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Highlights and news from the Torrington Development Corporation!
TDC Office Move
The TDC has moved its operations to the third floor of City Hall. Effective January 6, 2012, the new address and phone number are:Torrington Development Corporation
140 Main Street, Room 312
Torrington CT 06790
Phone: 860 489 2242
Dowtown Torrington wins big at the CT Mainstreet 2011 Gala Awards!
TORRINGTON -Several local businesses and initiatives claimed awards during the Connecticut Main Street Awards Gala Monday night.
The Main Street Awards Gala highlighted best-in-class projects, individuals and partnerships that bring main streets back to life socially and economically. The awards of excellence are judged by a select panel of professionals,themselves experts in economic and community development.
The event, held at the Nancy Marine Studio Theatre of the Warner Theatre, brought together people from across the state, as Torrington was chosen to host the event. Mayor Ryan Bingham said it is a credit to the city that the celebration came to Torrington.
“While sometimes we can be our own enemies, in the same breath Torrington was chosen to host the event because the group at Connecticut Main Street saw us as a great example of doing something right,” Mayor Bingham said Monday night. “Throughout the entire night, all I have heard is what a wonderful thing you are doing here.”
Mayor Bingham said the great businesses and great people in town have helped to lead a change in perception of the city. “When people talk negatively, it increases the negative perception. But we really have some excellent people here in town that want to see change.”
The Arts and Culture Commission, responsible for the highly successful Main Street Marketplace, took home the On-Going Event Award, which recognizes an event that occurs at least four times annually and has built traffic and benefited the district.
The Torrington Downtown Partners won the award for Excellence for Emerging Main Street Partnership. The award was presented to the group for its efforts in promoting growth in the downtown.
“It really is a credit the city,” partner Steven Roth said. “They have helped us tremendously in our efforts. There are some really good things happening in Torrington and it’s great the city was chosen to host this event.”
Torrington Downtown Partners member David Bender, who opened a new store on the corner of Main and Water Streets in June 2010, received the Building Rehabilitation Award, which recognizes commitment to the district by a building owner or developer who accomplishes a rehabilitation project.
The building is a throwback to the early 20th century. On the outside, it features an oak facade with gold lettering. Inside, the original windows remain and the high tin ceilings are original and painted black. New hardwood floors were installed and several layers of walls were stripped down for an exposed brick finish.
Julia Sloan, owner of Brazen Betties, received the award for Retail Promotion, which recognizes a promotion that demonstrates direct financial benefit to downtown merchants.
Ms. Sloan was given the award for her First Birthday Street Fair & Art Opening.
“There are some real gems here in Torrington that residents might miss on a day-to-day basis,” Northwest Connecticut’s Chamber of Commerce President and CEO JoAnn Ryan said Monday night. “The fact that an outside group recognized that and chose the Warner for their awards ceremony is very exciting and solidifies its importance.”
“This is just another example of why the Warner plays such an important part in the community and the revitalization efforts in Torrington,” Arts Culture Torrington Chairman Steve Criss, the marketing director for the Warner, said Monday. “It’s great to host an event like this.”
“I think the fact that Torrington claimed four of the 12 awards tonight proves that we are on the right track in terms of revitalization efforts,” Mayor Bingham added. “There are a lot of people thinking positively in town, and hopefully we can keep everything moving along.”
“It really is a credit the city,” partner Steven Roth said. “They have helped us tremendously in our efforts. There are some really good things happening in Torrington and it’s great the city was chosen to host this event.”
***Photo MIKE AGOGLIATI/ Register Citizen Pictured:Members of the Torrington Arts and Culture Comission took home the award for Ongoing Event during the CT Main Street Awards Gala. The award was given to the commission for their work with the Main Street Marketplace events. Pictured from left: John Simone, President of the CT Main Street Center, Rose Ponte, Steve Criss, Julia Sloan, Lynn Gelormino, Jessica Hodorski, Mike McAliister, Gail Kruppa and Jacque Williams.
Mike Agogliati can be reached by e-mail at magogliati@registercitizen.com.
Follow us on Twitter at Twitter.com/registercitizen.
Development Corporation to Discuss Pedestrian Bridge, UConn Presence in Downtown Torrington Plans
TORRINGTON - The Torrington Development Corporation will meet Tuesday to discuss two initiatives that could be implemented soon.
The organization’s executive committee is scheduled to discuss the idea of building a bridge that would span the Naugatuck river and connect the city’s municipal lot with a parking lot behind several Water Street businesses and apartments.
