The Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development will award $7 million to 12 brownfield redevelopment and assessment projects across the state, including two in Fairfield County.
The state will give $5.4 million to four remediation and redevelopment projects and $1.5 million to eight projects for assessment and investigation. State bond funding for remediation this budget biennium increased to $40m from $30m in the previous biennium.
The two properties in Fairfield County are:
”¢ A 3.6-acre former public school site at 1000 E. Broadway in Stratford will receive $1,205,000 “to remediate and abate.” The town plans to seek redevelopment opportunities that feature mixed-use, transit-oriented development. It is one of four sites constituting 11 total acres statewide targeted for remediation and redevelopment; and
Ӣ A 30-acre site at 44 and 46a Swamp Road in Easton will get a $150,000 grant for investigation of potential contaminants. It, along with seven other sites totaling 451 acres, are targets for future development.
The projects also include efforts in Meriden, Middletown, Vernon, Ansonia, Hartford, New Britain, Preston, Torrington and Waterbury that will address issues of contamination.
“Remediating and redeveloping these sites helps jump-start local economies by rehabilitating areas, putting them back into use for development, and creating jobs for residents,” Gov. Dannell Malloy said in a statement accompanying the news. “Over the last few years we”™ve made historic investments in remediating contaminated properties for redevelopment, and these additional projects further demonstrate our commitment to our cities and towns.”
Funding is through the Connecticut Remedial Action and Redevelopment Municipal Grant Program, which provides money to municipalities and economic development agencies to support remediation, abatement and demolition activities prior to redevelopment and to conduct environmental site assessments. Goals of the program include augmenting the state”™s investment by leveraging the maximum amount of private funds, reactivating long-stalled sites and encouraging job creation.
