Stonington Among 14 CT Towns to Receive Portion of $6.9 Million Grant for Brownfield Revitalization

HARTFORD, CT – Governor Dannel P. Malloy announced Tuesday that $6.9 million in state grants will be awarded to 14 towns and cities to assess, remediate and revitalize brownfields across the state.

The projects comprise 424 acres of redevelopment as part of the administration’s ongoing, unprecedented efforts to restore and put blighted properties back into productive use.

“Investing in the remediation of blighted properties and putting them back into productive use ultimately becomes an economic win for our communities,” Malloy said in a release. “When we clean up these sites and repurpose them, we can turn what was once an eyesore into a community asset that can help revitalize a neighborhood and spark economic growth.”

Under Tuesday’s round of announcements, $5.6 million is being awarded for the remediation and redevelopment of five properties, totaling 32 acres. An additional $1.3 million is being awarded for assessments that will be completed toward the future revitalization of eight properties, covering a total of 392 acres.

All of the grants are awarded through the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD).

“The State of Connecticut continues to be a national leader in brownfield redevelopment," DECD Commissioner Catherine Smith said in a release. "Through the Governor’s leadership, we have invested in 2,240 acres of land across the state over the last six years and will continue to work with our cities and towns to help redevelop these dormant properties. For every dollar the state invests, $5.55 have been or will be invested by non-state partners.”

“Connecticut is leading the way in brownfield cleanup and redevelopment,” Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Commissioner Robert J. Klee said in a release. “This latest investment in redeveloping contaminated sites creates more sustainable communities for the future as these properties are typically in previously developed areas with water, sewer, transportation, and energy infrastructure.”

According to the release, Stonington will receive a $200,000 grant for the investigation of 123 Greenmanville Avenue.

“Investing in brownfield redevelopment has brought significant private investment and new jobs to cities and towns throughout the state,” DECD Deputy Commissioner Tim Sullivan said in a release. “As a result, municipalities are seeing the transformative effect of these redevelopments in each and every community. From transit-oriented development to affordable housing and historic preservation, DECD’s investment in brownfields is advancing numerous important policy objectives of Governor Malloy’s administration.”

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