Economic Development Committee
Economic Development
Vision: To revitalize the Farmington Avenue commercial corridor, transform empty buildings and brownfield sites, and support several “cornerstone” projects that will enhance the economic health of Asylum Hill’s businesses and residents.
Goal 1: Encourage and Support “Cornerstone” Development Projects
To retain businesses and attract visitors and new residents, Asylum Hill must eliminate blighted, vacant and abandoned properties and transform them into productive and aesthetically pleasing assets.
Actions:
● Address Farmington Avenue’s vacant retail spaces and physical appearance by encouraging pop-up stores, tree plantings, crosswalk improvements, the reduction of both littering and loitering, and the final phase of streetscape improvements
● Preserve and retain cultural assets and other key institutions
● Support the remediation, funding and restoration of the Aetna Diner
● Support the redevelopment of 85 Sigourney Street and encourage retail uses on the street level
● Provide input and support to the Saint Francis Hospital Master Plan
● Advocate for funding
Resources/Partnerships:
Major employers, small businesses, capable and responsive developers, elected officials from City, State and Federal governments, The Farmington Avenue Alliance (FAA), The Hartford Business Improvement District (HBID), CT Main Street, The City’s Department of Development Services (DDS), The State’s Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD), Community Renewal Team, the arts community and funding from the federal government
ARPA 2021: Sec. 6002. Funding for pollution and disparate impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Reconnecting Communities - IIJA 2022 https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/BIL-Factsheet-Local-Competitive-Funding.pdf
Goal 2: Remediate and Redevelop the Neighborhood’s “Brownfields”
Most of Asylum Hill is already developed, but we could redevelop some strategic parcels if remediation measures are taken to eliminate site contamination. If we made such sites clean and “shovel-ready,” the neighborhood could attract development that produces jobs and property taxes while reducing environmental health risks.
Actions:
● Prioritize and maintain a list of contaminated sites for eventual redevelopment
● Develop a schedule for assessment, clean-up and remediation
● Advocate for funding of priority projects
Resources/Partnerships:
City COH/DSS, State DECD, Capitol Region Council of Governments (CRCOG), Federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), AHNA’s Environmental and Green Initiatives Committee, Love Your Block, Community Renewal Team, Sustainability CT and numerous volunteers
State Department of Environmental Protection offers Abandoned Brownfield Cleanup Program, the Brownfields Remediation and Revitalization Program, the Municipal Brownfield Liability Relief Program
The Federal Environmental Protection Agency offers the EPA Brownfield Remediation Program - https://www.epa.gov/brownfields
Goal 3: Support the Growth of New and Existing Businesses
No urban neighborhood is complete without a thriving small business sector. However, small businesses on Farmington Avenue and elsewhere in Asylum Hill face many challenges. We can help meet those challenges through a coordinated and expanded set of technical and financial services. By stabilizing and growing existing businesses and by attracting and incubating new ones, the neighborhood could be a source of new jobs and important services.
Actions:
● Identify and promote resources that area businesses can tap into for planning, training and financial capital
● Connect new businesses, universities/colleges and entrepreneurs with mentors, business formation training and potential investors
● Advocate for more financial and technical assistance as needed
Resources/Partnerships:
City’s Department of Development Services, HEDCO (Hartford Economic Development Commission), Liberty Bank, Webster Bank, University of Hartford, the Hartford Chamber of Commerce, the Hartford Business Improvement District (HBID), reSET, the 224 EcoSpace, the Small Business Administration, Senior Core of Retired Executives (SCORE) and the Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
Hart-Lift (American Rescue Plan Act 2021): https://www.hartfordchamberct.com/hart-lift/
ARPA 2021: Sec. 3301. State Small Business Credit Initiative. https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/small-business-programs/state-small-business-credit-initiative-ssbci
Goal 4: Promote and Support Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) to Spur Development, encourage Transit-Oriented Development (TOD), and Innovation
When neighborhood leaders, major employers and government officials agree on what is needed to spur economic and community development, they can work together to enact big changes. Over the next several years, major investments in land and infrastructure are being contemplated for I-84, Union Station, large brownfield tracts and 85 Sigourney Street, among others. By working together, neighborhood residents and leaders from the public and private sectors have an opportunity to leverage those investments in ways that can produce profound, lasting and healthy changes to Asylum Hill.
Action:
Create and sustain a consortium of community, business and government leaders that will meet at least twice a year to explore current issues, future trends and proposed major infrastructure projects affecting Asylum Hill. Current projects include the I-84 Project, the rebuild of Union Station and the Saint Francis/Trinity Health Master Plan as they evolve from concept to design and construction.
