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OLR Bill Analysis
sSB 1042
AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AND
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TO PROVIDE CAPACITY BUILDING
GRANTS TO CONNECTICUT BROWNFIELD LAND BANKS.
SUMMARY
This bill expands the Remedial Action and Redevelopment
Municipal Grant Program’s scope to include grants for Connecticut
brownfield land bank (CBLB) operational expenses. It authorizes the
Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD)
commissioner to award capacity-building grants of up to $50,000 from
the program for operational expenses to any CBLB that (1) matches the
funding award and (2) has entered into land banking agreements with
at least two municipalities that are parties to the agreement.
Under the bill, a CBLB may apply to DEC D, in a way the
commissioner determines, for a capacity-building grant of any amount
the CBLB specifies, up to the maximum amount. The CBLB must include
any information the commissioner needs to determine whether to
award the grant in whole or in part, including information to verify that
the CBLB has sufficient matching funds and has entered into at least one
land banking agreement as required.
The bill also makes numerous conforming changes (§§ 2-5).
EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2023
BACKGROUND
Remedial Action and Redevelopment Municipal Grant Program
Under current law, DECD’s Remedial Action and Redevelopment
Municipal Grant Program provides grants of up to $4 million to
municipalities, CBLBs, and economic development agencies for eligible
brownfield remediation or assessment projects and administrative 2023SB-01042-R000220-BA.DOCX
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expenses of up to 5% of the grant awarded.
Connecticut Brownfield Land Banks
The law authorizes DECD to certify Connecticut non-stock
corporations as CBLBs. They can be established to, among other things,
(1) acquire, retain, remediate, and sell brownfields to benefit
municipalities and (2) educate government officials, community
leaders, economic development agencies, and nonprofit organizations
on best practices for redeveloping brownfields (CGS §§ 32-771 & -773).
COMMITTEE ACTION
Commerce Committee
Joint Favorable Substitute
Yea 16 Nay 8 (03/09/2023)