The state has allocated $24.6 million to help municipalities remediate 41 blighted properties, Gov. Ned Lamont announced, including the former Ames corporate headquarters in Rocky Hill.
The funding is expected to augment $625 million in private funding that will go toward investigating and cleaning up the sites, which span about 86 acres in total.
“Remediation of brownfields is critically important for the health of our environment, and the health of our communities,” said Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Commissioner Katie Dykes. “Ensuring that these sites are properly cleaned up will contribute to safer communities and will open the door to significant economic benefit once remediated.”
The funding, in the form of grants and loans, is from the state Department of Economic and Community Development’s Brownfield Remediation and Development Program.
The money includes a $995,000 loan to WinnDevelopment Company for abatement of hazardous building materials and remediation of a 200,000-square-foot mill at 321 Ellis St. in New Britain. The site is the former home to the housewares company Landers, Fray and Clark.
The proposed redevelopment includes 154 units of workspace and mixed-income housing.
Also among the recipients is Belfonti Companies, which is receiving a $990,000 grant for remediation and demolition of structures at the former Ames headquarters at 2418 Main St. in Rocky Hill. The plans include mixed-use luxury apartments with up to 213 units and 10,000 square feet of retail.
Waterbury will receive a $2 million grant to complete an investigation and cleanup of 3.25 acres at 777 South Main St. and 359 Mill St. The remediation includes expanding an existing food hub and construction of roughly 50 raised community garden beds, an outdoor kitchen, a beekeeping area, landscaping, and a market and retail cafe.
In West Hartford, a property being redeveloped by WHI Camelot LLC, as a 44-unit affordable, mixed-income, multifamily residential complex, will receive a $998,000 grant to investigate and remediate the 0.67-acre property at 900 Farmington Ave. The lot currently houses a vacant restaurant.
Also, Cheshire will receive a $925,000 grant for remediation and abatement of a building at 493 West Main St., the former Ball and Socket Manufacturing Co., to prepare the property for redevelopment.