Ansonia and Other Municipalities Eye Revitalization Through Brownfield Cleanup

Connecticut Public Radio

Twenty-three cities and towns across Connecticut will receive state funding for brownfield remediation. For the city of Ansonia, it’s step two in a long process to bring more industry, jobs and, ultimately, taxpayers to the city. On a rainy day in a year ago, state Rep. Kara Rochelle of Derby and Ansonia stood beside Gov. Ned Lamont outside a blighted factory on Ansonia’s North Main Street. There were more masks then, physical distancing and furrowed brows. A year prior, a carpet padding manufacturer called Rug Pad USA had approached the city of Ansonia to buy the property. Mayor David Cassetti and his economic development team set out to find funds to clean it up. In July 2020, Rochelle announced $500,000 in state bonding to take down one section of the factory and ready the property for redevelopment. Demolition was set to begin in winter but there was a problem with asbestos. This week, and almost a year later, Rochelle, Cassetti and a handful of others met on the same property.