Program Basics

The CIF will award up to $175 million each fiscal year. It will be awarded across two or more application periods per year.

The fund is a statewide program authorized in Section 32-285a of the Connecticut General Statutes.
These state entities work together to award CIF grants:

  • The Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) administers the program by overseeing the application process, vetting applications, sending application summaries to the CIF Board, and managing awards and reporting.
  • The CIF Board and Office of the Governor review applications and the summaries prepared by DECD and make recommendations to the State Bond Commission.
  • The State Bond Commission approves projects for grants.

 

CIF

Eligible Applicants

  • Municipalities designated in state law as Public Investment Communities or Alliance Districts
  • Community development corporations which serve one or more eligible municipalities
  • Not-for-profit organizations which serve one or more eligible municipalities
CIF

Eligible Projects

  • Promote economic or community development in the municipality where the project is located
  • Consistently and systematically advance fair, just, and impartial treatment of all individuals, including individuals who belong to underserved and marginalized communities such as Black, Latino and indigenous and native American persons, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and other persons of color; members of religious minorities; persons comprising the LGBTQ+ community; persons who live in rural areas; and persons otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality.
  • Round 1 - Funded Projects 
  • Round 2 - Funded Projects 
  • Round 3 - Funded Projects 
CIF

Priority Projects

By statute, the CIF Board will prioritize eligible projects for certain reasons, including applications proposed by a municipality that will:

  • Implement local hiring preferences pursuant to section 7-112 of the general statutes
  • Leverage non-state funds
  • Include a letter of support from a member or members of the General Assembly in whose district the eligible project will be located.

Priority will also be given to proposals that have a project labor agreement or employ or will employ ex-offenders or individuals with physical, intellectual or developmental disabilities.

CIF

Other Considerations

When it summarizes applications for review by the CIF Board, the Department of Economic and Community Development will highlight applications that: