Commission Details Cuts Behind $12 Million Grant Ask

Other Committee · Meeting of August 18, 2026

Bloomfield's Town Center Economic Development Commission detailed how it trimmed a state grant request from roughly 20 million dollars to 12 million dollars after an earlier bid was denied. Staff told commissioners the town shifted about 7 million dollars in parking garage costs onto its development partner and saw lower appraisals reduce costs, while possible brownfield issues raised demolition estimates. Total developer costs for the project were put at 86 million to 100 million dollars.

Bloomfield's mayor said he has lobbied Representative Bobby Gibson, state Senators Derek Slap and Doug McQuarrie, and a newly elected senator identified as Kahn, calling their response "very favorable." A decision from the state's Community Investment Fund board is expected in mid-September. The commission also opened a request-for-proposals process, with developer responses due September 25.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 1,861 words

Source: the Other Committee meeting of August 18, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.

The Full Article

Call to Order and Roll Call

The Town Center Economic Development Commission convened at 6:02 p.m. on Tuesday, August 18. Chair Michelle presided over a roll call that recorded three members present: Chair Michelle, Commissioner Hudgen and Commissioner Riley. Commissioners Kerr-Skijo and Ghouli were marked absent. No committee roster was supplied for this meeting, so officer titles and surname spellings below follow the transcript's roll call exactly.

Approval of Minutes

The commission took up minutes from its April 21, 2026 meeting, distributed in advance with the agenda. Commissioner Hudgen moved approval; a second member seconded. With no changes raised, the commission approved the minutes unanimously by voice vote, with the Chair voting aye along with the rest. This was a routine procedural step that consumed roughly a minute of the meeting.

Public Comment

The Chair opened the floor for public comment. No residents or other members of the public came forward to speak, and the item closed without discussion.

New Business: Procurement Update for Town Center Project

Background and stakes: The commission is overseeing a request-for-proposals process to select a private developer for the town center project, a process that determines who will ultimately build out the redevelopment the commission has spent months discussing and funding.

The question before the body: The commission asked for a status update on where the procurement process stood and what the remaining timeline looks like.

Substantive content: Coleman, identified in the transcript only by surname and without a stated title, told the commission the procurement is "underway." The town will hold an informational meeting for interested parties on Thursday, August 20, where staff and representatives of a firm identified in the transcript as Goldman and York will answer general questions about the town and the project. Coleman said August 25 is the deadline for interested parties to submit written questions to Joe Maraca, named in the transcript as the town's procurement officer and the only individual authorized to interact with bidders throughout the process; commissioners, town staff and the town council are barred from direct contact with prospective bidders during the procurement window. Coleman said responses to the request for proposals are due September 25, after which the town will begin a review process. He described the review committee's standard composition as the town manager, the town attorney, one additional staff member and, in this instance, one member of the Town Center Economic Development Commission.

The deliberation: A commissioner asked Coleman to confirm the September 25 deadline for proposal responses, which Coleman confirmed. No other commissioner raised questions or objections on this item.

"The procurement is underway. We're going to have basically an informational meeting with any potential interested parties this Thursday, where we will give general answers to questions and describe the town and build up some more interest, we hope."

[00:01:39] — Coleman

Procedural steps and outcome: This was an informational update with no vote required or taken. The timeline stands as stated: informational meeting August 20, question deadline August 25, proposal deadline September 25.

Implications and what is next: Residents interested in who ultimately develops the town center site will see the pool of bidders take shape over the next several weeks, with a developer selection process to follow the September 25 deadline.

New Business: Community Investment Fund Grant Update

Background and stakes: The town has applied to the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development's Community Investment Fund, known as CIF, for money to support the town center project. A prior, larger application was denied earlier this year, a fact one commissioner raised directly after reviewing the April minutes.

The question before the body: The commission sought an update on the current grant application's amount, its basis, and the reasons the earlier request fell short.

Substantive content: Staff said the town's current ask to DECD is approximately $12 million, down from a prior request described as "about 19 million, maybe more," and at another point as "about $20 million." Asked why that earlier application was denied, staff said the town had one-on-one meetings with DECD's deputy director, who "was pushing hard" on the town's behalf, but other projects and circumstances staff described only as "political tension" contributed to the rejection.

Staff detailed where the new, smaller ask came from. The largest single change: the town removed its own budgeted share of a parking garage near the railroad tracks in the project drawings, estimated at about $7 million, and shifted that cost to the developer's side of the ledger. Lower-than-anticipated appraisals on buildings and parcels within the town center design also reduced the town's projected costs. Partly offsetting those reductions, demolition cost estimates increased for some parcels due to possible brownfield contamination issues. A separate $4 million fund the town has already dedicated to the project remains in place as the town's buy-in and is not part of the $12 million CIF ask. Staff put total developer costs for the project at $86 million to $100 million. A CIF board decision is expected in mid-September, which staff described as a critical window for the town to demonstrate political support.

