Bridgeport, CT – Today, the Southern Connecticut Gas (SCG), a subsidiary of Avangrid (NYSE: AGR), unveiled a large mural it commissioned with arts organization RiseUP for Arts for the exterior walls of its former operations center at 39 Pine Street in Bridgeport. Community members, primarily through the West End Neighborhood Revitalization Zone (NRZ), provided input on the design, which celebrates Bridgeport’s rich history of music. The mural measures nearly 200 feet long and three stories high, and officials with the City of Bridgeport, as well as community members, celebrated the installation.

“For us at SCG, serving our customers is about more than providing safe and reliable service; it’s about partnering with and investing in the communities we serve,” said Frank Reynolds, President & CEO of Southern Connecticut Gas. “Having started my utility career at SCG nearly three decades ago, I am especially proud to unveil this mural as a symbol of the investment our company has made in uplifting and beautifying the great city of Bridgeport, the largest city we serve. As we look towards deeper investments across our service territory through the Service Enhancement & Reliability Plan, we filed with PURA last week, I look forward to additional opportunities to serve our customers in the ways that matter most to them.”

The building at 39 Pine Street is a former operations center and fleet garage that SCG has owned for approximately 40 years. The company moved its operations to West Haven approximately 20 decades ago, and while SCG is considering several options for the building’s future use, company leadership also determined the need to improve the aesthetics of the building in the meantime. Bridgeport city officials, including Mayor Ganim and the Office of Planning & Economic Development, encouraged and supported the design and implementation of the mural from its inception in spring 2023 through today’s unveiling.

“It fills me with joy, knowing that more and more of our neighborhoods have been on the receiving end of beautification efforts,” stated Mayor Ganim. “As we continue to revitalize many areas of Bridgeport, I want to thank Southern Connecticut Gas and RiseUp for taking such a meaningful interest in our City. Bridgeport residents are very prideful about this City and this mural gives us more of a reason to be proud of our community.” 

SCG commissioned the mural with nonprofit arts organization RiseUP for Arts (www.theriseupgroup.org), Connecticut’s only statewide public art nonprofit. Founded in 2012, RiseUP installs murals and large-scale art projects in Connecticut’s largest cities as a catalyst for youth development and mentorship. For the 39 Pine Street mural, RiseUP partnered with SCG’s Community Relations team to solicit feedback and input on the mural design from community members, especially through a partnership with the West End NRZ.

"This project is a perfect example of how private and public partnerships can come together to beautify the community,” stated RiseUP Executive Director Matt Conway. “Taking a blighted, vacant building and turning it into a landmark for pride and culture in the city. We couldn't be more appreciative of Southern CT Gas's partnership and commitment to public art."