The initial meeting of the Black Rock Neighborhood Revitalization Zone (NRZ) was held January 29th at St. Ann’s Church located on Brewster Street in the Black Rock neighborhood of Bridgeport, CT.

The NRZ Program and process was reviewed by AMS Consulting, LLC, program manager for Connecticut Economic Development Fund (CEDF). CEDF, the project coordinator, is fiduciary agent for the NRZ process for Black Rock.  J.P. Morgan Chase Bank is funder for the program.  The City’s mayor, John Fabrizi, addressed the assemblage and presented his administrations plan to engage 8 to 11 NRZ programs across the City.  These neighborhood plans, when completed, and approved by both the State of Connecticut and the City will be coordinated with the City’s master planning initiative which is in process with a projected completion date of 12 to 18 months, with draft plan possibly available this summer.

The NRZ stakeholders in attendance proceeded to initiate and approve a number of organizational items:

1) Future meetings will be held on the last Monday of the month.  Next meeting is scheduled for February 26th (Monday) at St. Ann’s Church at 6:30 p.m. Other venues will be explored for future meetings.

2) Committee Assignments

a) Boundary Identification -  to be composed of local counsel persons and representation from existing and active neighborhood groups identified at the stakeholder meeting along with Kaye Willams, the owner of Captains Cove Marina.  The organizations to be represented are:  Black Rock Homeowners Association, Black Rock Community Council, Ash Creek Assoc., Families for Excellence Association, Black Rock Garden Club, the City neighborhood planner assigned to NRZ’s, Sam Shaw, and although not announced at the meeting, a business representative.
b) Planner Selection Committee – this committee has the responsibility to implement a procurement and selection process to engage a neighborhood planning consultant to work with the NRZ with regards to design a production of a Black Rock NRZ plan.  Stakeholder s interested in serving on this committee signed-up at the initial NRZ meeting.
c) Outreach and Communications Committee – this committee is responsible for the creation and implementation of a communication strategy which achieves maximum participation and information to all Black Rock stakeholders.  Individuals interested in serving on this committee signed-up at the initial NRZ meeting.

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