City offers online meeting on applying for grants

TORRINGTON — Torrington Economic Development Director Rista Malanca recently announced that the city is accepting grant applications for two community grant programs, funded through the American Rescue Plan Act: Community Impact Grants, and Façade And Building Improvement Grants

A community grant informational meeting for potential applicants will e held on Zoom at 9 a.m. July 6. To attend, go to zoom.us/join, Meeting number 849 0781 9904, passcode: 47D73Z

Or use the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/ j/84907819904?pwd=eY hrtH8rABHWO-7yXTldW GWXASlgvn.1.

Interested residents can also call in at 301-715-8592, Meeting number 84907819904#, passcode *933655#

Potential applicants are encouraged to visit https:// www.torringtonct.org/Communitygrants for grant details and applications.

This is the second round of funding from the city's allocation of ARPA funding. Torrington has received more than $10 million from the program. The city extended the facade improvement program in June, based on an “overwhelming response” from the community, according to Malanca.

According to Malanca, the community impact grants can be used to reengage Torrington's youth, increase child care capacity, provide mental health support throughout the community, support the travel and tourism industries, support Torrington's creative economies and workforce development or job training programs, address drug and alcohol addiction or domestic violence, food insecurity, housing insecurity and homelessness.

Facade and building improvement grants require a match of up to $25,000, the same amount of the grant. Torrington will reimburse up to half of the project's expenses. The deadline to apply is Aug. 14.

Applicants can use the money for materials and wages for projects that improve the overall condition of commercial buildings such as facade improvements on portions of the buildings visible from a public street, and interior improvements that address life safety or code improvements.