(VERNON, Connecticut) – Vernon Mayor Dan Champagne announced that the Town of Vernon has been awarded a $2 million grant from the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development for cleanup of the Daniel’s Mill at 98 East Main Street.
Mayor Champagne directed town staff to apply for the grant earlier this year as part of his ongoing program to breathe new life into the mills and repurpose them for Vernon’s future. The Town is working with Camden Management Partners of Atlanta, Georgia to redevelop three adjoining mills in downtown Vernon, including Daniel’s Mill, Amerbelle and Anocoil.
“We have been putting the pieces together in what will be a transformational redevelopment project for Rockville,” Mayor Champagne said. “This $2 million grant is a key step in this ongoing process and will help us cleanup Daniel’s Mill and create an attractive gateway to downtown Vernon.”
Vernon has already received $4 million in grants to cleanup the Amerbelle site and $300,000 to study the Daniel’s Mill. The new grant will allow the Town to move forward on cleanup at the Daniel’s Mill.
The site plan for the mill complex calls for 110,000 square feet of residential units, 20,000 square feet of commercial space and associated parking. A restaurant and event space is planned for the commercial space.
“This is a spectacular piece of property with waterfalls and the Hockanum River flowing through it,” Mayor Champagne said. “Every grant we obtain moves us closer to meaningfully repurposing these mills, which are historically and esthetically connected.”
Last week the Town of Vernon formally took control of the Daniel’s Mill through a tax sale, and also obtained liability relief for the contamination through a state program.
The $2 million grant allocated for Vernon was included in a $19 million package of grants to remediate blighted properties that Governor Ned Lamont announced this week.
“Cleaning up blighted properties that have been vacant for decades and putting them into productive use will ultimately generate back many more times the amount of these grants through private investments,” Governor Lamont said. “If we remediate these properties now, we can turn an eyesore into an asset, revitalize neighborhoods, and transform otherwise unusable property into new space for businesses and residents.”
The state funding through the Brownfield Remediation Program is expected to leverage approximately $156 million in private funding and help in the investigation and cleanup of approximately 418 acres of land.
“These investments in the remediation and assessment of contaminated sites are unlocking economic development opportunities all across Connecticut,” Department of Economic and Community Development Deputy Commissioner Alexandra Daum said. “They will create jobs, foster small business growth, allow for new recreational spaces, and expand housing options for our residents – all critical to building more vibrant communities and neighborhoods.”
The grant funds will be used to address underground tanks at the Daniel’s Mill and other contamination discovered during the previous study.
“Brownfield redevelopment has been one of my top priorities and I appreciate the state’s support, which is key in helping our community continue to move forward with this project,” Mayor Champagne said. “These mills are an important part of Vernon’s history, and my goal is to make them an important part of our future too.”
Shaun Gately, Vernon’s Economic Development Coordinator, said remediating environmental issues at Daniel’s Mill is an important step in furthering the town’s partnership with the developers.
Mill redevelopment projects completed in Vernon include the transformation of Roosevelt Mill into Loom City Lofts, the Talcott Brothers Mill into the Old Talcott Mill Apartments, and the Hockanum Mills complex into Kaplan Cycles and the New England Motorcycle Museum. A brownfield on Grove Street was recently transformed into the Gene Pitney Memorial Park.
About the Town of Vernon
The Town of Vernon is a celebrated place to live, work and visit. From its beautiful parks and lakes, to its vast trails and historic homes and buildings, Vernon is a resilient and thriving community that promotes the health and wellbeing of its residents and values the natural environment. With a resident population of approximately 30,000 and occupying 18.03 square miles, Vernon combines a balanced appreciation of history, and a strong economic base for growth, both residential and commercial. Located 15 minutes east of the Connecticut capital of Hartford, and 25 miles from the City of Springfield, Massachusetts, the Town of Vernon is strategically located in “New England's Knowledge Corridor” with close proximity to some of the top colleges and universities in the country.
Designated a certified Sustainable Community, the Town of Vernon offers a wide range of benefits and services to its residents. The Town of Vernon is a full-service municipality that practices a management philosophy of continuous quality improvement. To learn more about the Town of Vernon, please call (860) 870- 3670 or visit www.vernon-ct.gov.