Gov. Malloy to oversee final Bond Commission mtg.; tens of millions up for vote

Outgoing Gov. Dannel P. Malloy will oversee, likely for the final time, a state Bond Commission meeting Tuesday morning with tens of millions of dollars under consideration for various transportation and economic-development projects.

The Democrat, who will give up his seat Jan. 9 to Gov.-elect Ned Lamont, is chairing the special meeting Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. at the state legislative office building. The 10-member commission will consider a wide variety of projects, many of them ongoing initiatives.

They include: $91.6 million for numerous transportations projects; $3.7 million for improvements to New London’s State Pier; over $1 million for economic-development projects in Hartford overseen by quasi-public Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA); and almost $515,000 for body cameras and storage devices for several local police departments.

Under the requests, Connecticut Department of Transportation has asked for the largest allotment of $91.6 million — including $78 million for improvement projects along Interstate 84 and over $13.6 million for urban bikeway, pedestrian connectivity, trails and other programs.

In addition, the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) system is requesting $14 million for deferred maintenance, code compliance and other infrastructure improvements at the state’s 12 community colleges and state universities — Central, Eastern, Southern and Western.

CSCU is also asking for $6 million for physical plant renovations at Waterbury’s Naugatuck Valley, $3 million for new research and laboratory equipment and over $2.6 million for advanced manufacturing and technology programs.

The higher education requests come days after CSCU underscored the $11 billion it generates for Connecticut each year.

Also, the Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection requested $13.5 million to replace and upgrade its radio communication systems and the state Department of Education has asked for $3.8 million for improvements to buildings and grounds, and replacement of equipment and technology, at all regional vocational-technical schools.

In Hartford, the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) is requesting $3 million to provide a loan for kitchen cabinet and countertop retailer Express Kitchens to purchase new equipment and for leasehold improvements to assist with the company’s expansion. The funding means the Hartford-based company will retain 134 jobs and create up to 226 new jobs within seven years.

Other DECD requests include:

• $10 million to provide a loan to employment search giant Indeed for expansion operations in Stamford that will create 500 new jobs.
• $6 million to help Cromwell’s GKN Aerospace Services Structures expand and retain and create 263 jobs over the next six years.
• $5 million to support grants and loans for the Connecticut Manufacturing Innovation Fund.
• $5 million for the state Department of Labor’s new apprenticeship program.
• $5 million to provide a loan to Meriden manufacturer Accel International Holding Inc. for its expansion into a second location in Cheshire. The company has agreed to retain 108 jobs and create another 115 positions over three years.
• $2 million to provide a loan to aerospace manufacturer Habco Industries LLC for machinery and equipment purchases and expansion in Glastonbury. Hacbo will retain 55 jobs and and create 47 new positions within five years.
• $1 million to support minority business initiatives under the Small Business Express Program (SBEP).
• $825,000 to finance remediation, marketing and planning activities at several state-owned surplus facilities and former state facilities in Groton, Haddam, Newtown, New Haven and Preston.

Other projects pitched by CRDA include:

• $521,000 to finance housing and community development projects in Hartford, including the Downtown North redevelopment near Dunkin’ Donuts Park and redeveloping two blighted buildings on Lawrence Street.
• $275,000 to support renovations and improvements of Hartford’s Connecticut Convention Center and Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field in East Hartford.
• $300,000 to support renovations and improvements at the Hartford Regional Market.

In September, the Bond Commission approved tens of millions of dollars for numerous economic-development projects, including three Hartford projects that will bring hundreds of new apartments and a grocery store near Dunkin’ Donuts Park.

View the Bond Commission’s agenda here