Connecticut Certified Sites Program

AdvanceCT is proud to sponsor the Connecticut Certified Sites Program. The objectives of this program are to:

  • Showcase strategic location solutions suitable for corporate investment;
  • Support soft and hard cost site improvements;
  • Decrease project uncertainty and shorten lead time;
  • Increase likelihood for economic development wins.

Certified sites will be classified as either Shovel Ready or Investment Ready.

Shovel Ready

Reserved for properties where a combination of the due diligence and approvals deemed necessary to begin site development has been completed.

Investment Ready

A site deemed ready for development, although additional measures such as sewer or water lines, electrical or other considerations may be required before development can begin. Such additional measures should be quick to execute.

Qualifications for Certified Sites

There are several specific criteria that are necessary to qualify a site as potentially certifiable for corporate investment:

  • Minimum of 20 contiguous usable acres;
  • Special approval required for smaller sites;
  • Proximity to utility infrastructure;
  • Transportation infrastructure;
  • Municipal and local commitments, permits, zoning approvals, etc.
  • Owners, brokers, or municipalities must apply for a property to be certified. AdvanceCT will review the property, and if it meets the qualifiers, we will request the following due diligence documents:
  • *Current Ownership Structure/Documented Site Control (and letter of support)
  • *Municipal letter of support (commitment to re-zone, permit/approval schedule)
  • Title search (50-year history)
  • *Documentation of Sales Price/Conditions of Sale or Lease from controlling entity
  • *Easements, judgements, and liens
  • *Environmental audits (Phase 1)
  • Wetlands Delineation (maps/reports); Flood zones
  • Plan for mitigation of wetlands (cost, timeline, etc.)
  • Report/Maps of rare or endangered plant/animal species, archeological findings, historic sites or structures, etc.
  • *DOT letter describing plans for road improvements
  • *Topography Survey/Analysis
  • Site exemption status
  • Engineer certification of filled areas
  • *Letter of support from utility providers (power, gas, water, wastewater)
  • *Schedule/commitment for improvements
  • Letter of support from rail provider
  • Telecommunication services information
  • Additional Competitive Advantage Info
  • Labor Force Assessment
  • *Incentives associated with the property

*Indicates mandatory documents

Certified Sites Process

Once the documents have been received, AdvanceCT will nominate the site to an independent Advisory Committee for certification. The committee consists of:

  • AdvanceCT
  • The Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development
  • Eversource
  • Avangrid
  • Municipal Utilities

Once approved, AdvanceCT will promote the property as a Certified Site to potential prospects, site selection consultants, and other interested parties through marketing campaigns, materials, and our network at large.

If you are interested in learning more and have a site in mind that may qualify, please submit this form to let us know and we will get back to you with more information.

Certified Sites