Norwich gets 11 applications for $1.1M in federal grants

Fire department seeks $427,000 to buy equipment

Norwich — The city community development office has received 11 grant applications, including two from the program itself, for $1.1 million in federal community development block grant funds expected to be available in the next federal fiscal year.

The requests total $1.3 million, $167,619 more than the anticipated available funding, community development officials said Friday, the deadline for receiving applications for next fiscal year.

The applications include several repeat requests, including Norwich Human Services, which submitted applications for $15,000 for its successful Rapid Rehousing program to help people avoid homelessness and $50,000 for its Norwich Works job training program. Safe Futures also hopes to receive $15,000 to continue its domestic violence counseling and victim advocacy programs in Norwich.

New this year was a request from Norwich Community Development Corp. for $100,000 to provide financial assistance to businesses in the city’s commercial areas to pay for improved signage and awnings. NCDC would provide up to $2,000 to each business that has completed a sign or awning installation to pre-approved and permitted plans.

“The inconsistency and poor quality of the existing awnings and signage lends to a blighted appearance,” NCDC officials wrote in their application. “The blighted appearance is a deterrent for potential investors from considering developing business in the city of Norwich.”

The application said the city during “more prosperous” times had uniform wood signage and colorful awnings, creating “an atmosphere of safety and pride in the community” and attracting customers.

A map in the application showed a target area for the signs and awnings running from Thamesville along Route 32, downtown and Greeneville.

Norwich Public Works has Taftville in its plan for block grant funding, requesting $183,000 to install sidewalks along Norwich Avenue from the Hunters Road intersection to the Starr-Wood grocery store. Public Works also requested $60,000 to install a handicapped accessible ramp at the entrance to the new Youth and Family Services office at the Norwich Recreation Department building at 75 Mohegan Road.

The largest request was submitted by Norwich Fire Department for $427,000 to purchase 44 air packs and related equipment for firefighters.

The Norwich Fire Department also returned an $85,000 CDBG grant awarded to build a storage building after it received a state grant for it.

Norwich Housing Authority requested $75,000 for the second phase of heating system upgrades at the Rosewood Manor complex. The funding would pay for new, high-efficient heating systems in 16 units.

The community development office submitted its request for $170,000 for office administration and $250,000 for the property rehabilitation program that provides forgivable loans to qualifying homeowners.

In total, the program anticipates getting $753,993 in CDBG funds next fiscal year and plans to re-allocate $432,607 in “recaptured” funds from past projects, including funds from projects that never happened and leftover money from projects completed under budget, said Program Assistant Tianne Curtis.

Requests will be reviewed by the Community Development Advisory Committee, which will make recommendations to the City Council in May.