🔒State officials endorse $60.67M in community-building, development grants

New Haven is up for a $6.75 million state grant to stabilize the roof and other portions of its Goffe Street Armory, and turn it into indoor space for civic events. New Britain, its housing authority and an affordable housing developer are poised to qualify for $7.5 million for a 79-unit affordable housing development. An array of nonprofits and Connecticut communities are a hair’s breadth away from $60.67 million in state grants to advance housing development, parks, streetscapes, libraries and other community projects following a Tuesday morning vote by the Community Investment Fund 2030 Board. Approved by state lawmakers in 2021, the Community Investment Fund 2030 Board has a mandate to distribute $875 million in grants over a five-year period for community projects and economic development in distressed communities. Tuesday’s vote marked the seventh funding round. The vote sends 32 proposed grants — from $250,000 planning awards to $8 million for a Hamden foundation repair fund covering more than 100 homes — to the State Bond Commission, where they are almost certain to win approval. Projects approved Tuesday include:

• $250,000 – for a planning grant for the renovation of 280 Blake St. into a visual and performing arts venue for A Broken Umbrella Theatre.
• $1 million – for expansion of the Adlebrook Educational Programs at Manchester Academy.
• $250,000 – for a planning grant for the American Mural Project in Winchester.
• $250,000 – for a panning grant for a modernization of the Boys & Girls Club of Meriden.
• $2 million – for restoration of the Charter Oak Cultural Center, located in Connecticut’s first synagogue, at 21 Charter Oak Ave. in Hartford.
• $350,000 – to help plan a relocation of a Head Start program in Stamford
• $7.5 million – to help New Britain, its housing authority and Mount Pleasant Community Partners LLC with the first phase of a redevelopment of 64 public housing units into 79 units of modern affordable apartments.
• $6.75 million – to help the City of New Haven stabilize its Goffe Street Armory and reactivate the historic drill hall as its largest indoor civic space.
• $250,000 – to help New London plan a new park on Atlantic Street.
• $375,000 – to help redevelop a vacant downtown New London building into 40 new apartments and 10,000 square feet of office space.
• $2.5 million – to help Norwalk redesign a portion of Lexington Avenue in support of a new bus route.
• $1 million – for a  streetscape improvement program of its historic Washington Street. This will include restoration of building facades, outdoor dining parklets, string lighting, improved parking and other upgrades.
• $2.5 – for a project in Norwich aiming to reduce blight and created affordable housing in downtown Norwich.
• $1 million – to help Torrington-based CT Food 4 Thought expand its greenhouses, supporting nonprofit New Opportunities Inc’s efforts to supply produce to schools, food banks, grocery stores and shelters.
• $5 million – for expansion of Community Health Center, a Waterbury-based program that provides medical, behavioral and other clinical services to vulnerable populations.
• $250,000 – to fund a study in advance of the Community Renewal Team’s effort to build a mixed-use, affordable housing project of up to 60 units on a blighted 2.9-acre property on Windsor Street in Hartford.
• $250,000 – to fund a planning effort for upgrading the nonprofit Creative Arts Workshop’s facility in New Haven.
• $1.05 million – to help substance abuse recovery provider CT Renaissance purchase a building at 70 Central Ave. in Waterbury.
• $250,000 – for a planning grant  for Hartford-based Destiny Partners, a financial literacy and small business development group.
• $250,000 – for a planning grant in support of Elephant in the Room Boxing Club’s effort to buy a building for its youth boxing programs.
• $250,000 – to Eli’s Garden of Healing for efforts to transform a portion of Hamden’s DeNicola Park into a forest garden.
• $250,000 – for a planning grant studying the possibility of providing housing for teachers working with the Friends Center for Children Inc., in New Haven.
• $5 million – in support of a new library branch at 234 Barbour St. in Hartford.
• $250,000 – for a planning grant for the KidsPlay Children’s Museum in Torrington.
• $6.5 million – in support of Mutual Housing Association of Greater Hartford’s effort to create 65 affordable apartments and 8,700 square feet of daycare and retail space on nine parcels on Barbour and Westland streets in Hartford.
• $250,000 – for a planning grant supporting capital needs for Stamford’s RF Youth Boxing Inc.
• $900,000 – to build out facilities for Southwest Community Health Center in Bridgeport.
• $8 million – for a foundation repair program targeting about 102 properties in Hamden’s Newhall neighborhood.
• $5.5 million – for flood mitigation around Ferry Boulevard and Broad Street in Stratford.
• $250,000 – to help Wethersfield plan an expansion of its William J. Pitkin Community Center.
• $250,000 – to help Windsor study creation of up to 100 units of affordable senior and disabled housing on a 4.47-acre site owned by the town.
• $250,000 – to help Windsor Locks consider the creation of turf athletic fields and a track.