Bond Commission approves more than $1.2 B in new projects

HARTFORD — In its third and final meeting of the year, the State Bond Commission on Wednesday approved capital projects totaling about $1.2 billion, including $500 million for school construction projects throughout Connecticut.

With little discussion, the 10-member commission, dominated by Democrats and with an agenda dictated by Democratic Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, approved $60 million in aid for municipalities and $90 million for local capital improvements, including roads, sewer lines, snow-removal equipment and broadband computer installations.

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During a 36-minute meeting, the first in six months, the commission also approved $48 million in business loans and grants, and nearly $95 million for the billion-dollar replacement of Metro-North’s 100-year-old Walk Bridge in Norwalk.

Malloy, speaking to reporters after the meeting, said the long-term borrowing to support the projects is part of the state’s commitment to critical infrastructure improvements that were on hold during the more than four-month delay in enacting a new state budget.

“We have prioritized manufacturing, the remediation of brownfields and our small businesses so that they can grow and strengthen Connecticut’s economy,” Malloy told reporters. “All told, this agenda moves economic development incentives forward that will create more than 1,600 jobs and retain over 2,900 jobs across 13 companies in the state of Connecticut. These projects include the expansion of Indeed’s corporate footprint in Stamford and the relocation of Henkle of America’s home care unit to Connecticut from Arizona.”

Among the items approved by the Bond Commission:

  • $30 million for general school improvements throughout the state, including Ansonia, Bridgeport, New Haven, Danbury, Norwalk, Derby, East Haven, Stamford, Hamden, West Haven, Meriden and Middletown.
  • $20 million for brownfield cleanups.
  • $10 million replacement highway and bridge renewal equipment.
  • $10 million for the state’s Small Business Express program of incentives.
  • $10 million for Henkel of America, Inc. to relocation of its Laundry and Home Care unit from Arizona to Stamford. The company agreed to retain 678 jobs and create 266 jobs within three years.
  • $7 million for improvements to emergency shelters in communities including Danbury, Fairfield, New Haven and Stamford.
  • $7 million for Indeed, Inc. of Stamford to expand its offices. It has agreed to retain 700 jobs and create 500 new jobs within nine years.
  • $5 million for New Haven’s Hill to Downtown development, 22 Gold Street in New Haven, including the demolition of an existing building and the construction of 110 units of family rental housing.
  • $4.4 million to the Xerox Corporation to improve newly leased headquarters in Norwalk. The company has committed to retain 150 jobs and create 40 jobs within four years.
  • $4 million for small harbor improvements, including Fairfield ($272,500), West Haven ($59,800), Stamford’s West Beach boat ramp and docks ($120,000), Milford ($398,000), Norwalk ($908,250), and Stratford ($13,700).
  • $3.4 million to convert the former Mary Shepherd Home in Middletown into 32 units of supportive housing.
  • $3.4 million for the Norwalk Housing Authority or another organization to assist with rehabilitation of the 44-unit Ludlow Commons Congregate Housing development.
  • $2.7 million for school improvements including Barnum School in Bridgeport; Melillo Middle School in East Haven; Great Oaks Charter School in Bridgeport; Macdonough School in Middletown; Rippowam School in Stamford; and Westhill High School in Stamford.
  • $2.7 million to XPO Logistics, Inc. to improve its Greenwich facility. The company has agreed to retain 23 jobs and create up to 30 new jobs.
  • $2.2 million for courthouse improvements throughout the state, including Bridgeport, Stamford and Danbury.
  • $1.8 million for body cameras and video storage for 14 police departments, including Western Connecticut State University, Eastern Connecticut State University, Darien, Milford, New Haven, North Haven, Orange and Wilton.
  • A $1.75 million grant-in-aid to Women’s Integrated Network, Inc. to help in its relocation from White Plains, N.Y., to Greenwich.
  • A $1.5 million grant for the Terex Corporation to improve its offices in Westport.
  • $1 million for RSM US LLP to assist with its expansion of offices in Stamford.
  • $700,000 for improvements to five former Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority landfills, including one on Route 110 in Shelton.
  • $475,000 for improvements to Long Hill Green in Trumbull.
  • $215,535 for BHcare Inc. to renovate its residential treatment facility on Howe Avenue in Shelton.
Tribune Content Agency
Infrastructure Connecticut
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