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CMSC encourages everyone to take advantage of the most powerful tool for change at our disposal - the right to vote. Despite endless news coverage on the Presidential election, many issues that affect our every day lives like roads, parks, education and downtown development are decided at the local level, so make sure your voice counts.
VOTE on November 8th!
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CMSC Welcomes Two New Interns
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Lydia Chen & Paris Hannon-Bogosh join CMSC this fall from Trinity College
Yingfang (Lydia) Chen
is a junior, double-majoring in International Studies and Urban Studies. Originally from Shenzhen, China, Lydia spent her high school years at Fairmont Preparatory Academy in Anaheim, CA, where she was active in student government and community outreach. Her Urban Studies objectives include evaluating the utilization of principles of community building, problem solving, and strategic planning to critical issues identified by the community.
Paris
Hannon-Bogosh is a junior, double-majoring in American Studies and Public Policy & Law. A native of Richmond, VA, Paris previously interned for CT Secretary of the State Denise Merrill; the Connecticut State Board of Accountancy; and the law firm of Lowis & Gellen, LLP. Her American Studies and Public Policy objectives are focused on policy and race relations.
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Young Energetic Solutions (YES) is hosting a panel discussion at this year's SNEAPA Conference in Worcester, MA. The panel, which includes Windsor Deputy Mayor Dr. Jody Terranova, Farmington Town Planner Bill Warner, AICP, Spark Makerspace Board Member & Civic Entrepreneur Hannah Gant, Armsby Abbey (MA) owner Alec Lopez, and moderator Jason Vincent, AICP, Stonington Director of Planning, will discuss how cultivating civic engagement can help push the boundaries of economic development. The SNEAPA Conference is an annual
convening of the Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts chapters of the American Planning Association, and attracts hundreds of planners, landscape architects, engineers, academics, students and others each year. YES is a group that works to empower young people across Connecticut to create vibrant communities, and is co-chaired by CMSC's Christine Schilke and CIL's Diana Deng.
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CCAPA Accepting Nominations for 2016 Planning Awards
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Know about a great planning project or inspirational effort? Submit your nomination
for the Connecticut Chapter of the American Planning Association's (CCAPA) 2016 Planning Awards. These awards provide an opportunity to recognize and share great work whether it is a hard-working citizen, innovative process or a solution to a vexing problem.
Deadline is October 28. Click
here for more info and examples of previous winners.
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Help Update CT Bike & Ped Plan and Map
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Attend an upcoming public meeting for your opportunity to learn
more about the Connecticut Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan and Map Update, sponsored by CT DOT and Fitzgerald & Halliday, Inc. Several sessions are being offered around the state where you can provide input on changes to sidewalk, intersection, or bicycle facilities, draft recommendations thus far, and review the draft Bicycle Network Map. All meetings include a brief presentation and time for questions.
Click
here for meeting times, locations and details.
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UConn Landscape Architecture Students Present at CMSC
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On Friday, October 7th, UConn Landscape Architecture students presented preliminary results of their senior studio project to a group of professionals at CMSC's office.
The goal of the studio is to grow the students' knowledge of urban planning and design and to develop new ideas and plans for the area between Union Station and the XL Center in Hartford.
As part of this process the students visited downtown Hartford multiple times. They participated in one of the Open Planning Studios for the I-84 project and learned about the work of the Connecticut Main Street Center, with both Susan Westa and John Simone presenting to the class.
The
students' presentations included analyses of the city, downtown Hartford and the Union Station area, and project concepts and initial plans for the project area. Audience members including CMSC Board members Toni Gold and David Sousa, Emily Hultquist from CRCOG and Jonathan Cabral from CHFA provided feedback and suggestions. The students were so excited about the project and the feedback that they decided to continue refining their plans and will share their final products with the group later in the semester.
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CMSC & CEDAS Enjoy Golden Evening in Downtown Willimantic
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On Thursday, October 6th, CMSC and CEDAS joined forces to bring our members to downtown Willimantic. Over 50 people enjoyed a beautiful fall evening that began with speakers at Windham Town Hall including Economic Development Director Jim Bellano, local
restauranteur Andrew Gutt and Willimantic Police Lt. Stanley Parizo. State Representative Susan Johnson and State Senator Mae Flexer also addressed the audience. Several local experts led the group on a guided tour through downtown, stopping at many businesses and renewed sites on Main Street. Mayor Ernie Eldridge joined the fun, greeting members along the way. The event, which was reported on in the Willimantic Chronicle, was capped off with a networking reception at Andrew Gutt's event space at 750 Main Street.
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▪
Save the Date for North
Central CT Chamber of Commerce Business Symposium -
The North Central Connecticut Chamber of Commerce is holding their first annual Business Symposium on October 27th with support from the Town of Enfield. Listen as insightful speakers help business leaders through these rapidly changing times. Event includes buffet dinner and speed networking; limited sponsorships available.
Purchase tickets here.
▪ New Round of Brownfield Funding Announced - Governor Malloy recently announced that DECD is now accepting applications for grant funding to help remediate and redevelop brownfield sites throughout the state. Grants may be used for a range of brownfield assessment, remediation and redevelopment activities, including abatement, demolition, site investigation and assessment, groundwater monitoring, installation of institutional controls, and professional services fees associated with redevelopment.
Applications must be submitted by November 16. Click here for more information and application forms.
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Spotlight on 2016 Awards of Excellence
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CT Main Street Business Owner of the Year: Fairfield Theatre Company,
Downtown Fairfield
"FTC has turned two underused venues into powerhouse theatres..."
The New York Times
Fairfield Theatre Company (FTC) is a nonprofit center for the arts and culture located in the heart of Fairfield, CT. Through a unique partnership with the town, it's fulfilling i
ts mission to connect and enrich the community through the transforming power of the arts, while building a reputation as one of the region's most energetic and productive performing arts centers. Today FTC presents over 250 concerts, plays, films, art shows, children's workshops, and other arts-related productions to over 40,000 patrons each year.
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