A plan to turn Norwich’s Dodd Stadium into a year-round, multi-sport venue landed the largest award in the latest round of state Community Investment Fund grants.
The Community Investment Fund 2030 Board on Tuesday recommended $8.1 million for the stadium, part of $66.4 million approved for 27 projects in Round 9. The board voted without opposition.
The awards still need final approval. Gov. Ned Lamont will determine the funding mechanism for each project and recommend them to the state Bond Commission, according to Connecticut Sports Group.
The Norwich Community Development Corp. will administer the grant and partner with Norwich Stadium Co., a Connecticut Sports Group subsidiary that will operate the city-owned ballpark under a multi-year lease starting in 2027.
Connecticut Sports Group owns CT United FC, the MLS Next Pro team that signed on to play at Dodd after a plan for a Bridgeport stadium fell through, HBJ reported in May.
The ballpark, which opened in 1995, is home to the Norwich Sea Unicorns summer collegiate baseball team, which will stay after the soccer team arrives, according to the Norwich Bulletin.
The first phase of work will address drainage and field improvements, roof repairs, electrical and plumbing upgrades, and ADA and code compliance, according to Connecticut Sports Group. The project also includes a new synthetic turf field and upgraded premium and back-of-house spaces.
Later phases are expected to add capacity for larger sports events, concerts and festivals.
Round 9 drew 128 applications seeking $482 million, state Department of Economic and Community Development Deputy Commissioner Matthew Pugliese told the board in June. In Round 8, 118 eligible applications sought about $438 million in Round 8, when the board approved $62.9 million for 38 projects in March.
Ten of the Round 9 awards complete projects that were partially funded in earlier rounds, and six fully fund new projects, Pugliese told the board Tuesday.
Several projects that won awards in March received more money. The conversion of East Hartford’s 111 Founders Plaza office tower into apartments and the demolition of Stamford’s St. John Towers each received $3 million, on top of $6 million awards in Round 8. The University of New Haven received another $5 million for its Center for Innovation and Applied Technology in West Haven, and Meriden received $2.5 million for its One Stop Health and Human Services building, after $2 million in March.
Hartford-based projects received about $13.9 million, led by $4.3 million for Oak Hill’s 6,825-square-foot addition and renovation of its behavioral health and clinical specialty facility at 33 Coventry St.
Junior Achievement of Southwest New England received $3.5 million to convert 26,000 square feet of vacant space at State House Square into an experiential learning center, the first in New England. The center will host 8,000 to 10,000 students a year at no cost.
The iQuilt Partnership won $3 million for permanent Winterfest Hartford infrastructure in Bushnell Park, including a refrigerated rink slab. The Mark Twain House & Museum received $2.8 million for HVAC and roof work, and the Connecticut Historical Society received $250,000 for exhibition planning.
Nearby, Ben Bronz Academy received $2.5 million to renovate its new East Hartford campus, and Ädelbrook Behavioral and Developmental Services received $1.5 million to expand its Manchester school.
CitySeed received $6 million for a food business incubator in a former manufacturing building in New Haven. Norwalk’s three awards totaled $2.85 million, including $1.1 million to replace the storm-damaged Keeler Brook sewer pump station.
In Torrington, $900,000 will help convert a former mill at 245 East Elm St. into a grocery market, children’s recreation center and banquet hall.
Applications for Round 10 open Oct. 26 and are due Dec. 4, with board recommendations scheduled for March 9, 2027.
