34 Distillation Guidebook Co-Lab • 9.18–9.19 2025 A Look into Connecticut’s Meds & Eds with David Kooris CMDA focuses on the intersection of housing and economic growth, recognizing that expanding housing supply and supporting residential development are essential to a strong economy. When communities can offer adequate housing for their workforce, they are better positioned to retain and grow businesses. CMDA identifies strategies that reflect local conditions and needs, and the assets and constraints major institutions contribute to their economies – in order to tailor their services to each municipality. They provide a range of tools to support local development, including gap financing, third-party zoning review, and district-scale state permitting. To date, 44 municipalities across Connecticut have opted into the zoning review process, a step that enables CMDA to designate Development Districts. These FEATURE The Small Cities Lab spoke with David Kooris, the Executive Director of the Connecticut Municipal Development Authority, a quasi-public entity launched by the governor to support municipalities across Connecticut. The organization represents a newer approach to economic development through hybrid governance, operating independently from the government while advancing public goals.
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