For decades, urban areas across the Northeast and Connecticut were allowed to decline, threatening a large part of our history and heritage. Governor John G. Rowland grew up in Waterbury, one of the state's largest cities and has put a command focus on revitalization to bring people and jobs back downtown.

While many challenges remain, hope is alive in Hartford, Bridgeport and beyond, thanks to unprecedented investments that have helped produce that vital mix of commerce, education and culture.

Strategic planning efforts, such as Governor Rowland’s Inner City Business Strategy, have also been critical to bringing economic revitalization to our cities and creating economic opportunities for the businesses and workers alike. The Governor’s comprehensive approach is showing results and creating momentum.

Cranes are in the air in the Capitol City skyline as development of the Adriaen's Landing Project continues, with the construction of a 22-story hotel, convention center, and new retail development center. The innovative Jobs Funnel Program is training city residents - more than 350 to date - in construction and other skills to help rebuild the city while rebuilding their careers.

New parking facilities include the Morgan Street garage, a convenient access point for the new Capital Community College bringing thousands of students downtown after opening in 2002.  And new homeownership and affordable housing opportunities abound throughout the city. The Rice Heights, Collin Bennett Commons, Park Squire, and Mortson/Putnam projects are just a few examples of state-supported housing developments that are bringing new residents into the city and strengthening neighborhoods.

The Elm City, home to Yale University, the Soubrette and Long Wharf theaters, and burgeoning scientific research facilities, is teeming with activity on all fronts.

Governor Rowland’s support of the Livable Cities initiative is helping to improve abandoned and blighted buildings, construct new homes throughout the city, repair sidewalks, and create community gardens and more greenspace. The Ninth Square Project is a key component of downtown redevelopment, creating more than 200 apartments, ground floor retail space, and new parking spaces.  It also complements the Chapel Square Mall redevelopment and other downtown initiatives.

Science Park has been aggressively developed, with more than $100 million to improve this high-tech facility and improve the surrounding neighborhoods.

From the West End to Seaview Avenue, old industrial sites are being cleaned up and put back to productive reuse. Businesses, such as the Chavez Bakery and Lacey Manufacturing, have chosen expand in Bridgeport and create hundreds of new jobs. The former Bryant Electric site is being redeveloped and turned into the site of a new manufacturing facility. To help develop and expand the capacity of Bridgeport's Harbor, major repair work to shipping docks and the construction of refrigerated warehouses has been completed.

A new multi-modal transportation center and 1,000-space parking garage has helped increase mass transit ridership out of Bridgeport. Harbor Yard and the adjacent entertainment complex are drawing people both from within the city and surrounding towns to enjoy baseball games and other events. State investment has also resulted in a refurbished Polka Dot Theater and Bridgeport Downtown Cabaret.

Thousands of students now come downtown to attend college at the stunning new Housatonic Community College.

Downtown Waterbury is in the midst of a major transformation. A new UConn campus is bringing 2,000 students downtown. 1,100 new parking spaces are being added between downtown's two new parking garages.

The 2,700 seat Palace Theater, closed since the 1980's will be refurbished and reopened. Up to 1,000 children from Waterbury and the surrounding region will be learning at the Magnet School for the Arts, to open in 2004.

These projects are building on the success of other Brass City success stories, including the Brass Mill Center Mall, the Timexpo Museum and the information technology zone and downtown incentive fund has attracted new businesses and helped create hundreds of new jobs.

The Naugatuck River, which Governor Rowland recalls being able to "walk across" during his childhood, has been restored to pre-industrial water quality. Neighborhood improvement initiatives are also underway throughout the city.

Pfizer’s new Global Research and Development Headquarters, built on a remediated site, has brought 2,000 jobs to New London.  The State Pier, once on the verge of collapse, has been rebuilt. The state's newest state park, the 200 year old Fort Trumbull, opened in 2001, creating a permanent preserve of New London history.

The venerable Garde Arts Center's multi- million dollar renovation is complete and is drawing more people downtown. Major water quality improvement projects are helping to improve the quality of Long Island Sound, and thousands who visit New London's Ocean Beach State Park are enjoying new facilities and amenities.