Hartford’s Harriet Beecher Stowe Center can look forward to a $4.6 million grant for repairs and improved accessibility following a vote of the state’s Community Investment Fund board Tuesday morning.
The CIF board, chaired by State House Speaker Matthew Ritter and Senate President Pro Tempore Martin R. Looney, signed off on $74.68 million in 36 grants to municipalities and nonprofits. These will support projects ranging from downtown revitalizations to upgrades for cultural assets to brownfield remediation.
State lawmakers created the CIF board in 2020 with the mandate to approve up to $875 million for community-building projects in distressed municipalities over five years.
Projects approved by the CIF board still have hurdles to jump. Tuesday morning’s vote goes to Gov. Ned Lamont as a recommendation for inclusion on an upcoming agenda of the State Bond Commission, which would authorize raising funds for the projects through borrowing.
Projects recommended by the CIF board are virtually assured to land on the bond agenda, which is almost certain to meet approval.
The Stowe museum promotes social justice and literary activism by exploring the life and work of Harriet Beecher Stowe, a prominent abolitionist and author whose book, “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” depicts the harsh conditions of slavery and helped fuel the abolitionist movement.
The CIF board signed off on grants to other cultural assets Tuesday, including $2 million for renovation of the Thomaston Opera House and $1.5 million for renovations to the Warner Theatre in Torrington.
The CIF received 146 applications seeking $445 million in this fifth round of grants.
The list of recommended grants includes:
- $2 million – Stratford, rehabilitation of the Sterling Homestead as a new home for the Ruby & Calvin Fletcher African American History Museum.
- $250,000 – New Haven, planning funds for design and renovation of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater New Haven Columbus Avenue clubhouse.
- $943,688 – Danbury, roof and HVAC improvements to the Danbury Community Center.
- $250,000 – Meriden, design of a segment of the Central Connecticut Loop Trail.
- $1.4 million – Meriden, new soccer field at Meriden’s Columbus Park.
- $6 million – New Britain, funding for remediation and demolition for phase 1 of the “Transforming East Main Street” project.
- $250,000 – New Haven, research and planning for accessory dwelling units in New Haven.
- $250,000 – New London, grant toward planning for redevelopment of Gordon Court Senior Housing.
- $2.5 million – Norwalk, construction of a roundabout at the South Norwalk Elementary School.
- $250,000 – West Haven, planning for revitalization of the West Haven Village Improvement District.
- $250,000 – New Haven, to City Seed Inc. planning for a commercial kitchen and food business incubator.
- $1.95 million – Waterbury, Community Partners in Action, capital improvements for transitional housing programs.
- $1.73 million – New Haven, renovation to the South-Central Rehabilitation Center.
- $250,000 – Danbury, to the Cultural Alliance of Western Connecticut and the City of Danbury for a feasibility study of an arts hub in Danbury.
- $3 million – New Haven, to Glendower Group Inc. and the City of New Haven, to support Grand Avenue roadway and streetscape upgrades.
- $250,000 – New Haven, for feasibility planning concerning creation of a “Goodwill Excel Center.”
- $4.6 million – Hartford, to the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center to support improved access and repairs to buildings, and creation of a public greenspace.
- $7.65 million – Stamford, to Mill River Collaborative Inc., for the creation of greenspace, a performance center, an outdoor classroom and dog park at Mill River Park.
- $2 million – Hartford, to Mutual Housing Association of Greater Hartford Inc., for pre-development work for the Barbour Street development.
- $250,000 – Waterbury, for redevelopment planning focused on affordable housing in the city’s Crownbrook neighborhood.
- $8 million – Middletown, for renovations and expansion of the Northern Middlesex YMCA.
- $1.5 million – Torrington, for renovations to the Warner Theatre.
- $7.8 million – Norwich, for remediation and demolition of the Capehart Mill.
- $4.5 million – Norwich, for improvements to Howard T. Brown Park and the Heritage Walk, along with environmental assessment of 46 Main St. and planning and development of Marina Towers.
- $250,000 – Hartford, to the San Juan Center for planning for the “El Pocito Dulce” mixed-use development.
- $250,000 – New London, planning for a community for individuals in recovery.
- $3.5 million – Norwalk, renovation and expansion of the Carver Community Center.
- $1.5 million – East Hartford , for design and site acquisition for redevelopment of portions of the downtown.
- $250,000 – Hamden, for creation of a town center master plan.
- $250,000 – Montville, planning for revitalization efforts in the Palmertown and Uncasville areas.
- $1.7 million – Plymouth, for a downtown transformation plan.
- $600,000 – Scotland, for renovation of Town Hall.
- $2 million – Thomaston, for renovation and restoration of the Thomaston Opera House.
- $4 million – Thompson, reconstruction of Main Street’s streetscape, renovation of 65 Main St. and improvements to Veterans Memorial Park.
- $771,312 – Windsor Locks, remediation and demolition for a transit-oriented development project.
- $1.6 million – Winsted, predevelopment activities related to the Winsted Housing and Advanced Makerspace project.
