$99 Million in State Funds Headed to 20 Connecticut Communities

$99 million in state funding will be headed to 20 Connecticut cities and towns in the coming year to support 28 projects in the second round of grants under the state’s Community Investment Fund 2030.  The grant program, established last year, supports economic development in historically underserved communities across the state.  The allocations were approved by the State Bond Commission this week.

The Community Investment Fund 2030 is administered by the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development and overseen by a 21-member board that is co-chaired by Senate President Martin Looney and House Speaker Matt Ritter.

The board reviews applications and makes recommendations to the governor, who approves and forwards the applications to the State Bond Commission in his capacity as its chairperson. It is anticipated to release up to $875 million in grants a five-year period, according to state officials.

“With today’s approval of the second round of CIF grants, our vision to bolster infrastructure and programs to make Connecticut’s cities vibrant and healthy communities is taking another step forward,” Speaker Ritter said. “We cannot address systemic poverty and inequality without making the necessary investments in underserved communities,” Senator Looney added. 

Eligible projects include capital improvements, such as those focused on affordable housing, brownfield remediation, infrastructure, and public facilities, as well as small business support programs that provide revolving loans, gap financing, microloans, or start-up financing.  Among those selected to receive funding are renovation of a Boys and Girls Club and rehabilitation of existing housing stock in Hartford, pedestrian safety improvements to Route 72 in Bristol, support for a Downtown Streetscape project in Manchester, rehabilitation of Long Warf in New Haven, a new Community and Recreation Center in New London, construction of a makerspace in Danbury, renovation of the South End Community Center in Stratford, construction of a mixed-income, mixed-use, transit-oriented development in Norwalk, and construction of 39 new affordable, supportive housing units in Stamford.

“Over the next several years, this program will be responsible for providing an incredible amount of opportunities for Connecticut’s cities and towns to revitalize their economic base and chart a path of equitable growth,” Governor Lamont noted.  “Each of these projects supports this goal, and I am glad we’ve been able to get them approved.”

Details on each of the projects to receive state funds in the second round of the Community Investment Fund 2030 grants can be seen at https://portal.ct.gov/Office-of-the-Governor/News/Press-Releases/2023/04-2023/Governor-Lamont-Senate-President-Looney-Speaker-Ritter-Announce-99-Million-in-State-Grants.   Funding levels for each of the projects, and the communities to receive the funds, are also listed above.