Middletown Awarded $4.5M In State Grants For Redevelopment Projects

MIDDLETOWN, CT — Middletown was among the 12 cities and towns in the state to receive funding under the newly established Connecticut Communities Challenge Grant Program, Gov. Ned Lamont announced this week.

Middletown will receive $4.5 million for projects at 418 to 422, 428, 545, and 584 Main Street and 99 Union Street:

• The city and its private partners, the YMCA, DFC of Middletown, and 545 Main Realty LLC, will adaptively reuse the vacant and underutilized buildings to create up to 30 new residential units and approximately 40,000 square feet of commercial space. The project also includes the upgrade of the HVAC system at the YMCA property that will help rehabilitate 62 single-room occupancy housing units for low-income men. The retail spaces will include two first floor storefronts, a specialty market, two restaurants, a rooftop bar, office, and community space.

The grants are leveraging approximately $74 million in non-state and private dollars and will support projects that improve the livability and vibrancy of communities throughout the state.

More than 50 percent of funding will be invested in Connecticut's distressed municipalities, according to a news release.

This is the first round of funding under the program, which is administered by the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD).

The second round is expected to launch in the fall, and DECD is expected to award up to $100 million in grants over the next several years.

"Investing in our communities is a key part of our plan to accelerate long-lasting and equitable economic development in Connecticut," Lamont said in a statement. "This new grant program we launched will have wide-ranging impacts as we emerge stronger than ever from the pandemic, creating new jobs, improving the vibrancy and quality of life in our neighborhoods, and making all corners of the state even more attractive for investment and opportunity."

Middletown Mayor Ben Florsheim joined Lamont at a news conference earlier this week to announce the grant awards.

“This award will bring $4.5 million in funding to redevelop historic buildings to meet modern community needs from one end of Main Street to the other-- housing, healthy food, community spaces, and beyond,” Florsheim wrote in a post on Facebook. “I want to thank the City’s partners in our successful application, the developers and on-the-ground program providers who will be putting this funding to work going forward: J.R. Hargreaves (545 Main Street), DeMartino Investments (418/422/584 Main Street), and the Middlesex YMCA.

“Today’s announcement follows $2 million in recent state bonding approved for 545 Main Street as well as combined $3 million in state and federal funding for renovations at the R.M. Keating Historical Enterprise Park and $580,000 in state grant funds for continued improvements to recent local park renovations. This represents a total of over $10 million and counting in competitive state and federal investment secured for Middletown this fiscal year.

“Huge thanks to our state legislative delegation, Governor Lamont, and Lt. Governor Bysiewicz for their confidence in our city, the Middlesex Chamber for their outstanding and constant advocacy for Middletown’s business community, and to the amazing staff on my team who put in the long hours needed to get the job done on this funding. Now the real work begins, and we can’t wait to share the progress with you!”