Hartford Arena District Investment Fund
The Arena District Investment Fund, is a new program created and launched by the Hartford Chamber of Commerce, and funded by the State of Connecticut through the Capital Region Development Authority, to help activate empty store fronts, in and around PeoplesBank Arena.
The program will help incentivize small businesses to lease vacant spaces and provide a much needed economic boost in our Central Business District by providing grants to support their build out costs.
Enhance Hartford’s Small Business Community
Our Continued Mission
The Hartford Chamber of Commerce serves to support our business community. After the success of the Hart Lift program, an award-winning program that distributed American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to property owners and small businesses, we’re thrilled to continue our work with the Arena District Investment Fund.
The goal of this new program is to continue to empower business owners and bring the urban core of Hartford to life. This funding will directly impact the area around the newly renovated PeoplesBank Arena at 1 Civic Center Plaza, Hartford, CT.
Eligibility & Parameters
Program Details
Eligible Properties:
PeoplesBank Arena Retail #1 (5,000sqft)
PeoplesBank Arena Retail #2 (8,000sqft)
180 Asylum Street (841sqft)
230 Asylum Street (8,473sqft)
260 Asylum Street (5,074sqft)
103 Pratt Street (3,489sqft)
892 Main Street (4,200sqft)
900 Main Street (7,998sqft)
942 Main Street (18,000sqft)
Arena District Revival Fund Grant Breakdown:
Grants provided can only be used for interior and exterior buildout costs of establishing new businesses in vacant ground floor retail spaces in the designated Trumbull/Pratt/Main/Asylum corridor
Property owners with vacant storefronts are eligible for a max grant of $250,000. Larger amounts may be considered
Any grant awarded to a property owner in the designated Trumbull/Pratt/Main/Asylum corridor (attachment A) must be matched 100% by the owner of the property or future lessee, or a combination of both parties
Property owners with multiple vacant storefronts can apply for a grant for each empty property
Considerations & Requirements for Applicants:
Applicants must be the owner or manager of a ground floor vacant or unleased property in the designated Trumbull/Pratt/Main/Asylum Corridor
Applicants must return an IRS W-9 Form
Applicants must show proof of matching funds to be eligible for the grant.
An applicant’s new tenant must sign a minimum 5-year lease on the property.
An applicant must provide a budget for full buildout costs and a budget for the use of the grant
Considerations & Requirements for Applicants:
The Arena District Revival Fund will open on Monday, September 1st, 2025 or post approval of the States Bond Commission
Interested property owners can apply on arenadistrictfund.com
Each applicant will receive confirmation of application receipt within 5 days of submission
Each grant application will be reviewed and approved/denied by the programs Finance Committee with a notification of its status no longer than one month
Any approved applicants must be current on taxes and must comply with all City of Hartford zoning/permit requirements
All awards will be made within 24 months of commencement of the program
All unallocated grant dollars will be returned to CRDA within 36 months of the programs inception
Application
Get Started
Ready to get started? You can apply at our typeform below. This application will require several pieces of information, including:
Property owner and tenant information
Business type/NAICS code
Revenue numbers
Scope of work for the projectLease terms
Preliminary design renderings
Proof of insurance
Can’t finish the application in one sitting? Typeform allows you to close out of the window and return where you left off for up to 15 days, after which the data will be deleted and you will have to restart the application.
