High pg 1 12-29-11
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- Category: Past Issues
caption, page 3:
Lots labeled 1-4 are town owned and were donated by Wheelabrator of Putnam last year. The rest of the lots, curving downward and to the left, are privately owned. The new access bridge would be built straight across Kennedy Drive from Exit 95 off I-395 (shown lower right). Beta Group Inc. drawing.
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM --- With nearly a half a million dollars in the town's pocket, Putnam is putting the hammer down on its Quinebaug Regional Technology Park.
Governor Dannel Malloy visited Putnam last week, bringing "a wonderful Christmas gift," according to newly elected Mayor Peter Place --- $469,000 in Small Town Economic Assistance Program (STEAP) grant money.
Place added that "there's no two ways about it" the reason that the STEAP grant money came to Putnam was because of the regional approach that the area took to pursue the funding. "The only way it works is to piggyback with other towns," he said.
Place said to Malloy, "Once again, thank you to you Gov. Malloy and the state of Connecticut for making the future of Putnam and this entire area such a priority. We have the opportunity to bring industry to this area that will ensure the people of the entire region an opportunity of employment and it also fits into the state's vision of a regional approach to economic development." Place also said the project will bring about 1,200 jobs once the technology park is built out, it will increase Putnam's tax revenue and diversify it, too and it will bring in additional retail and sales tax revenue.
The town already has more than $2 million put aside for the bridge that will cross over Kennedy Drive at exit ramp 95 off I-395. $319,000 of the newest grant windfall will to toward creating access on each side of that bridge to a new technology park. $50,000 will go toward a topographical survey and a lot survey, according to Town Administrator Douglas M. Cutler. Another $75,000 will to toward roadway and utility design. $15,000 will be used for possible traffic signals and $10,000 will be used for additional archeology surveys and environmental studies.
The archeological survey near the proposed bridge showed no problems and an A-2 survey is also complete. Currently CME, which designed the access bridge, is working up bid specifications for this spring.
Economic and Community Development Director Delpha Very said the first priority is to get access into the technology park land and "get ready for the first tenant, the Regional YMCA."
Last year Wheelabrator of Putnam donated about 62 acres to Putnam. Three of the lots created from that donation will become lots to be sold to high tech companies, Cutler said. The fourth lot, about 15 acres, will go to the Regional Y. Additional acreage that curves south from the town's property, like a comma, is owned by two family trusts and the town is exploring a "marketing" business model that would basically allow the town to market private property for technology.