Celebrating 100 years in Asylum Hill
The Hartford commits $10M to neighborhood
HARTFORD — The Hartford is commemorating a century spent in the Asylum Hill neighborhood by committing $10 million over the next five years to meeting community needs, the insurance company said Tuesday.
While headquartered downtown for more than 200 years, The Hartford has had a presence in Asylum Hill since 1920. It was the first of the city’s major insurance companies to move into the neighborhood.
To mark its centennial anniversary there, The Hartford surveyed residents and nonprofits of Asylum Hill between August and September to identify the most pressing needs. It found those were job readiness, housing and homelessness resources and improved safety.
“The Hartford is proud to continue its long-standing support of the Asylum Hill neighborhood, the place we’ve called home for 100 years,” said Kathy Bromage, chief marketing and communications officer for The Hartford. “The strong partnerships we’ve built with nonprofits in the neighborhood have positioned us well to take action and continue to foster a safe, strong and successful community.”
The survey showed that the pandemic has strained resources in Asylum Hill, with 33% of respondents saying the greatest impact was job loss and a reduction of hours. Another 19% said assistance programs have been stretched thin by a lack of resources.
The Hartford said it will work to meet immediate and long-term needs by working with the Asylum Hill Neighborhood Association and the company’s current partners, including The Village for Families and Children, United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut and Northside Institutions Neighborhood Alliance.
The $10 million commitment follows a $7 million investment The Hartford made in Asylum Hill in 2010.
“The Hartford has been an anchor institution in the city of Hartford for 200 years, and their commitment to the Hartford community has been extraordinary,” Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin said. “I’m deeply grateful for The Hartford’s commitment to the city and to the Asylum Hill neighborhood in particular, and look forward to working closely with The Hartford as they make this significant neighborhood investment over the next five years.”