The Swift Factory is the recipient of a 2022 Award of Merit from Preservation Connecticut!
The Connecticut Preservation Awards recognize individual projects, long-term contributions, and professional achievements that demonstrate the many ways historic places contribute to the life and vitality of Connecticut communities.
The M. Swift & Sons gold leaf factory was once the economic heart of North Hartford, employing over 300 residents at its peak. When production ceased in 2005, unemployment and poverty in the neighborhood drastically increased, leading to the area’s HUD Federal Promise Zone designation. Transformed in partnership with Community Solutions, the Swift Factory now serves as a community hub and job incubator for local entrepreneurs and start-ups, 90% of which are Black-owned. In a time of great social and cultural change, the new uses of the Swift Factory address economic, health, social, and environmental conditions in North Hartford, and repositions the former factory as a focal point of the neighborhood once again.
The project was honored at an awards ceremony on May 4th at the New Haven Country Club.
Thank you to the Preservation Connecticut Awards jury for recognizing our work at the Swift Factory and the positive impact preservation can have on our communities.