Meriden City Center Initiative (MCCI) is a coalition of various city, business and community interests committed to reversing the decline of Meriden's central core and stimulating sustained economic growth. The resulting Comprehensive Master Plan Recommendations (Phase I - July 2002 and Phase II - April 2005) are intended to be a "Road Map" that the City can follow to achieve long term, sustained growth in its central core resulting in increased economic returns in the form of tax dollars, job growth and increased quality of life for the entire community.
With the support of corporate donations from the Meriden Economic Development Corporation (MEDCO) and other private sources, in late Spring of 2002, Meriden Economic Resources Group, Inc. (MERG) developed the concept of the MCCI. MCCI has developed a vision for economic development in Meriden, with unprecedented support and understanding of all parties involved.
Since the summer of 2004, MERG and its partners have developed Phase II of the Recommendations with the aid of the State of Connecticut through a $250,000 planning grant. The results of this was presented to the City of Meriden in April 2005. This work product is to be the impetus for the City of Meriden begin implementation of a series of improvements overtime in accordance with the recommendations outlined in this planning document. All of this comes on the heels of an October 2004 commitment from Gov. Jodi Rell to fund the demolition of the Meriden Hub building, pledging $2,060,000 towards the effort. Both commitments were gained from the State based on their acknowledgement of Meriden’s unified commitment to redevelop its Downtown, as evidenced by the City Center Initiative. This initiative will benefit not just Meriden, but a much broader Central Connecticut constituency.
Meriden is uniquely positioned at the edge of achieving significant, tangible results for economic growth. Sitting at the crossroads of Connecticut, Meriden is also at the crossroads of developing sustainable economic prosperity or potentially irreversible urban decline. The immediate implementation of a sound growth strategy for the next two decades must be started TODAY to ensure Meriden turns the right corner down a path of economic growth as the urban hub of the Central Connecticut region.
Wayne D'Amico, CCIM has been the lead consultant to the project from it's inception in 2001. D'Amico has directed the development and implementation of all aspects of this audacious venture including helping the lead organizations, MERG and MEDCO to secure over $2,800,000 in planning and implementation funds from private and public sectors.
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New York Times Article
Connecticut Business Magazine Article
