Mayor's State of the City Address 2026

You can access the video of the Mayor's City Adress clicking this link. 

January 5th, 2026 

“Good evening members of the City Council, city employees, community leaders, our economic partners, and most importantly, the residents of Norwich. Thank you for being here tonight and for giving me this opportunity to serve this historic and amazing city. Norwich is a city with deep roots, strong and historical neighborhoods and an amazing waterfront, but Norwich has always been defined by the strength of its hard-working people.

Tonight, I want to speak about where Norwich is, where we are going, and how—together—we will build a stronger future.

In the last 22 working days, I have been able to begin planting the seeds for a positive, effective, and active next four years of my term. Within the last month I have hosted dozens of meetings with various Norwich City department heads, the executive staff of different State Departments, local and state officials, economic partners, stakeholders, and constituents. These introductory meetings have allowed me to begin voicing the needs of Norwich to obtain as much assistance as possible to bring projects in Norwich to the finish line. I have also had the great privilege of being interviewed by various media outlets. Giving me the opportunity to highlight the strength of Norwich and my plans to uplift the city.

The Mayor’s Office has also been actively working with the IT department, to make the city website more accessible for constituents. The city website is now available in over 100 languages. And one can now request certificates, proclamations, invite the mayor to events, request a meeting with the mayor, and more, all under the new “Mayor’s Dashboard” on the city website. This will make it easier for constituents to access the services given by the mayor’s office.

And although I have been in office for just few weeks, the mayor’s office has been diligently delivering certificates of recognition to the community-- with over 50 so far being awarded to students on recent competitions and achievements.

Alongside my efforts to actively move the city forward and connect with all Constituents, over the last month I have attended various community events to hear constituents directly and support their efforts in continuing to make Norwich an inclusive and welcoming city.

Now, I would like to discuss the current state of the city…

Norwich is moving forward. We are not standing still. Our city is financially stable, our workforce is dedicated, and our community partnerships are stronger than ever. We have created the momentum—and we must continue to build on it. However, like many cities across the state and nation, Norwich faces real challenges. Rising costs, aging infrastructure, housing pressures, and concerns about public safety, all which affect our daily lives. These challenges are not unique to us, but they require local solutions rooted in accountability, transparency, and collaboration.

When it comes to Economic Growth and the Grand List…

My central priority is strengthening our commercial tax base because for too long, the tax burden has fallen disproportionately on our residents. That must change. My focus is to attract manufacturing, logistics, clean energy, and technology-driven businesses that provide good-paying jobs and long-term stability. Alongside different City Department Heads and my economic partners, we are actively working to strategize redevelop underutilized and blighted properties and even abandoned private properties.

We need to position Norwich as a city that is open to business, responsive, and competitive. We must streamline applications for developers to come and do things here-- instead of burying them in paper trails and dragging them for months to even start anything.

Our waterfront, downtown and even under-utilized assets like Dodd Stadium represent enormous opportunity. By transforming these areas through smart planning, public-private partnerships, and strategic investment, we can create vibrant spaces that generate revenue, attract visitors, and serve residents. I want us to think of Downtown and Howard T. Brown Park, the Marina, the Transportation Center all as one entity with the goal to make this city more walkable and connecting it with major recreational spaces. Within the next year you will be able to see the transformation at Howard T. Brown Park from started projects progressing forward.

On to Housing and Norwich Neighborhoods…

Housing is not just a policy issue—it is a quality-of-life issue. Norwich needs housing that is affordable, workforce-oriented, and aligned with economic growth. I am committed to encouraging mixed-use and workforce housing, particularly in our downtown and transit-accessible areas. We do have exciting mixed-use housing projects coming to Norwich: the conversion of old office spaces at 101 Water Street (Thames Plaza) and a historic renovation at 24 Broadway (The Fairhaven). Both of these transit-oriented developments are projects I look forward to working with The Connecticut Municipal Development Authority (CMDA), to make Norwich the first municipality to use that program. This will lay the ground for other projects in Norwich as well.

This approach strengthens neighborhoods, supports local businesses, and brings new life to our city without overburdening existing residents. I also want to expand opportunities to include more adult living communities throughout Norwich to help our seniors achieve more affordability and financial freedom. At the same time, I remain focused on the importance of neighborhood stability through addressing blight, supporting home ownership, finding solutions for our homeless population, adding more dedicated open spaces and ensuring that we uplift all parts of Norwich.

