Resources for Mills Owners & Developers

interior Bport Mattressinterior Sherwood LoftsA variety of programs at the municipal, state, and federal levels offer assistance to help move forward the redevelopment of historic mills and factories. The resources outlined below are intended to provide useful information, however you should contact the administering entities directly for details on currently available programs.

To see how some of these tools have been used in mill reuse projects, preview our sample Got Mill?

You can also reach out to Preservation Connecticut, whose staff have expertise on a broad range of preservation issues, tax credits, and economic incentives for rehabilitation.

Historic Designations

Designating a property as architecturally and historically significant can encourage preservation, promote awareness, and protect a sense of place and character of our communities. Grants and historic tax credits are available for planning and development of mills and factories on the State and National Registers of Historic Places, and are administered by the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). More information can be found under ‘Financial Incentives’ below and at the SHPO website.

National Historic Landmark

National Historic Landmark is the highest level of designation available. Properties given this foremost form of recognition are deemed significant to all Americans because of their exceptional values or qualities, which help illustrate or interpret the heritage of the United States. The National Historic Landmark program identifies, designates, recognizes and protects buildings, structures, sites and objects of national significance.

As of 2017, Colt’s Patent Fire Arms Mfg. Co. in Hartford, the Cheney Brothers Mfg. Co. Silk Mill in Manchester, and the Portland Brownstone Quarries are industrial National Historic Landmarks.

National Register of Historic Places

The National Register of Historic Places is the nation's official list of historic buildings and sites worthy of preservation. Listing on the Register indicates that a property is significant because of its architecture or its association with important persons, events or cultural events. Listing does not restrict what a property owner may do with the property unless the owner is using federal or state assistance.

As of 2017, approximately 240 historic industrial sites are listed on the National Register either individually or as contributing resources in historic districts.

State Register of Historic Places

The State Register of Historic Places is the official listing of those sites important to the historical development of Connecticut. Listing on the State Register does not restrict the rights of the private property owner.

As of 2017, approximately 45 historic industrial sites are listed on the State Register either individually or as contributing resources in historic districts. The Making Places survey has identified 427 as candidates for listing, and nearly 300 more for future consideration.

State Historic Resource Inventory

The State Historic Resource Inventory identifies and evaluates historic, architectural, archaeological, cultural and industrial resources. Surveys which serve as the basis for most other designations are also useful tools for municipal officials, local planners, preservationists, property owners and researchers in helping them make sound preservation and development decisions. There are no restrictions associated with the Historic Resources Inventory.

Making Places: Historic Mills of Connecticut is a State Historic Resource Inventory completed in 2017.

Local Historic Districts/Properties

Local Historic Districts/Properties offer the most protection for significant architectural buildings and neighborhoods in the State of Connecticut. State law allows municipalities to establish historic districts and historic properties for which exterior architectural changes are reviewed by a local preservation commission. This allows towns that have Local Historic Districts/Properties to ensure that alterations, additions, or demolitions are in keeping and consistent with the special character of the designated area.

As of 2017, fewer than 10 historic industrial resources have been identified as contributing resources in Local Historic Districts.

Tax Credits

State and federal historic tax credits are administered by the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO).

Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentive Program (administered through CT SHPO):

20% on in use certified historic (on National Register) depreciable buildings with substantial rehabilitation to Secretary of Interior (SOI) Standards.

The credit is taken over five years at the successfull completion of the rehabilitation.

                    (IRS FAQs on the Federal Rehabilitation Credit)

Connecticut Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit Program (through CT SHPO):

25% on certified historic (on State Register) buildings with 5 or more residential units and/or nonresidential use;

30% on such projects with an affordable housing component (20% of rental units or 10% of for-sale units), or, as of 2018, those in federally designated Opportunity Zones (OZ). See Other Grants/Financing below for additional information on the OZ program.

Rehabilitation must meet SOI Standards.

                    (CT Department of Revenue Services summary of state Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit)

As a non-profit, the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation can partner with developers on state historic tax credit projects to reduce federal income taxes and make more equity available for the project itself.

Federal New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) Program:

39% of total qualified investment amount in economically depressed Qualified Census Tracts claimed over seven years.

Available to Community Development Entities (CDEs) serving low-income communities.

2020 one-year $5 billion extension of NMTC signed into law December 2020.

Federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) and State Affordable Housing Tax Credit (HTCC) Programs (through CT Housing Finance Authority):

4% on acquisition and substantial rehabilitation funded with tax-exempt bonds;

9% on substantial rehabilitation without federal tax-exempt bond funding.

Above apply to low- or mixed-income housing developments (some assisted living projects are eligible).

Also up to $500,000 annually in state tax credits for non-profit corporation housing developer, sponsor or manager.

Urban/Industrial Sites Reinvestment Tax Credit (through DECD):

The program seeks to inventivise projects that create jobs, economic activity and significant tax revenues at urban and industrial sites. The minimum investment threshold for projects that rehabilitate historic structures for mixed use is $2 million, compared to $5 million in distressed communities and $50 million in all other communities.

Brownfield Programs

Connecticut Brownfield Land Bank Inc.:

Enabled by legislation passed in 2017, the Connecticut Brownfield Land Bank, Inc. is a fee-based, non-profit corporation offering brownfields support to Connecticut municipalities. The land bank offers funding and liability relief,  and services focused on staff capacity, strategic planning, project prioritization and management, site control, and funding applications.

Municipal Brownfield Grant Program (through DECD Office of Brownfield Remediation and Development (ORBD)):

Municipalities and economic development agencies eligible for grants of up to $4 million in Brownfields funds for assessment, remediation and development activities.

