Hamden Economic Development Director Dale Kroop Retires

Press release from the Mayor's Office:

Dec. 1, 2020

Mayor Curt Balzano Leng announces the retirement of long-time Hamden Economic Development Director, Mr. Dale Kroop. Director Kroop served his final day as Economic Development Director on Monday, November 30th, 2020, ending a storied 20+ year career here in the Town of Hamden and capping more than thirty-five years of experience in economic and community development planning and project management across Connecticut.

Mr. Kroop has been instrumental in launching the long-desired Hamden Business Incubator, and was the lead manager on the Highwood Square Mixed-Use Project and the widely acclaimed Highwood/Newhall Residential and Commercial Brownfield Program. In his other career roles, working for the cities of New Haven, Waterbury, and New Britain, Mr. Kroop was a leader in the development and implementation of projects for the Dixwell Neighborhood Corporation, The Broad Street Collaborative, and various Neighborhood Revitalization Zones throughout the State.

In addition to this fine work, Mr. Kroop has been an accomplished member of numerous Boards and Directorships, having served as Co-Chair of the Greater New Haven Chamber Economic Development Committee, the Chair of the Regional Economic Development Forum, as a past President of the CT Economic Development Association and as past President of the CT Community Development Association as well. Mr. Kroop has received numerous awards and recognitions in honor of his dedicated service to communities across Connecticut, receiving the International Economic Development Council: Community Project of Year: Silver Award 2016 and the Northeast Economic Development Association: Neighborhood Development Award 2016.

Mayor Leng, on behalf of the residents Hamden, wishes to extend sincere gratification and thanks to Mr. Kroop for his decades of dedicated work and commitment to not only the Town of Hamden, but truly the entire State of Connecticut as a whole. Mr. Kroop has been a bedrock of knowledge, institutional wisdom, tenacity and willingness to simply “get the job done”. Although Mr. Kroop is retiring from the Town of Hamden and entering the next phase of his career, we can be certain he will remain committed to delivering good work for the benefit of our communities.

Commenting, Mayor Leng said, “Many individuals have served Hamden throughout our Town's history, but few for the length of time - and with the same genuine care and vigor - as Mr. Dale Kroop.

Director Kroop brought a vision of success to Hamden, and a lifetime of experience along with it. Much of the development our Town has seen since 2000 has, at least in-part, not only passed through Dale's hands but also directly benefited from his oversight.

Truly, Hamden as we know it today has been touched and shaped by Director Kroop in these last 20 years. Residents have felt direct and meaningful impact from projects like the Rochford/Villano Park redevelopment and converting the empty dilapidated Newhall Street School into a thriving business incubator. I offer my sincere appreciation to Dale for his service to Hamden, and I wish him a wonderful, long, happy and healthy retirement.”

This press release was produced by the Mayor's Office. The views expressed here are the author's own.