Virgilio Rosario from Rosario Resource Group is helping employ former prison inmates in the Bridgeport community.  

Rosario was also formerly incarcerated and founded Rosario Resource Group. It is a contracting company that hires people from “the second-chance community”.  

"When you get out of prison and you seek us out, there will be employment,” Rosario said.

Rosario told News 12 Connecticut that he teamed up with the owner of Emerald Isle General Contracting, Chris Neil, to help employ those who just got out of prison.

Neil’s contracting company transforms derelict properties into high-end affordable housing. 

"I think it's great to give people second chances. We are doing a lot of great work in the community,” Neil said. 

The pair says Sunny Daze Laundromat is the perfect example of what can be achieved when an outside developer hires a company like Rosario Resource Group. According to the pair, this project gave residents great pride in rebuilding their own communities and it created local jobs along the way.