Middletown task force approves converting 562 South Main from planned Dairy Queen to LFI Federal Credit Union

The Middletown ARPA task force voted unanimously to modify a development agreement so that 562 South Main will be developed as a branch and community‑programming site for LFI Federal Credit Union, rather than the previously planned Dairy Queen.

A motion to change the JDS Holding Company agreement to specify LFI as the tenant was offered by a task‑force member identified in the transcript as Bobby and, after a second was indicated, the body approved the change without recorded opposition. The chair declared the matter adopted unanimously.

Kristen Jensen, who the presenters introduced as vice president of LFI Federal Credit Union, told the task force the(bank) is now positioning itself as Connecticut’s first women‑focused financial institution (official as of April 28). "We became officially on April 28 Connecticut's 1st female focused financial institution," Jensen said, and described a mix of retail services and expanded community programming the credit union plans to offer.

Jensen said LFI currently employs 44 staff, about 80% of whom identify as female; roughly 30 staffers were promoted from entry‑level positions and more than half of those have advanced into manager‑level or higher roles. She said the proposed use of the 562 South Main site would not alter the physical footprint planned for the parcel but would change the tenant and program focus to support small, women‑owned businesses and financial literacy.

Rich Carrella, representing the developer JDS Holding Company, described the site as the former Mid State/John Deere tractor property and said prior negotiations with Dairy Queen did not proceed "for a variety of economic reasons." He asked the task force to waive rules so LFI could present, saying the repurposing better matches the ARPA task force’s objectives.

Jensen outlined program and partnership plans that she said would be tied to the branch or to nearby space at 524 South Main: financial education workshops, entrepreneurship sessions for middle‑school students, first‑time homebuyer seminars and small‑business networking events. She listed existing or planned partners including WIN, the NAACP, CHC, the women's business development council and local youth internship programs.

When asked whether the project would include youth‑targeted programming close to local schools, Jensen said LFI already runs entrepreneurship classes geared to middle‑schoolers and is exploring products and partnerships to reach younger children. She also said the 562 drive‑through would replace the current drive‑through across the street but could not confirm whether LFI would reintroduce staffed teller counters.

Councilman John Nocera praised the proposal and suggested LFI connect with local 8th‑grade civics classes and the associate superintendent, identified in the transcript as Jen Kanata, to involve students; Jensen agreed to pursue those contacts.

The task force’s approval modifies the tenant condition in the JDS Holding Company agreement from a quick‑service restaurant to a financial‑services branch and associated community programming. The transcript does not record a roll‑call vote or a named tally; the chair characterized the result as adopted unanimously. The task force adjourned at 11:25 a.m.

Actions recorded in the meeting include approval of minutes from the April 30, 2025 special meeting (one abstention recorded for Diana Doyle), a motion and approval to waive rules for the presentation, the motion to modify the JDS agreement to specify LFI Federal Credit Union (adopted), and a motion to adjourn.