For Immediate Release – November 25, 2025

(Hartford, CT) – New London Mayor Michael E. Passero, in partnership with Connecticut Main Street Center (CMSC), has launched the Downtown New London Strategic Planning Task Force, recently holding its inaugural meeting at City Hall. This collaborative effort marks the next phase of CMSC’s Diversity on Main program, a two-year initiative launched in 2024 with the Black Business Alliance to address chronic storefront commercial vacancies and foster inclusive economic growth in downtown New London.

The kickoff meeting introduced the Task Force’s mission: to develop a comprehensive, actionable strategic plan using Main Street America’s nationally recognized Four Point Approach and Transformational Strategy framework shepherded by CMSC. Over the coming months, the Task Force will survey the community, analyze market data, craft a vision statement that reflects community priorities, and develop an action plan to implement.

Key milestones include:

• A Vision Survey to gather input from a broad cross-section of the New London community
• A Market Analysis Review using data gathered from downtown inventories using Gingko, ESRI and Placer.AI
• A Draft Vision Statement for the downtown
• Identification of Transformational Strategies and goals

The Task Force’s work will culminate in a strategic action plan that prioritizes projects across The Four Points of Main Street Management – economic vitality, design, promotion, and organization – laying the foundation for a thriving, inclusive downtown.

New London Mayor Michael E. Passero stated, “Based on the findings of CMSC and BBA’s work through Diversity on Main, I saw the value of convening a group of invested stakeholders to be guided by CMSC’s expertise in downtown management. By bringing together local leaders and residents, we’re building a roadmap that will continue to strengthen New London’s downtown economy and celebrate its unique character for all to enjoy and benefit from.”

“Working with New London’s leaders and the downtown community through the Diversity on Main program revealed that there is a lot of grassroots support to grow its vibrancy, support local merchants, and encourage capital improvements. The Task Force will take that goodwill to the next step through a targeted action plan that reflects the community’s vision for its downtown,” said Michelle McCabe, CMSC Executive Director.

 Rich Martin, Chair of the New London Cultural District Commission, said, “We’re encouraged by the foundational work of CMSC’s Diversity on Main program and looking forward to hearing from local stakeholders on how we can use that information to collaboratively shape the downtown’s future.”

The Task Force represents the next phase of CMSC’s Diversity on Main program in collaboration with the Black Business Alliance and the City of New London. Launched in 2024 with support from the M&T Bank Amplify Fund, the two-year engagement seeks to sustainably address commercial vacancy in downtown New London through comprehensive stakeholder engagement and the implementation of innovative initiatives localized for downtown New London’s unique context and provide viable business and wealth-building opportunities to under-represented/minority-owned businesses to fully participate in the downtown economy. The new Strategic Planning Task Force and subsequent transformational strategies will address key findings from the first phase of the Diversity on Main program.

You can find more information about CMSC and the Diversity on Main: New London program on CMSC’s website. Take the downtown New London community survey in English or in Spanish.

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Media Contact
Christine Schilke
Senior Director, Communications & Marketing
860-280.2356
christine@ctmainstreet.org