The deliberation: The commissioner who raised the prior denial pressed on the amount cut: "So what did we give up?" Staff walked through the parking garage shift, the appraisal changes and the brownfield-driven demolition increase in response. A commissioner also asked whether the town's separate $4 million fund was part of the $12 million application; staff clarified it is additional and represents the town's own contribution, distinct from the grant ask.

"In that one, we went in about 19 million, maybe more. And I think a lot of it was political tension, things like that, that came into view on that. This one, we came back stronger, being able to look at where we could cut, where we could add."

[00:06:09] — Coleman

Procedural steps and outcome: No vote was taken on the grant application itself, which was already submitted; this was a status report. Staff said the decision timing from DECD's Community Investment Fund board is expected around mid-September.

Implications and what is next: The town's $12 million ask, and the roughly $86 million to $100 million in anticipated developer costs it is meant to help unlock, hinges on a state funding decision expected within weeks. Shifting the parking garage cost to the developer changes who ultimately bears that portion of project risk.

Political Advocacy for the CIF Application

Background and stakes: Staff told the commission that state officials, including the governor, had advised the town that political support from elected officials would be essential to the CIF application's chances, given that the award decision ultimately involves the governor's office, the lieutenant governor and the CIF board.

The question before the body: Commissioners asked specifically who in Bloomfield's political leadership had been contacted and what response the town had received.

Substantive content: Bloomfield's mayor, invited to the microphone to address the question directly, listed contacts made on the town's behalf: Representative Bobby Gibson (referred to earlier in the same discussion as "Bobby Gibbs"), state Senator Derek Slap, state Senator Doug McQuarrie, and a newly elected senator identified as Senator Kahn. The mayor also said he had spoken with the lieutenant governor, who stressed the importance of bringing state representatives together behind "one resounding pitch," and with the governor during several campaign stops. The mayor said he had additionally spoken with Matt Ritter, who advised making contact with as many legislators as possible, and with a person identified as Matt Pugliese, met at a conference, who gave similar advice and suggested a future meeting whose date has not yet been set. Staff said a person identified only as India had distributed a document to officials laying out talking points and an "elevator speech" in support of the application.

The deliberation: A commissioner asked directly whether the elected officials contacted had responded favorably. The mayor said the response had been "very favorable" and "very supportive." Another commissioner then asked a broader question about the scale of the state's overall CIF funding pool, asking "how big is this kitty." Staff responded that the prior funding round distributed more than $90 million statewide, that the upcoming round is expected to be the program's last, and that the state has not yet set the total funding amount for that final round. Staff closed by saying the application needs "a strong push from the council, not only the mayor, but the deputy mayor and all our council members."

"I have been in contact with Ms. Kahn, and I've continued to have conversations with Representative Bobby Gibson, as well as our state senator, Derek Slap. And I've also been in contact with current state senator, Doug McQuarrie."

[00:09:34] — Bloomfield's mayor

Procedural steps and outcome: No vote applies to this discussion; it was an informational exchange about outreach already underway.

Implications and what is next: The CIF board's mid-September decision window means any further advocacy from Bloomfield's elected officials needs to happen in the coming weeks. Staff flagged a possible in-person meeting with state contacts, date not yet set, as a next step.

Executive Session: Pending Claims and Litigation

The commission closed its open session by moving into executive session to discuss pending claims and litigation. The motion was made by a member identified in the transcript as Mauro and seconded by a member identified as Lenny; these first names do not clearly correspond to the surnames recorded at roll call (Michelle, Hudgen, Riley) and should be reconciled before publication. The motion passed by voice vote. Before closing, the Chair confirmed Coleman and a staff member identified only as Denise would remain for the session, along with the three commissioners present; a remote participant identified only as Justin was also addressed. No substantive content from the executive session is part of the public transcript.

WHO WAS THERE

Chair Michelle, Town Center Economic Development Commission, present. Commissioner Hudgen, Town Center Economic Development Commission, present. Commissioner Riley, Town Center Economic Development Commission, present. Commissioner Kerr-Skijo, Town Center Economic Development Commission, absent. Commissioner Ghouli, Town Center Economic Development Commission, absent. Coleman, town staff presenting the procurement and grant updates (title not stated in available sources). Joe Maraca, named in the transcript as the town's procurement officer. Bloomfield's mayor, addressed the commission on legislative outreach (name not given in transcript). Denise, identified as needed for the executive session (role not specified). Justin, participant joining remotely for the executive session (role not specified). India, identified as having distributed advocacy talking points to officials (role not specified).

ORGANIZATIONS AND DOCUMENTS REFERENCED

Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) — the state agency reviewing the town's Community Investment Fund grant application for the town center project. Community Investment Fund (CIF) — the specific state grant program the town applied to for $12 million toward the town center redevelopment. Goldman and York — identified as a firm whose representatives will attend the procurement informational meeting August 20. April 21, 2026 commission meeting minutes — approved without changes at this meeting; referenced by a commissioner questioning the prior grant denial.