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The Connecticut Department of Housing says it is launching a pre-development pilot program that will provide $3.2 million to five local nonprofit housing agencies to support their operating and pre-development expenses for affordable housing projects they’re working on.

“Our nonprofit developers are a vital part of the housing ecosystem,” Housing Commissioner Sheila Mosquera-Bruno said. “They carry the important task of constructing and preserving our affordable housing stock, and in many instances, they provide property management, maintaining a development for as much as 30 or 40 years. As we continue our mission of increasing number of housing options and opportunities for residents of Connecticut, it is imperative that we help our nonprofit partners increase their capacity and continue to sharpen their skills in order to meet the housing need, and achieve the goals that Governor Lamont as set forth for my department.”

The Mutual Housing Association of Greater Hartford, Connecticut Housing Partners, NeighborWorks New Horizon and Sheldon Oak Central will each get a $500,000 loan and Eastern Connecticut Housing Opportunities will get a $300,000 loan.The money will pay for feasibility studies, environmental review, architectural drawings, consolidated applications and other pre-closing steps of the development process.

The first four will also get $200,000 operating grants while the latter will get a $100,000 grant to help them build up expertise and pay for administrative costs and salaries.

“Connecticut’s nonprofit housing agencies are valuable partners in our administration’s efforts to build more affordable housing and ensure that every community in the state remains a vibrant place to live and work,” Gov. Ned Lamont said in a statement. “Supporting these organizations will enable them to focus more of their efforts on their ultimate goal of ensuring that everyone has a safe place to live.”