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RESOLUTION OF THE NEW HAVEN BOARD OF ALDERS AUTHORIZING THE CITY TO PARTICIPATE IN, APPLY FOR, AND ACCEPT COMMUNITY INVESTMENT FUND PLANNING GRANTS FROM THE CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT NOT TO EXCEED $250,000 TO SUPPORT PLANNING ACTIVITIES RELATED TO THE ESTABLISHING OF AN HBCU IN NEW HAVEN.
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WHEREAS, the State of Connecticut is making available over $800 million to support transformative investments in communities such as New Haven through the Community Investment Fund 2030 (“CIF”); and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 32-763 of the Connecticut General Statutes, the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (“DECD”) is authorized to extend financial assistance for economic and community development projects, including planning projects through CIF; and
WHEREAS, in 2024, the New Haven Board of Alders explored adopting Resolution LM-2024-0502, which would have acknowledged and apologized for the City’s role in opposing the 1831 proposal to establish a college for Black men in New Haven, and proposed commitments to foster educational opportunities and racial equity as a form of remediation for that historic harm; and
WHEREAS, the Connecticut Historically Black College & University Alumni Network, Inc. (the “Alumni Network”) and the City of New Haven (the “City”) are collaborating on a planning initiative (the “HBCU Planning Project”) to explore establishing the first HBCU presence in New England in New Haven, focused on Connecticut’s growth sectors such as quantum, bioscience, and other STEM-related fields, by conducting a feasibility study, strategic plan, community engagement, and early design work, as well as near-term programming that connects Connecticut students to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (“HBCUs”) while planning advances toward a campus preliminarily envisioned in the Beaver Hills-Westville corridor; and
WHEREAS, the Alumni Network intends to serve as the lead applicant to DECD for a CIF Round 8 planning grant not to exceed Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars and Zero Cents ($250,000.00) to support the HBCU Project, with the City participating as a formal partner and anticipated subrecipient for a portion of the planning work, as well as a provider of matching funds to assist in carrying out the Project; and
WHEREAS, the HBCU Project seeks to advance equitable economic and educational outcomes by expanding access to higher education pathways in high-wage fields, strengthening local talent pipelines, and supporting neighborhood revitalization in and around the Beaver Hills-Westville corridor through activities including: (a) assessing market demand and identifying degree and credential pathways aligned with Connecticut’s growth sectors, including bioscience, health care, advanced manufacturing, computing, climate, and quantum industries; (b) preparing a feasibility study and strategic plan outlining governance, accreditation, affordability, and employer-partnership models; (c) conducting structured community and stakeholder engagement with students, families, neighborhood leaders, employers, and higher-education partners; (d) supporting early architectural and campus visioning to inform future investment; and (e) expanding near-term HBCU-focused programming such as college fairs, tours, and student send-offs; and
WHEREAS, the Beaver Hills-Westville corridor faces challenges relating to historic disinvestment, limited access to high-quality public spaces, and the need for coordinated planning to support equitable growth and neighborhood connectivity; and
WHEREAS, the HBCU Planning Project (the “Project”) is intended to support equitable economic development, educational opportunity, and neighborhood revitalization in the Beaver Hills-Westville corridor and the City, working to expand pathways for historically excluded communities within the City and the Northeast region; and
WHEREAS, it is desirable and in the public interest that the City be authorized to participate in, support, and benefit from applications to DECD through CIF Round 8, and to apply for and accept, whether directly from DECD or indirectly through a subgrant or contract with the Alumni Network or other intermediaries, financial assistance in an amount not to exceed Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars and Zero Cents ($250,000.00) to support the Project, and to enter into related agreements necessary to carry out these planning activities;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the New Haven Board of Alders that:
1). The Board of Alders is cognizant of the conditions and prerequisites for financial assistance imposed by Section 32-763 of the Connecticut General Statutes.
2). The participation by the City in an application for financial assistance from DECD, through CIF Round 8, to be submitted by the Alumni Network for the HBCU Project in an amount not to exceed Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars and Zero Cents ($250,000.00), is hereby approved, and Justin Elicker, Mayor of the City, is hereby authorized and directed to execute and provide such letters of support, partnership commitments, and other documentation as may be required for said application; to provide such additional information as may be required; and to act as the authorized representative of the City with respect to all matters pertaining to the City’s role in said application.
3). The Mayor is further authorized, if the CIF Round 8 application for the HBCU Project is approved, to apply for and accept on behalf of the City any financial assistance, subgrant, contract, or other funds made available to the City in connection with the HBCU Project, whether provided directly by DECD or indirectly through the Alumni Network, and to execute such agreements, contracts, subgrant agreements, memoranda of understanding, and related documents with DECD, the Alumni Network, and other entities as may be necessary to implement the HBCU Project, including the procurement and management of consultants for feasibility, strategic planning, community engagement, and architectural visioning.
4). The Mayor, or the Mayor’s designee, is authorized to take any and all actions and to execute any and all additional documents as may be necessary or desirable to carry out the intent and purposes of this Resolution, including entering into agreements, memoranda of understanding, and consulting or subgrant agreements with the Alumni Network, and with other partners, agencies, or entities as may be required to implement the planning activities described herein.