And we have begun the work to improve, refresh, and make zoning regulations more practical.

Regarding Public Safety and Community Trust…

Public safety remains a top priority. Our police, our fire departments, both city and volunteers, and our emergency management staff serve with professionalism and dedication every day. We are investing in modern equipment, creating common minimum standards for services, training, and community-based approaches that strengthen trust and ensure safety for all-- no matter where they live in Norwich.

I also look forward to explore and advocate for the need of a new P.D in our Downtown which will help us better market more mixed-use housing developments here.

Safety is not just about enforcement, it is about prevention, opportunity, and engagement. When the city invests in youth programs, mental health services, and economic opportunities, we build safer communities for everyone.

Now let’s talk about our infrastructure and Services…

Infrastructure is the backbone of our city’s future growth. Roads, bridges, utilities, and public facilities must be reliable and resilient.

NPU and NCDC are our important partners in this, and we are leveraging state and federal resources to make long-overdue improvements like the sewer treatment plant and others, while being responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars.

Occum Industrial Center is also a project that should be treated as an investment for our infrastructure, as it will provide us with a tax base that will lead us to affordability.

I am also very excited that this year we will have our first-brand new elementary schools. Stanton will be ready to serve our community followed by Greenville, Uncas and Moriarity in consecutive years. This will be game changer for us as a city as new schools will bring a lot of positivity to our community, and it will also provide our community with safe spaces that can be used after school hours and on weekends.

Overall, our goal is simple: deliver services efficiently, maintain what we have, and plan wisely for the future with ability to expand.

As you know, Education, Arts, and Community are also important to me.

A strong city invests in its people and especially the youth who are the next generation of leaders. I would like to thank our cultural institutions and our nonprofit partners who enrich the lives of our community and serve the most vulnerable populations that we have a moral obligation and duty towards.

Also, this year we will be celebrating our nation’s 250th birthday and I look forward to acknowledging our American history and contributions of various diverse communities that made us unique from all the other nations.

We must continue to celebrate and protect all aspects of the Norwich community, from education and workforce development to art, history, civic engagement, and our beautiful diversity.

Therefore, the mayor’s office is preparing various initiatives to expand education and uplift the Norwich community. Some of my planned initiatives are as follows:

1) I will begin the “Mayor’s Civic Education Initiative”. Once a year we will hold civic education seminars here at City Hall to engage the youth and new members of the Norwich community in understanding their civic duties.

2) Stemming from my goal to increase community participation I am also initiating a “Mayor’s Community Interest Panel” that will meet quarterly to give me inputs and suggestions on how to make Norwich better. The purpose of this panel is to give a more intimate outlet for the Citizens of Norwich to directly voice their concerns, express their agreements on policies, and participate closely with me. I seek to have citizens from diverse backgrounds that can encompass a wide range of experiences, voices, and ideas to represent all citizens of Norwich.

3) Thirdly, I seek to initiate a Mayor’s Newsletter to be transparent on what the Mayor’s Office is working on, highlight upcoming community events, and talk directly with all constituents via the Mayor’s Dashboard.

4) Lastly, in terms of the Business Sector, I will begin the “Mayor’s Local Business Recognition Initiative”. The mission of this initiative is to elevate businesses in Norwich by utilizing the new digital age and power of social media to share their stories, celebrate their achievements, and highlight the community that stands behind them. Once a month the Mayor’s Office, alongside some of our economic and community partners such as NCDC, Global City Norwich, Greater Norwich Area Chamber of Commerce, and NPU will visit a local business in Norwich to feature their services, goods, unique stories and connect them to various resources available for them. Growing Norwich wouldn’t be possible without showcasing the hard work of these diverse business communities.

Looking Ahead…

The future of Norwich will not be shaped by one administration or one policy. It will be shaped by collaboration—between city government, residents, businesses, nonprofits, and regional and federal partners.

I believe deeply in this city. I believe in its people, its potential, and its promise. With focus, discipline, and unity, Norwich can grow in a way that is fair, inclusive, and sustainable.

Tonight, I ask you to stay engaged, stay hopeful, and stay involved. The work ahead will not always be easy, but it will be worth it. Together, we can revive Norwich to become the city of opportunity—one that honors its past while confidently building its future. Thank you. God bless the City of Norwich. And God Bless America.”

Mayor Swarnjit Singh