S. Department of Justice announced more than $1.4 million to the state of Connecticut to help defray costs associated with reviewing of cases where DNA testing and evidence may prove actual innocence. The Office of Justice Programs’, National Institute of Justice will administer the grant through the Postconviction Testing Program.
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