Neighborhood Revitalization Zones
Introduction
In 1995, the legislature created enabling legislation allowing
for the creation of Neighborhood Revitalization Zones for
economically impacted communities in the State of Connecticut.
Conditions in many neighborhoods at the time were viewed as drastic,
with abandoned buildings and wholesale disinvestment in urban
neighborhoods. The NRZ legislation was designed to address the
issues of blight, environmental contaminants in buildings, and
restrictive building and fire codes. It was also designed to give
neighborhoods more say in determining their future and to assist
them in neighborhood planning and community building activities.
The NRZ legislation has, since 1995, fostered a swell of grass roots
participation in the neighborhood planning process. Since 1995,
Neighborhood Revitalization Zones have been organized in over
thirty-five communities. The legislation has "empowered" residents
to get involved in the future of their communities, implement
strategic neighborhood plans, and carrying out small scale projects
in housing, public safety and economic development.
NRZs Today
As mentioned, the NRZ legislation has led to the formation of
NRZs in over thirty communities in Connecticut. Hartford has
embraced this model with more than fifteen NRZs in the city alone.
Smaller communities like Middletown, Norwich, and Willimantic have
also used the process to organize neighborhood planning initiatives.
NRZs vary greatly in scope and maturity. The most mature NRZs have
been at work for three or four years, have well thought-out
strategic plans and have carried out projects within the plan. The
Broad Street NRZ in New Britain, for example, is implementing a
major commercial district revitalization program. In the Hamden, the
Highville Mustard Seed NRZ, was founded and continues to grow as a
center point for the community. The South End NRZ in Stamford is
looking at the development sites for housing and small businesses.
Many other NRZs are in the process of completing their strategic
plans. Still other NRZs are just starting out in their planning
efforts. The Fair Haven NRZ is an example of a new NRZ with a bold
agenda for commercial revitalization, brownfield rehabilitation, and
housing.
NRZ Economic Development Assistance Program
CEDF and the Office of Policy and Management have created a pool
of matching funds to support the NRZ program. NRZs selected for the
program will be provided with the services of a consultant in the
field of economic development. Their services will be designed to
provide NRZs with the skills necessary to implement either all or
part of their economic development plan. Maximum payment for a
consultant's work will be $5,000.
Assistance to the selected NRZs will be in the form of consultants'
time. Consultants shall be engaged by CEDF on a contractual basis.
No funds will go directly to local NRZs.
Summary of Proposed Activities
Selected NRZs will be able to work with a consultant on one of
the following types of assistance.
- Technical Assistance in the refinement of the Economic Development
section of an NRZ's Strategic Plan.
- Technical Assistance in the development of certain studies and
reports that would be necessary for future development projects.
- Technical Assistance in the development of a specific economic
development project.
Eligibility
Eligible NRZs are those that have had enabling resolutions passed
by their respective municipalities, established by-laws, have
developed an approved strategic plan as required under P.A. 95-340,
and have a working Economic Development Committee. Those NRZs that
cannot meet the strategic plan criterion may request special
consideration for assistance if they have an established economic
development plan for the neighborhood and/or have identified a
specific economic development project.
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