Economic Development/Marketing/Grants/CDBG Report July 2021 Downtown Development News  An update for Centre Square development will be provided at the July 1 meeting.  We are working closely with a proven restaurant that is interested in a Bristol location. The restauranteurs are evaluating several spaces and several communities but we are trying our best.  A Downtown Grant application for paving for C&R Printing will be presented July 1.  ECD continues to partner with Public Works on a large map that identifies close to 20 planned or in-process developments and infrastructure projects downtown.  ECD staff is still working with KindCare Assisted Living on an incentive package. Right now staff must determine if the City has the ability to utilize C.G.S. 12-65b to offer an abatement.  The Farmer’s Market has had two events at its new location on Centre Square across from Better Half Brewing.  Engineering firm GM2 is nearing completion on its design and cost analysis to complete a streetscape “light” project on Route 72 – Riverside Ave. and Park St.  The City and its land bank partner New Colony Development have been awarded $2 million from the CT Department of Economic and Community Development for the environmental remediation of the “Sessions” building. Development Outside Downtown News  A site plan for Lot #2 has received Planning approval and will move on to the Zoning commission  We are working with the developer who is taking a different approach to developing the property on Redstone Hill Road that was the subject of a zone change application to allow multifamily residential in the area.  A “fuel storage and distribution depot” is nearing site plan approval for the Minor Road area near the State of CT Technical School and R&R Corrugated.  The owners of the R&R Corrugated building are planning a building expansion to accommodate Benjamin International (a business we brought here).  ECD staff are working on two separate deals regarding the Theis Steel property on Broad St.  We are working on several development deals involving the cannabis industry. This is an industry that we have been preparing for. More to come  We submitted letters of interest for applying for Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funding to acquire and demolish Nuchies and the NAPA property on Memorial Boulevard.  We continue to collaborate with the City Assessor, Corporation Counsel, and Verogy Solar regarding a PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) agreement for Verogy’s large solar farm at the former Minor’s Farm property.  Route 6: o Wings Over Bristol has officially moved to the new building on the sacred ground on which Frankies once stood. o America’s Best Contacts and Eyeglasses will soon open in Bristol Plaza o We have been meeting with Torrington Savings Bank concerning its new location on Route 6. o Burlington is scheduled to open this fall in Bristol Plaza o Sonic has reopened following an extensive renovation o There is a new coffee franchise called Aroma Joe’s that I mentioned months back. Aroma Joe’s has submitted its site plan for the former Webster Bank location at the Big Lots plaza. o Bristol Health has opened a new blood drawing station across the street from its former location near Moe’s Southwest Grill. o Modern Dentistry will be filling the former space of Dr. Katkowski (we helped Dr. Katkowski on his dental practice relocation to Pine Street). o Liberty Bank is closing its Bristol branch on Route 6 o It is very early but a national “fast food” retailer is slated to open on the properties adjacent to KFC Recent New Businesses/Startup Projects  Family Eyecare has opened on King St./Route 6  “The Dance Project” has opened at the former Off Track Betting (OTB) facility near Barlow Street.  We are working with an experienced tattoo artist preparing to open her own shop on Central St.  New Downtown Businesses: Diana Gonzalez of CT Ears has opened her office space but will only open the on-site clinic once the soundproof booth is installed.  Family Roots is preparing to submit its business plan and Downtown Grant application to the StartUP Bristol group in the coming months.  Raw Food Central is open and doing well. The company will return with its updated Economic Development Grant.  Bakery on Maple has opened  Dusty Dude Woodworks, a popular home-based business, has made the jump to leasing space downtown.  Rumba Lounge has opened in Forestville Marketing Marketing and Public Relations Initiatives: 1) Filming of the “Made in Bristol” documentary-style video has been completed. We’ll be working on a marketing plan for the video over the summer months to be launched in August or September timeframe. Additional 1-minute videos will be done to feature more established Bristol businesses – the filming will begin in the fall. 2) Centre Square Mural: the muralist is in the process of finishing the details on the mural – see photos of progress in Communications. 3) Opening Day of the Farmers Market on Saturday, June 19 was successful – the addition of the picnic tables and corn hole game added an additional way for attendees to enjoy the market after they shop. See marketing plan in Communications which has been implemented to promote the market. Social media will continue through the season. 4) Bristol Business Anniversary visits will continue through the summer. More will be scheduled for July and August and you will receive an invite to attend once schedules are finalized for each business. There are a total of 21 Bristol businesses celebrating milestone anniversaries this year – 30 years or more.

Grants Administration Fire Department: FEMA Assistance to Firefighters (AFG) 2018: All grant-funded training has wrapped up and the final reimbursement/grant closeout paperwork will be submitted to FEMA in July. FEMA Assistance to Firefighters (AFG) 2019: The next phase of training has started with the second grant from FEMA. The 2019 grant will expire in 2022, and will include training for Fire Officer II and Incident Safety Officer. City of Bristol Recovery Alliance (COBRA): Working with the Bristol Police Department, Bristol-Burlington Health District, Bristol Hospital Behavioral Health and EMS, and others, a grant application is being submitted to the Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance “FY 2021 Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, Substance Abuse Site-Based Program,” to support an expansion of the existing COBRA program that provides medication assisted treatment and arrest diversion for individuals with substance abuse problems. This effort to reduce drug overdoses, deaths from overdoses, and suicides, will be coordinated by the BBHD in collaboration with the Police Department and Bristol Hospital. Bristol Public Library: Restoration of the historic Reading Rooms, including the removal of cracked plaster and the remediation of lead-based paint, was recently completed with a grant from the State Historic Preservation Office. Close-out documents from that project include the placement of a preservation lien on the library. CDBG Program Highlights CDBG-CV Grants (Year 45): An Open House was held in mid-June at St. Vincent DePaul Mission, which was attended by the director of the HUD Field Office in Hartford. With the completion of this project, the first CDBG-CV grant will be closed out shortly. Residents of the shelter will be moving into the newly refurbished second and third floors shortly. Current CDBG Year 46: All of the Public Service and capital projects are on target to be completed by June 30. There are no requests for extensions. Future CDBG Year 47: Ready to go…