The pedestrian bridge would allow easier access to Main Street and Water Street from the municipal lot, an idea the group has been discussing with the Torrington Downtown Partners.
“The TDC thought the idea would be beneficial to the partners, and we have been in discussion before on the idea,” TDC president Jack Baer said on Monday.
Baer said the group has commissioned Milone and MacBroom, the same design firm that has assisted the TDC in developing its plan to revitalize downtown, to design concepts for the bridge.
“We have three different designs that will be presented during he meeting,” Baer said. “It all depends on with the Downtown Partners want to do going forward.”
Baer said the city has been involved in the process of developing a concept for the bridge, and said that nothing is finalized.
The committee will also discuss the possibility of the University of Connecticut (Uconn) becoming involved in the revitalization of the downtown.
Baer said the college has shown am interest in helping with a focus on rehabbing Torrington with the arts as a focus. He said the group has received a proposal form the university in which it will seek to explore other similar communities that used the arts as an economic driving force.
“We received the proposal and we’ll be discussing what we would like to do with it,” Baer said. “It could be a good way to get Uconn involved.”
Mike Agogliati can be reached by e-mail at magogliati@registercitizen.com.
Follow us on Twitter at Twitter.com/registercitizen.
State's 2010 Top 10 Most Notable Economic Growth Initiatives Recognized
at CERC's Year End Event
CONNECTICUT - CERC hosted its first CELEBRATE CT! event and honored the top 10 economic development projects, programs and leaders from regions around the state.
The 2010 CELEBRATE CT! Award Recipients were:
Every Thursday evening in July and August, Main Street was transformed into a European open air market, complete with street performers, jazz concerts, artisans, Farmer’s Market vendors, and outside dining cafes. One of its many goals was to prove that downtown can be vibrant. This highly successful event, organized by the Arts Culture Torrington Commission (ACT), brought approximately 2,000 visitors to Torrington every week. Local merchants experienced increased sales, and greater visibility, the community enjoyed the many attractions that were offered, and the project drew investor interest.
CERC also recognzied Representative Brendan Sharkey, Connecticut’s new house majority leader, with an award for his role in orchestrating this year’s passing of critical legalization that formally establishes regional economic development districts.
Held at the Bushnell, more than 150 economic development and business professionals attended CELEBRATE CT! to network with their economic development and business counterparts from around the state and to see firsthand winning examples of innovation and perseverance despite the most challenging economic times in decades.
“These awards underscore the tenacity of the state’s regional organizations and their continued commitment and dedication to the growth of Connecticut,” said CERC President and CEO Robert Santy. “Each region partnered with us to identify and acknowledge some of the year’s most outstanding economic development projects, programs and leaders, and CERC is very pleased to feature them at this celebratory year-end event.”
About CERC
Based in Rocky Hill, the Connecticut Economic Resource Center, Inc. is a nonprofit corporation and public-private partnership that provides objective research, marketing and economic development services consistent with making Connecticut a more competitive business environment. For more information, visit www.cerc.com and connect to CERC on FaceBook, LinkedIn and Twitter (@cercinc).
Municipal Development Plan Approved by State of CT
TORRINGTON - In a September 2, 2009 letter to Mayor Ryan Bingham the Department of Economic & Community Development Commissioner formally approved the Torrington Development Corporation’s plan prepared for the City of Torrington.
Commissioner Joan McDonald wrote that the plan is consistent with the state program objectives for development and has met all necessary resolutions, approvals. The letter stipulated that certain statutes will need to be met in the future, and that the City Council is required to review the plan at least once every 10 years.
In his statement Ryan Bingham said he was satisfied with progress and encouraged to see that work on the next phase of the plan is already under way. “This approval fits nicely with the recently received Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) providing $365,000 for sidewalks and improvements on Water Street. This process will blend nicely into a consistent finished product in both plans,” Bingham added.
Vic Muschell, President of TDC said he is elated with the approval. “We expected it, but it is nice to have the approval in hand.” Muschell added, “People need to be reminded that this is the farthest this downtown revival project has ever gone. We still have a long way to go.”
Bill Baxter, Executive Director of the TDC indicated that survey work by the consultant Milone and MacBroom is underway. “The company has its crews on the street as we speak,” he added. Baxter indicated that discussions with key stakeholders in the downtown area are already underway to keep all parties informed and to seek information and advice. “We are working to keep issues and concerns up on the table at all times,” Baxter added.
