South Windsor Applies for Grant to Renovate Vacant Post Office

The town has taken steps to finally make use out of the vacant post office building located at 1530 Sullivan Ave.

The 9,000-square-foot building has not been used since 2001 and was acquired by the town for about $1.1 million four years ago, according to Town Manager Matthew Galligan. Since then, the building has been used primarily as storage space for the town.

Town officials hope to convert the building into a combination emergency operations center and a business integration center, Galligan said in a telephone interview Tuesday. The town’s IT operations would also be moved into the building.

The business integration center would be fitted with technology to enable small businesses to host webinars and take advantage of other communications systems, Galligan said.

“They would be able to use the facility, which may help them grow their businesses,” Galligan said.

What’s more, the business integration center would also serve as a useful tool in recruiting small businesses to South Windsor.

“I’m trying to create a climate that is friendly to small businesses,” Galligan said.

The project would cost about $1.2 million, according to Galligan, who hopes that the town will be awarded a $500,000 grant from the Small Town Economic Assistance Program (STEAP), which the town applied for in August. STEAP provides state money to municipalities with populations under 65,000 for various projects like this one.

Town Councilor Dr. Saud Anwar said in a telephone interview that he endorses Galligan’s efforts, stating that the three purposes proposed would fit the building perfectly.

“Small businesses are the real engine of the economy,” Anwar said. “They are what are going to get us back on track. … I support [the proposed project] and I urge the community to be behind it as well.”

Others have been more measured in their approach to the idea.

During the Town Council meeting Tuesday, Mayor Tom Delnicki said that he was concerned about how much the building would cost to operate and maintain once it became functional.

Galligan, for his part, said that the town could hear about whether it will receive the STEAP grant any day now. Other municipalities compete for STEAP dollars, so Galligan said he couldn’t predict whether the town would receive anything from the state, though he said that the town has been successful in receiving such grants in the past.

“It all depends on who writes the best grant application,” Galligan said.