USDA Rural Business Development Grant to Strengthen Four Northeastern Connecticut Downtowns

. The project will run from October 2026 through September 2027 and will focus on building lively, walkable, amenity rich Main Streets that attract residents, visitors, and new businesses.

The grant will fund a comprehensive suite of activities — including business inventories, market analysis, municipal workshops, regional collaboration sessions, and strategic planning — all designed to help the four communities invest in their individual downtown areas while also creating a connected corridor along the I 395 region.

“This is a transformational opportunity for northeastern Connecticut,” said Michelle McCabe, CMSC Executive Director. “Each of these towns has unique assets, strong local pride, and a growing recognition of how essential their downtowns are to long term economic vitality. This USDA investment allows us to help them strengthen their business ecosystems, build implementation capacity, and create a unified regional strategy that positions the entire corridor for growth.”

The project includes eight municipal workshops, two regional convenings, and detailed downtown inventories using Ginkgo, a GIS CRM tool that maps businesses, arts and cultural organizations, public spaces, and development opportunities. CMSC will also provide technical assistance in strategic visioning, business development planning, and Main Street management best practices.

“This grant gives our communities the ability to plan, learn and grow together,” said Jim Rivers, Executive Director of NECCOG. “Plainfield, Killingly, Putnam, and Thompson each bring something distinct to the table, but when connected through a shared strategy, they become a powerful regional destination. USDA’s support enables us to build a corridor that encourages people traveling I 395 to stop, explore, and consider making this region their home.”

The initiative will help the towns identify business clusters, gaps, and opportunities; strengthen the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem; and develop coordinated branding that celebrates each downtown’s character while reinforcing a regional story. The project also supports long term economic development goals, including mixed use development, expanded housing options, and improved amenities for existing residents.

“Downtown is the stage where our community shines,” said Putnam Mayor Barney Seney. “By investing in our Main Streets individually and collectively, we’re showing we’re committed to keeping families here, to attracting young people to put down roots, and to growing our local businesses for years to come.”

CMSC and NECCOG will begin stakeholder meetings in October, followed by the first regional workshop later in the month where findings from the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Audit will be shared.