CT Main Street Center Awards Vernon Main Street Accelerator Grant to Support Local Mural Project

Connecticut Main Street Center (CMSC) has awarded the Town of Vernon a $5,000 Main Street Accelerator grant to support the creation of the Threads of Community Welcome Mural, a large‑scale public artwork that will serve as a visual gateway into Downtown Rockville and the Vernon Cultural District.

The Vernon team developed the project during the six‑month Main Street Accelerator program as part of CMSC’s 2026 Cohort. The project aims to celebrate Rockville’s historic identity while signaling a renewed era of downtown revitalization.

The mural, located at The Cornerstone Foundation on Route 74, will be visible to around 9,000 cars and pedestrians daily, weaving together Rockville’s past as “Loom City” with its growing future as a vibrant live‑work‑play destination.

During the Accelerator program, Vernon’s team – comprised of municipal staff, arts and culture leaders, and community partners – created a plan that blends public art, placemaking, and cultural storytelling to strengthen local identity and support economic development.

“The Accelerator program was developed with three main goals: to give individuals the opportunity to increase their knowledge of downtown best practices, to help strengthen team dynamics by putting a project together, and ultimately to implement that small but impactful project in their downtown. Vernon’s team ticked all those boxes with their Threads of Community mural,” said Kristen Lopez, CMSC Senior Director of Programs.

The new artwork is designed to reflect Rockville’s natural beauty, historic mill legacy, and the optimism of a community investing in its future, according to officials. It will also complement ongoing redevelopment efforts, including the restoration of the Amerbelle Mill across from the mural site.

“This is a project that brings people together, especially in our downtown, and it’s wonderful we can do that. Hats off to the town employees and business owners on the Accelerator team and to everyone else who has helped create this new community landmark,” said Vernon Mayor Daniel A. Champagne.

“Working with Vernon has been really inspiring,” said Ani Chaghatzbanian, CMSC Programs Manager. “With all of the collaboration and cohesion the team had in bringing the project together – including a crowdsourcing component – it really showed how much effort they put into it and achieved together.”

“This project has been eye-opening and encouraging from the start. The whole process has been great,” said Annie Geitner, Vernon’s Senior Engineering Technician and Accelerator Team Member. “I’m really excited for the mural, which feels like a big stepping stone for our downtown.”

The Threads of Community mural is expected to strengthen the Vernon Cultural District, support local businesses, and enhance the town’s appeal to residents, visitors, and prospective entrepreneurs. The project also includes opportunities for community engagement, student involvement, and partnerships with local organizations and businesses.

Teams from Fairfield, Deep River, Torrington, Vernon and Westbook comprised CMSC’s 2026 Main Street Accelerator Cohort. During the six-month curriculum, Accelerator teams identify a local challenge and develop actionable solutions using the nationally recognized Four Point Approach to Main Street Management. Teams that complete the program are eligible for an implementation grant. The 2026 Accelerator program and grants are supported by Webster Bank.

Since 2024, CMSC has trained fifteen local teams from fourteen communities through the Accelerator program, granting $45,000 to implement small‑scale, high‑impact projects that strengthen Connecticut’s downtowns, with support from funding partners Webster Bank, Chelsea Groton Foundation and Thomaston Savings Bank.

More information about CMSC and the Main Street Accelerator program can be seen on CMSC’s website.