Brookfield Releases 2025 Economic Report Highlighting Grand List Growth And Site Cleanup

BROOKFIELD, CT — The Town of Brookfield’s Economic Development Office has released its annual report, outlining changes in the grand list, business activity, land use operations and major redevelopment projects completed in 2025.

The report, first developed in 2023 to compile housing data for an Emergency Services Impact Study, is used to provide updates to the Planning and Zoning Commission, Economic Development Commission and Board of Selectmen. It includes 15 tables and graphs summarizing the town’s economic activity.

According to the report, Brookfield’s 2025 grand list increased by $34.8 million over 2024. About half of that growth was attributed to new apartment construction and the expiration of the Brookfield Village tax deferral. Seven businesses entered the town’s Top 25 Real Estate and Personal Property Assessed List for the first time.

The Economic Development Commission hosted 12 grand openings during the year, including a grocery store, an urgent care center, personal care businesses, a youth swim lesson business and three rebranded restaurants. The commission also organized the town’s first restaurant week shortly after its annual Block Party.

The report details several administrative changes within the land use office intended to streamline processes, according to Brookfield Economic Development Manager Greg Dembowski. These included consolidating the Planning and Zoning Commission, eliminating eight zoning applications and revising others to remove what the report described as unnecessary or redundant information requirements.

In addition, the long-abandoned building at 20 Station Road was demolished and the property remediated following environmental abatement. The project cost $1.2 million, funded through grants rather than local tax dollars, and addressed contamination at what officials described as one of the state’s most heavily impacted former dry cleaning sites.

Brookfield also received $2.4 million in grants from the state’s Small Town Economic Assistance Program, the Local Transportation Capital Improvement Program and the Department of Transportation. The funding will support the extension of the Still River Greenway Trail, installation of lights at Brookfield High School ball fields and improvements within the town center district.