Brownfield Area Wide Revitalization (BAR) Planning Grant  - check DECD ORBD for availability:

Maximum $200,000 grant to develop a comprehensive implementation plan for the remediation and redevelopment of neighborhoods, districts, corridors, downtowns, waterfront zones or other areas with multiple brownfields.

Targeted Brownfield Development Loan Program (through DECD ORBD):

Brownfield owners or purchasers eligible for low-interest loans of up to $2 million in Brownfields funds for assessment, remediation and development activities.

Historic Brownfield Revitalization Program – check DECD ORBD for availability:

Grants of up to $300,000 for assessment and planning at historic industrial Brownfield properties.

Brownfield Remediation and Revitalization, Abandoned Brownfield Cleanup (ABC), Urban Sites Remedial Action Program and Municipal Liability Relief Programs (through CT DEEP and DECD OBRD):

Liability relief from off-site contamination assessment and remediation for municipalities, innocent owners, purchasers and developers of Brownfield properties. Contact the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) for details.

CDFA Brownfields Technical Assistance Program:

Council of Development Finance Agencies (CDFA) offers free webinars, as well as resources and advisory services available with membership, to provide assistance to communities looking to finance redevelopment of brownfield sites. The program is funded by the US EPA.

Municipal Incentives

Municipal Tax Increment Financing (TIF) presented by CT Main Street Center:

State authorized financing tool used by local municipalities for economic development; the difference between taxes generated before and after investment in a property finance a portion of the costs of its redevelopment. This tool is generally adopted by municipalities in response to specific situations. Connecticut Main Street Center has been at the advocacy and implementation forefront of this tool.

Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT):

Some towns may offer PILOT programs for redevelopment projects on land owned by the town.

Property Tax Abatement:

Municipalities may negotiate property tax reduction or freeze programs for specific projects.

Overlay zoning/districts:

Local authorities may institute overlay zoning districts and regulations to encourage or place limits on certain types of development in particular neighborhoods. They are in addition to existing zoning regulations. In Canton for example, an Industrial Heritage District was created to encourage and provide guidelines for redevelopment of Collinsville's historic mill buildings. The Town of Putnam’s Industrial Heritage Overlay District seeks to preserve and reuse its historic mills.

Other Grants/Financing

Historic Restoration Fund Grants (through CT SHPO):

Matching grants up to $100,000 for discrete maintenance and preservation projects. Property must be listed on the State or National Register and be owned by a municipality or nonprofit organization. A preservation easement is placed on the property upon project completion.

AFL-CIO Housing Investment Trust (HIT) Financing:

Construction financing, permanent financing and secured bridge loans for rehabilitation projects; projects must use 100% union construction labor.

C-PACE (through Clean Energy Finance and Investment Authority):

Connecticut Property Assessed Clean Energy financing for energy upgrades, such as thermal windows and solar energy; each municipality must opt into the program for businesses to access financing. Check to see if your municipality has opted in.

CT Communities Challenge Grant (through CT DECD) - check for grant opportunities

2022 grant initiative for projects that improve livability, vibrancy, convenience and appeal of communities throughout the state. Though centered on TOD, downtown hub areas, projects may include adaptive reuse componant.

Responsible Growth and Transit-Oriented Development Program Grant - check  for grant opportunities:

Consistent with the Conservation & Development Policies Plan for Connecticut 2013-2018, the Office of Policy and Management (OPM) offered competitive grants ($25,000 to $2million) to municipalities and Regional Councils of Governments (COGs) to support construction projects that expand on Transit Oriented Development or responsible growth goals.

Opportunity Zones and Opportunity Funds:

Opportunity Zones are a subset of Qualified Census Tracts created in 2018 to attract investment to economically challenged communities; Connecticut has 72 Opportunity Zones. Equity invested in Opportunity Funds benefits from deferred capital gains taxes; the funds may invest in businesses, real estate or infrastructure in Opportunity Zones. The DECD portal provides an overview of the Opportunity Zone program. Furthermore, historic rehab projects undertaken in Opportunity Zones may qualify for a 5% increase to the 25% Connecticut Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit.

Regional economic development authorities, such as the Capitol Region Development Authority, may also have programs to assist with mill redevelopment.

NDC (the National Development Council) offers technical assistance on historic rehabilitation tax credits (RTCs), training in financing tools and development strategies, and in some cases equity for RTCs. The regional office for CT is in New York City.

Economic Development/Real Estate

AdvanceCT (formerly the Connecticut Economic Resource Center or CERC) provides economic development services for businesses, municipalities and public agencies.

Economic and Manufacturing Assistance Act Loans and Small Business Express Program (through CT DECD) offers direct loans for planning, acquisition, and renovation uses for small business projects with strong economic development potential.

Small Town Economic Assistance Program (STEAP) - check with OPM for funding opportunities: Funding for capital projects such as rehabilitation, pilot preservation projects that leverage private funds, and infrastructure upgrades for communities ineligible for Urban Action bonds (for economically distressed municipalities). After award, administered by relevant state agency (e.g. DECD, OPM or DEEP).

Local Capital Improvement Program (LoCIP) (through OPM): Reimbursement to municipalities for a range of local capital improvement projects (eg. roads/sidewalks, sewer lines, dams, greenways, etc) by OPM, including activities associated with infrastructure for mill redevelopment.

‘Small Cities’ Community Development Block Grant (through CT Department of Housing): Funding and technical support for development projects benefiting low- and moderate-income populations in cities of less than 50,000.

Urban Act Grant Program (through CT DECD): Financing for economic and community development, housing, infrastructure, etc for economically distressed municipalities, public investment communities or urban centers.

Look for historic industrial properties on one of two online databases of active commercial and industrial listings: LoopNet and AdvanceCT's SiteFinder.

Want more info?


Connecticut Trust staff can assist with further information on historic industrial properties and redevelopment opportunities.