Tax Incentive Program Prompts Investment in Hamden

Two New Haven businesses will be moving into town and a third existing business will invest hundreds of thousands of dollars in upgrades thanks to the town's tax incentive programs.

Hoffman Press, Inc. is moving from Printers Lane in New Haven to 275 Welton St. in Hamden,  where it is purchasing an office building which it will share with a small food distribution company. The move will bring 11 jobs to Hamden.

The company, which celebrated its century anniversary in 2008, designs and prints pressure-sensitive labels and other products. It will invest $300,000 in renovating the property, and will get a 50 percent tax abatement for two years. The company may also be eligible for state incentives which would replace the local ones, officials said.

The project also will receive a $5,000 grant to go toward rehabilitation and the waiving of certain permit fees.

Another New Haven firm, Tri-Con Construction Services, is moving from 205 Wallace St. in New Haven to 400 Goodrich St. in Hamden, which is a Brownfield property that the town is in the process of cleaning up. 

The construction management firm works primarily in Connecticut and Rhode Island and its projects include the Hill Branch Library in New Haven and the Pardee Greenhouses on Park Road in Hamden, also owned by the city of New Haven. 

"This [Goodrich Street] property is a notorious Brownfield that requires significant remediation and rehabilitation," according to a release from Mayor Scott Jackson and Economic Development Director Dale Kroop, "much of which is being completed in cooperation with grant funds secured by the town." 

The company will invest $260,000 in improvements to the existing building, which for the past 15 years has not brought in any tax revenue to the town, according to officials. The company will receive a 50 percent tax abatement for three years, as well as a $5,000 grant to go toward the rehabilitation of the property that has been designated as blight. It also will receive certain permits with no fee.

In addition, Days Inn at 3400 Whitney Avenue is about to begin a half-million dollar rehabilitation and expansion project. The hotel is located near Mount Carmel Avenue and Quinnipiac University, and for years was the Sleeping Giant Motel before Days Inn purchased it several years ago.

The incentives the council approved include owners a 70/60/50 percent declining abatement for three years on the increased assessment, as well as  50 percent for three years on the increased grand list improvements only. It also approved a permit waiver that does not including Plumbing, Electric and HVAC totaling 25 percent.

“In this economic climate, having two new businesses relocate to our town and another plan a major expansion with the help of our incentives is promising economic news," Jackson said.  "Hamden is focused on expanding our business tax base and we will use our incentive tools to help accomplish this goal."

The Legislative Council last week approved the incentives for the businesses.

"This is a great program that is bringing two businesses to Hamden," said Councilwoman Kath Schomaker. 

"I'm very happy to have these three businesses doing wonderful stuff and making Hamden a better place," Councilwoman Carol Noble said.