(a) The state shall, consistent with and supportive of the goals of promoting the health, welfare and safety of the people of the state and increasing their quality of life, boosting tourism, stimulating the economy and enhancing the ability of people to enjoy the Connecticut River, assess the benefits and opportunity costs to the city of Hartford and to the state of the current use and alternative uses of the Hartford Brainard Airport property.
(b) To further such assessment and identify the related costs, the Department of Economic and Community Development shall have an analysis conducted that includes, but is not limited to, the following:
(1) The economic impact, direct, indirect, quantitative and qualitative, of the current use of the property to the state and to the region surrounding the property;
(2) The economic impact, direct, indirect, quantitative and qualitative, of alternative uses of the property, including commercial, residential and recreational opportunities, to the state and to the region surrounding the property;
(3) Identification of any environmental or flood control obstacles to the development of alternative uses of the property, including the conducting of any required testing of the site, and the possible avenues and associated costs to render the property environmentally developable;
(4) Identification of any federal, state or local governmental obstacles, including existing contractual obligations, to the development of alternative uses of the property, the possible avenues to remove each such obstacle and the associated costs of pursuing each avenue; and
(5) The highest and best use of the property if not its current use, taking into consideration the findings of subdivisions (2) to (4), inclusive, of this subsection and the goals set forth in subsection (a) of this section.
(c) (1) To accomplish the analysis, the Department of Economic and Community Development shall issue a request for proposals for an entity to oversee the analysis and the production of the report required under subsection (e) of this section. Once selected, such entity shall issue separate requests for qualifications to engage consultants or entities, or both, to undertake (A) the economic components of the analysis, (B) the environmental components of the analysis, and (C) the regulatory components of the analysis. Such entity shall select consultants and entities whose expertise best lends itself to analyzing the specific subject matter components of the analysis.
(2) The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection shall obtain from the United States Army Corps of Engineers any information or reports generated in the preceding ten years by said agency pertaining to the Connecticut River in Hartford and Wethersfield. Said department shall provide such information or reports to the Department of Economic and Community Development, for distribution to the appropriate consultants or entities under subdivision (1) of this subsection to inform the analysis.
(d) (1) The Connecticut Airport Authority, established pursuant to section 15-120bb, shall assist and work collaboratively with the entities and consultants engaged under subdivision (1) of subsection (c) of this section to accomplish the analysis.
(2) For the period commencing July 1, 2022, to May 31, 2024, inclusive, the Connecticut Airport Authority shall not enter into any agreements or incur any obligations that would further encumber the property or that would prohibit or impinge the development of alternative uses of the property, unless such agreement or obligation provides for its termination without liability in the event the property is no longer to be used as an airport in the future, in which case such agreement or obligation shall terminate not later than six months after a decision is made to close the airport.
(3) The provisions of subdivision (2) of this subsection shall not apply to the acceptance of federal grants from the Federal Aviation Administration for items deemed to be necessary for the safe operation of the airport, provided nothing that extends or will have the result of extending a runway shall be considered necessary for the safe operation of the airport.
(e) Not later than October 15, 2023, the Department of Economic and Community Development shall submit a report of the findings of the analysis to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to finance, revenue and bonding.
(P.A. 22-118, S. 426.)
History: P.A. 22-118 effective July 1, 2022.
Structure Connecticut General Statutes
Title 32 - Commerce and Economic and Community Development
Chapter 578 - Department of Economic and Community Development
Section 32-1a. - Short title: State Commerce Act.
Section 32-1b. - Department of Economic and Community Development established.
Section 32-1c. - Powers and duties of commissioner.
Section 32-1d. - Deputy commissioner, appointment and functions.
Section 32-1e. - Plan for support and promotion of industries using recycled materials.
Section 32-1n. - Reports re funding for economic and industry cluster initiatives.
Section 32-1o. - State economic strategic plan.
Section 32-1p. - Powers and duties re digital media and motion picture activities.
Section 32-1r. - Report on business tax credit and abatement programs.
