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Norwalk Redevelopment Agency seeks $500,000 to administer $40M in active grant projects
Summary
The Redevelopment Agency told BET its $500,000 request funds administration and project management for about $40 million in grant‑funded capital projects and said grant rules often limit administrative fee recovery.
The Norwalk Redevelopment Agency presented a $500,000 operating request to the Board of Estimate and Taxation on March 19, saying the funding supports administration and program management for roughly $40 million of active and secured, grant‑funded capital projects.
Steven (director of housing and capital projects) spoke for the agency while Brian Bedoli was not present. Steven said the requested city contribution allows the agency to manage capital grants, planning work and real‑estate transactions — including the Webster Lot and 30 Monroe Street projects — and that agency operating capacity is constrained because many capital grants cap administrative fees. “A lot of the capital grants don't allow us to request administrative or engineering funds,” he said, adding that between two brownfields projects the agency has about $4 million in remediation funding but only minimal allowable administrative fees.
Steven said the agency secured another $15 million in a RAISE/BUILD‑type or similar capital grant (described in the packet) and that the agency already pays for roughly 60% of management costs out of its own funds; without the $500,000 appropriation, more work would move onto city staff. Board members asked for detail on “other revenue” and interest income lines in the packet; Steven offered to have Brian Bedoli respond to detailed revenue questions by email the next day.
BET members thanked the agency for its grant‑securing efforts but left the request as an open item, requesting follow‑up answers on specific revenue lines and the relationship between HUD/CDBG administrative allocations and operating budget lines.
