Shelton Receives $4 Million State Grant For Redevelopment Of Blighted Property

SHELTON, CT — The Shelton Economic Development Corporation is set to receive a $4 million state grant for cleanup of a 1.3-acre privately-owned site located on Canal Street, Governor Ned Lamont announced this week.

According to a news release provided by Lamont's office, the money is part of $28.2 million in funding from the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development’s Brownfield Remediation and Development Program.

Sixteen properties around the state are receiving grants through the program.

"By cleaning up blighted and vacant properties, we can put this land back into productive use in smart ways that support the growth of businesses and new jobs, and also to build new housing, which is significantly needed," Lamont said in a statement. "Through the remediation of these properties, we are creating new opportunities to revitalize neighborhoods and transform otherwise unusable lots into new spaces where businesses can thrive and residents can live."

According to officials, the Canal Street site has a history of manufacturing uses, including hardware, cutlery, railway lighting and equipment and operations as a tool and machine shop.

Demolition/abatement and remediation of the site will enable the construction of 100 units of housing on the site, officials noted.

In addition to Shelton, the following communities are set to receive grants under this round: Ashford, Willington, Bridgeport, Chaplin, Enfield, Greenwich, Hartford, Killingly, Newtown, Torrington, Watertown and West Hartford.

"Our investments in these dormant, polluted sites are critical to helping communities capitalize on opportunities for reinvention," DECD Commissioner Daniel O'Keefe said in a news release. "This round of funding has a significant impact in many areas, especially in supporting the creation of new housing, which is crucial to furthering the economic progress we've achieved in recent years."