Section 32-1s. - Powers and duties re culture and tourism.
Section 32-1v. - Small business hotline.
Section 32-2 and 32-2a. - Expenses; director. Bonding of commission members and employees.
Section 32-3. - Duties of department; Connecticut Innovations, Incorporated.
Section 32-4a. - Assistance to Connecticut Economic Resource Center, Incorporated.
Section 32-4b. - State Economic Development Advisory Board.
Section 32-4e. - “Economic cluster” defined.
Section 32-4g. - Economic cluster report by the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development.
Section 32-4h. - Economic cluster bond funds report.
Section 32-4i. - Learn Here, Live Here program.
Section 32-4j. - Connecticut first-time homebuyers account.
Section 32-4k. - Learn Here, Live Here program. Segregation of income taxes.
Section 32-4l. - First five plus program.
Section 32-4o. - Bond authorization for grants.
Section 32-4p. - Requests for proposals and competitive grant program re major projects.
Section 32-4r. - Youth Service Corps grant program.
Section 32-4s. - Local Youth Service Corps program requirements.
Section 32-5b. - Deadlines for approval or disapproval of applications for financial assistance.
Section 32-6. - Connecticut building at Eastern States Exposition.
Section 32-6h. - One-stop business licensing center.
Section 32-6i. - Connecticut Economic Information System Steering Committee.
Section 32-6j. - Assistance of Labor Commissioner in job-training activities.
Section 32-6k. - Impact statements submitted to the Connecticut Transportation Strategy Board.
Section 32-6m. - Promotion of products produced in Connecticut.
Section 32-6n. - Electronic business portal.
Section 32-6u. - Connecticut antiques trail. Promotional program.
Section 32-6w. - Display of temporary signage or flags by business on Connecticut antiques trail.
Section 32-7e. - Regional Economic Development Assistance Revolving Fund.
Section 32-7f. - Economic development grants program.
Section 32-7g. - Small Business Express program.
Section 32-7h. - Small business express assistance account.
Section 32-7n. - Manufacturing Innovation Advisory Board.
Section 32-7p. - Technology Talent Advisory Committee. Membership. Duties. Pilot programs. Report.
Section 32-7q. - Minority Business Initiative Advisory Board. Duties. Membership.
Section 32-7r. - Regional economic development matching grant pilot program.
Section 32-8. - Administration of federal funds.
Section 32-8a. - Registry of electronic commerce and information technology intensive companies.
Section 32-8b. - Cooperative internship program.
Section 32-8c. - Connecticut Young Adult Conservation Corps program. Set-asides. Reports.
Section 32-9. - Right of local redevelopment agencies to contract with federal government.
Section 32-9aa and 32-9bb. - Loans for the repair of dams. Regulations.
Section 32-9c. - Transfer of powers and duties of the Connecticut Development Commission.
Section 32-9d. - Transfer of personnel and properties.
Section 32-9dd. - Transfer of remediated brownfields.
Section 32-9i. - Job incentive grant program for businesses in areas of high unemployment.
Section 32-9k. - Business facilities qualified for job incentive grants.
Section 32-9l. - Determination of grant amounts. Regulations.
Section 32-9n. - Office of Small Business Affairs.
Section 32-9o. - Industrial growth in areas of high unemployment. Legislative determination.
Section 32-9qq. - Business outreach center challenge grants. Eligibility of greenways projects.
Section 32-9tt. - Funding for businesses new to exporting.
Section 32-9u. - Use of North American Industrial Classification codes.
Section 32-9uu. - Program to increase entrepreneurial potential in the inner cities.
Section 32-9vv. - Connecticut Hydrogen-Fuel Cell Coalition.
Section 32-9w. - Evaluation of impact of development project on the environment. Procedure.
Section 32-9ww. - Fuel cell economic development plan. Reports.
Section 32-9xx. - Small Business Advisory Board.
Section 32-9yy. - Connecticut Credit Consortium. Small business assistance account.