Connecticut is poised to become a major hub for artificial intelligence with the proposed development of a $90 million applied AI center in Hartford. This ambitious project aims to transform a long-abandoned data processing center into a symbol of technological resurgence, fostering job growth and economic development in the region.
Key Takeaways
- The proposed $90 million Connecticut Center of Applied AI in Hartford aims to establish the state as a leader in emerging technology.
- The center will replace a dilapidated data processing facility, symbolizing Hartford’s revitalization.
- Funding for the project is largely dependent on a $52 million grant from the state’s "Innovation Clusters" program.
- The initiative focuses on workforce training and collaboration with higher education and non-profits to ensure broad access to AI skills.
- The project is expected to spur further economic development, including a new hotel and potential redevelopment of nearby land.
A New Dawn for Hartford: From Blight to Brilliance
The planned Connecticut Center of Applied AI represents a significant step in Hartford’s revitalization efforts. The center, estimated at $90 million, is designed to be a beacon of innovation, featuring an LED billboard that will showcase the cutting-edge work happening inside. This visual statement will be a stark contrast to the current dilapidated bank data processing center it will replace, a structure that has long been an eyesore near Dunkin’ Park.
Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam emphasized the symbolic importance of this transformation, stating, "The symbolism of an old vacant data center that had been a source of blight…turning into a center for applied AI, it’s really a symbol of the resurgence of Hartford." The city’s ambitious goal is to establish one of the top five AI centers in the nation.
Funding the Future: A Competitive Landscape
The realization of the AI center hinges on securing approximately $52 million from the state’s $100 million "Innovation Clusters" program. This program is designed to foster growth in next-generation technologies like AI and quantum computing. Hartford is currently a finalist for this funding, competing with New Haven and Stamford, with a decision expected in late summer. City officials are confident they can secure the remaining balance if the state grant is awarded.
Jeff Auker, Hartford’s director of development services, highlighted that the AI center will complement, rather than compete with, the substantial AI investments made by large corporations. Instead, it will focus on the crucial space between large companies and startups, fostering the development and testing of new ideas, particularly in insurance and healthcare.
Building a Skilled Workforce
A core component of the AI center’s vision is workforce development. Recognizing AI’s profound potential impact, the center aims to provide accessible training to prepare residents and small businesses for the AI-driven future. Auker noted, "The essence of this is really to create a center and then make the declaration that Hartford is here to unlock the value of AI."
Collaborations with higher education institutions and technology-focused non-profits, such as MakerspaceCT, are central to this mission. MakerspaceCT, which had already planned an AI and robotics center, sees a strong alignment with the proposed AI center’s goal of bridging skills gaps.
Economic Ripple Effects
The AI center is expected to be a catalyst for broader economic development in Hartford’s North Crossing redevelopment area. In addition to the AI facility, the nearly 3-acre site at 150 Windsor St. will include a separately financed $30 million, 120-room boutique hotel and a 200-space parking garage. Randy Salvatore, CEO of RMS Cos., the developer for North Crossing, expressed enthusiasm for the diversification this project brings, anticipating that the AI center will become "a nucleus for a lot more," spawning additional commercial uses and development.
Demolition of the existing data center is slated to begin this summer, with the city securing significant grant funding for the $9.4 million cleanup. While construction of the AI center is projected to take at least three years, the city is exploring temporary downtown spaces to begin forming the AI center’s operations sooner.
Sources
- CT AI center could project new hub of technology, job growth, Hartford Courant.
