Gov. Ned Lamont on Tuesday announced $36.5 million in grants for eight economic development projects, including $5.5 million to help build 57 apartments in Hartford and $5.3 million to help transform a blighted factory in Torrington into a marketplace and offices. “We created this grant program as a component of our efforts to spur economic growth and the creation of new jobs as we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic,” Lamont said. This latest round of Connecticut Communities Challenge grants will leverage approximately $143.5 million worth of investment from other sources for projects that fit the state program’s goals of supporting livability, vibrancy and equity. The $100 million grant program aims to create approximately 3,000 jobs and is a pillar of Lamont’s statewide economic development strategy. The state aims to allocate about half of funding to projects in distressed municipalities.

Major Greater Hartford, CT development projects get boost from new state funding