Senator Honig Welcomes $1.2 Million in State Grants to Clean Up Torrington Brownfield Sites

Senator Paul Honig, D-Harwinton, today welcomed the announcement that Torrington will receive $1.2 million in state grants to remediate blighted properties and support future redevelopment in the city.

The grants, announced by Governor Ned Lamont through the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development’s Brownfield Remediation and Development Program, will fund three projects in Torrington:

• $800,000 for cleanup of the 7.54-acre former Torrington Company/Excelsior Needle Company site at 59 Field Street, including abatement and demolition of a 24,000-square-foot building and creation of additional parking to support adjacent commercial space.
• $200,000 to complete environmental assessment activities at the former Torrington Standard Plant site on 4.61 acres at and around 52 Norwood Street to identify contaminants and inform future redevelopment.
• $200,000 for comprehensive brownfield planning for downtown Torrington, focused on the north end of Main Street, to develop a long-term remediation and redevelopment strategy.

“These grants give Torrington the tools to reclaim land that has sat vacant for far too long,” Senator Honig said. “Cleaning up contaminated or blighted sites is essential to creating space for new businesses, housing, and opportunities. These investments will help reimagine what’s possible and position Torrington for the kind of growth the community deserves.”

Statewide, the $28.2 million in grants will support remediation and assessment of 16 blighted properties across 13 municipalities, helping to bring more than 200 acres of land back into productive use.

“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,” Governor Lamont said. “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.”