CMSC is thrilled to announce Toni Gold has been chosen winner of the 2013 Connecticut Light and Power (CL&P) Award. CMSC established the CL&P Award to recognize individuals and organizations who dedicate themselves to promoting an awareness of the necessity of a comprehensive management approach to the revitalization of Connecticut's historic downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts.

Toni's extensive body of work is a shining example of this kind of tireless dedication. An urban planning and development specialist, Toni has expertise in transportation for livable communities, historic preservation, waterfront projects, and commercial revitalization. She is a national expert in Context Sensitive Solutions, which she taught to state departments of transportation. Toni managed a $24 million capital program for Riverfront Recapture in Hartford, which re-connected downtown Hartford to the riverfront.

As an activist and advocate Toni organized her neighbors in the West End and Asylum Hill neighborhoods of Hartford ten years ago on behalf of a strategic plan for the traffic-calming and commercial revitalization of Hartford's Farmington Avenue. Most recently she has organized the Hub of Hartford (I-84) Steering Committee, rallying the City, the Region and ConnDOT behind an effort to re-plan and redesign Interstate 84 in downtown Hartford to reduce its intrusive nature and re-knit the urban fabric. Through Toni's ability to coordinate the many interests represented (residents, business owners, employees, NRZ/community organizations, City staff, ConnDOT & CT Dept. of Energy & Environmental Protection), the Steering Committee agreed on an option that would provide an opportunity to develop over 1 million square feet of mixed-use, transit-oriented development in the heart of downtown adjacent to a newly-accessible Bushnell Park, thus reconnecting Hartford's now-bisected neighborhoods. Toni also makes an excellent member of the CMSC Board of Directors, offering her expertise and guidance to the organization.

To read more about Toni and the CL&P Award, click here.

The Connecticut Light and Power Company Award for Outstanding Contributions to Main Street Revitalization will be presented at the 2013 CT Main Street Awards Gala on June 10th at the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art in Downtown Hartford.

Three of CMSC's Designated Member communities received national accreditation as 2013 National Main Street Programs for meeting performance standards set by the National Trust Main Street Center. Simsbury Main Street Partnership, Upper Albany Main Street (Hartford) and Main Street Waterbury were each recognized for outstanding accomplishments toward the goal of revitalizing their historic main street districts during the National Main Streets conference underway in New Orleans.

National Main Street Program Accreditation is a partnership between CMSC and the National Trust Main Street Center to establish standards of performance for local Main Street programs. These standards measure an individual Main Street program's application of the Four-Point Approach to commercial district revitalization. Evaluation criteria include standards such as development and commitment to mission, fostering strong public-private partnerships, securing a stable operating budget, tracking economic progress, and preserving and bringing back to life historic buildings. The standards provide benchmarks and guidelines on how Main Street organizations should be functioning and serve as incentives for improvement.  

The view from Loft 628

CMSC recently hosted a luncheon for its  member communities at Loft 628 in the Colt Gateway building, catered by Chef Harry of Cafe Colt. Chef Harry addressed the crowd that included CMSC staff and its member communities, as well as CMSC Board members, several employees from the Hartford Mayor's office and officials from the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD). Chef Harry told the rapt audience how he and his wife Laurie decided to invest in Hartford's resurgence by locating in the Colt building - a place where community thrives through its location, housing and links to the CREC school system. Chef Harry said the City of Hartford welcomed him heartily and he looks forward to working with kids from the area's schools to teach them about food and nutrition.

Chef Harry's prestigious background as cookbook author, TV host, vintner and more prepared him for the challenges he faces as a new business owner in Hartford, but he feels it is the perfect time to take advantage of what the City has to offer. Everyone enjoyed his delicious creations as they chatted and listened to a legislative update from CMSC's government relations consultant Pete Smith, remarking on the fabulous view and what a gem the space - and now Chef Harry - are to the City of Hartford. 

Main Street Waterbury and the Waterbury Police Department accept their award.

In 2011, Main Street Waterbury (MSW) and the Waterbury Police Department's Community Relations Division partnered with downtown merchants to create the Downtown Business Watch program - an opportunity for merchants to gather, communicate and act in concert to improve the downtown business climate, while helping one another maintain a clean, safe and friendly downtown.

 

The first meetings focused on security and resulted in the creation of a public awareness program: Lock and Secure. The program reminded people to exercise common sense regarding placement of valuables where they won't be seen and invite trouble.

Since that first meeting the Downtown Business Watch has become a conduit for organized training sessions for merchants on issues of business expansion, innovative methods of attracting and serving customers, and expanding the business owners' peer network. Main Street Waterbury continues to arrange appropriate and affordable workshops for future Business Watch sessions. MSW also hosted the high-profile 2011 Mayoral Candidate Forum, a discussion between the three candidates and downtown merchants.

Perhaps the most widely recognized impact came from newly-elected Mayor Neil O'Leary's meeting with downtown businesses - a promise made during the campaign. Over 60 attendees filled El Americano Restaurant to speak with the new Mayor about their hopes and concerns. Follow-up meetings were scheduled to keep the dialogue going.

Each session has been held in donated space with refreshments provided by session sponsors, including TD Bank, Café Europa, El Americano Restaurant, UConn Waterbury, the Regional Chamber and the John Bale Book Company.

The Waterbury Police Department's Community Relations Officers work closely with downtown businesses to provide innovative ways to keep downtown businesses and their patrons safe. Main Street Waterbury has raised its profile among independent business owners as the go-to organization for downtown. And, most importantly, downtown business owners have begun to build relationships with their peers and encourage mutual participation.

NOTE: The winner's photos will be posted to our Facebook page later this week when we return from New Orleans. In the meantime, we invite you to view other pictures from the Awards Gala or learn more about the winning initiatives and individuals here.