Goal 1: Encourage and Support “Cornerstone” Development Projects
To retain businesses and attract visitors and new residents, Asylum Hill must eliminate blighted, vacant and abandoned properties and transform them into productive and aesthetically pleasing assets.
Actions:
● Address Farmington Avenue’s vacant retail spaces and physical appearance by encouraging pop-up stores, tree plantings, crosswalk improvements, the reduction of both littering and loitering, and the final phase of streetscape improvements
● Preserve and retain cultural assets and other key institutions
● Support the remediation, funding and restoration of the Aetna Diner
● Support the redevelopment of 85 Sigourney Street and encourage retail uses on the street level
● Provide input and support to the Saint Francis Hospital Master Plan
● Advocate for funding
Resources/Partnerships:
Major employers, small businesses, capable and responsive developers, elected officials from City, State and Federal governments, The Farmington Avenue Alliance (FAA), The Hartford Business Improvement District (HBID), CT Main Street, The City’s Department of Development Services (DDS), The State’s Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD), Community Renewal Team, the arts community and funding from the federal government
ARPA 2021: Sec. 6002. Funding for pollution and disparate impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Reconnecting Communities - IIJA 2022 https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/BIL-Factsheet-Local-Competitive-Funding.pdf
Goal 2: Remediate and Redevelop the Neighborhood’s “Brownfields”
Most of Asylum Hill is already developed, but we could redevelop some strategic parcels if remediation measures are taken to eliminate site contamination. If we made such sites clean and “shovel-ready,” the neighborhood could attract development that produces jobs and property taxes while reducing environmental health risks.
Actions:
● Prioritize and maintain a list of contaminated sites for eventual redevelopment
● Develop a schedule for assessment, clean-up and remediation
● Advocate for funding of priority projects
Resources/Partnerships:
City COH/DSS, State DECD, Capitol Region Council of Governments (CRCOG), Federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), AHNA’s Environmental and Green Initiatives Committee, Love Your Block, Community Renewal Team, Sustainability CT and numerous volunteers
State Department of Environmental Protection offers Abandoned Brownfield Cleanup Program, the Brownfields Remediation and Revitalization Program, the Municipal Brownfield Liability Relief Program
The Federal Environmental Protection Agency offers the EPA Brownfield Remediation Program - https://www.epa.gov/brownfields
Goal 3: Support the Growth of New and Existing Businesses
No urban neighborhood is complete without a thriving small business sector. However, small businesses on Farmington Avenue and elsewhere in Asylum Hill face many challenges. We can help meet those challenges through a coordinated and expanded set of technical and financial services. By stabilizing and growing existing businesses and by attracting and incubating new ones, the neighborhood could be a source of new jobs and important services.
Actions:
● Identify and promote resources that area businesses can tap into for planning, training and financial capital
● Connect new businesses, universities/colleges and entrepreneurs with mentors, business formation training and potential investors
● Advocate for more financial and technical assistance as needed
Resources/Partnerships:
City’s Department of Development Services, HEDCO (Hartford Economic Development Commission), Liberty Bank, Webster Bank, University of Hartford, the Hartford Chamber of Commerce, the Hartford Business Improvement District (HBID), reSET, the 224 EcoSpace, the Small Business Administration, Senior Core of Retired Executives (SCORE) and the Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
Hart-Lift (American Rescue Plan Act 2021): https://www.hartfordchamberct.com/hart-lift/
ARPA 2021: Sec. 3301. State Small Business Credit Initiative. https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/small-business-programs/state-small-business-credit-initiative-ssbci
Goal 4: Promote and Support Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) to Spur Development, encourage Transit-Oriented Development (TOD), and Innovation
When neighborhood leaders, major employers and government officials agree on what is needed to spur economic and community development, they can work together to enact big changes. Over the next several years, major investments in land and infrastructure are being contemplated for I-84, Union Station, large brownfield tracts and 85 Sigourney Street, among others. By working together, neighborhood residents and leaders from the public and private sectors have an opportunity to leverage those investments in ways that can produce profound, lasting and healthy changes to Asylum Hill.
Action:
Create and sustain a consortium of community, business and government leaders that will meet at least twice a year to explore current issues, future trends and proposed major infrastructure projects affecting Asylum Hill. Current projects include the I-84 Project, the rebuild of Union Station and the Saint Francis/Trinity Health Master Plan as they evolve from concept to design and construction.