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Norwich council backs CIF grant applications for Hopkins-Allen mill housing and waterfront improvements
Summary
Council voted 7-0 to authorize two Community Investment Fund (CIF) grant applications to support redevelopment of Hopkins-Allen Mill (proposed 170 housing units) and waterfront improvements; city development leaders told the council Norwich has secured substantial CIF awards to date.
The Norwich City Council on June 1 unanimously approved two Community Investment Fund (CIF) grant applications aimed at downtown redevelopment and waterfront improvements.
Kevin Brown, representing the Norwich Community Development Corporation, urged council approval of resolutions 7 and 8, saying the state bonded $676 million for the CIF program and noting that roughly $412 million has been distributed to date. He told the council Norwich has been awarded about $40 million from CIF programs to date and highlighted a proposal to study redevelopment of the Hopkins-Allen Mill with the potential for about 170 housing units.
Council members described the Hopkins-Allen project as a priority for downtown workforce housing and historic preservation. The mayor and other members framed the projects as shovel-ready and as ways to leverage state dollars to rebuild downtown tax base and support local hiring.
Discussion in the meeting also addressed the waterfront grant, where city staff and Kevin Brown noted prior state investment of about $6.5 million on waterfront work and said additional CIF funding would help avoid future rework and preserve state investments.
Both CIF-related resolutions were moved, seconded and approved on roll call votes with all members recorded as "yes." Council members said the projects align with the city’s master parks plan and downtown redevelopment goals and called the applications an important step to secure outside funding.
The council’s approval authorizes application submission; separate grant awards and contract approvals would be required if the state selects the projects for CIF funding.
