Overview

In 2017, the Connecticut General Assembly passed a new law (Public Act 17-214), authorizing the Department of Economic and Community Development (“DECD”) to certify Connecticut non-stock corporations as Connecticut Brownfield Land Banks (Land Banks).  Land Banks can be established for the purposes of acquiring, retaining, remediating and selling brownfields in the state for the benefit of municipalities; educating government officials, community leaders, economic development agencies and nonprofit organizations on best practices for redeveloping brownfields; and engaging in all other activities in accordance with the Land Bank legislation.

Land Banks can generally assist in advancing the remediation and redevelopment of the numerous brownfield sites throughout the State, and specifically, to give municipalities (particular smaller communities) a new set of tools to advance the redevelopment of strategic sites that might otherwise remain idle and blighted without the specialized assistance of a Land Bank. 

Land Banks are eligible to participate in a range of Connecticut state brownfield redevelopment programs, such as grants and liability relief programs, which are otherwise restricted to municipalities or economic development corporations.

The legislation envisions the formation of multiple Land Banks that, once certified with DECD, would partner with cities and towns to redevelop brownfields. 

DECD will collaborate closely with the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (“DEEP”) to evaluate requests for certification made using this application as well as for the annual recertification progress contemplated by the Act.