New London council adopts amended CDBG allocations, restores library funding and boosts maritime museum grant

The New London City Council on April 6 approved amended Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) allocations for fiscal year 2026–27 after a public hearing and public-comment period.

At the meeting the council adopted the public welfare committee’s recommendation with an amendment that left the New London Public Library funded at $7,484 and added $3,216 to the New London Maritime Museum’s allocation. The action on the CDBG package was recorded as a unanimous council vote (7–0).

The public hearing drew speakers from local nonprofits and youth programs that receive CDBG support. Eileen Donovan, a resident who works at the Lyman Allen Art Museum, thanked the council and said the museum’s CDBG-funded education programs keep field trips free for New London public school students and help underwrite reduced camp rates for city residents. "We are just so thoroughly grateful for the city's support of our work," Donovan said.

Nikisha Grant, president and executive director of OIC of New London County, sought continued funding for OIC’s employment reintegration services for justice-involved residents, saying the program will target about 80 participants in the coming fiscal year, roughly 60 of whom she said live in the city. "We invest directly in crime and harm reduction by strengthening economic stability for justice-involved individuals," Grant said.

Other speakers included Margaret Husoff, chief operating officer of Safe Futures, who thanked the council for a $9,000 allocation and noted Safe Futures serves about 10,000 clients a year (about 20% New London residents); Rihanna Dice, executive director of the Drop-In Learning Center, who described partnerships that keep summer programming running; Maggie Marley of United Way’s Gemma Moran Food Center, who outlined the food bank network’s distribution (more than 2.7 million pounds of food intake and roughly 2.1 million meals distributed countywide in the prior year); and Dominique Griffin, who said his youth football program has about 50 players and 48 cheerleaders signed up and recently added a Peewee team for ages 5–7.

Debbie Phillips, a member of the citizen advisory committee, urged the council to address what she called prior violations of HUD rules and FOIA procedures during earlier CDBG deliberations and requested corrective action; council members acknowledged the concern and said they would consider next steps.

The council discussion on the CDBG allocations focused on honoring applicants’ requests while distributing limited funds across a range of social-service, youth, and cultural programs. The council formally adopted the amended allocations and moved the administrative actions necessary to implement them.

The council closed the public hearing and proceeded with the regular meeting agenda.

Ending: The council’s adoption sends the amended allocations into effect for Program Year 52 (July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027); councilors and applicants said they expect continued collaboration as programs begin next summer.