Connecticut Developer Has Targeted Workforce Housing Needs

Workforce Partners is renovating hundreds of units for families earning up to 120% of the area median income.

Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Employment

Connecticut Developer Has Targeted Workforce Housing Needs

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Do you support prioritizing new workforce housing developments over the concerns of current local residents?

Developer Ed Gormbley, who founded Workforce Partners 16 years ago, is expanding his portfolio of apartments targeted at working-class families. The firm is currently redeveloping properties across Connecticut to meet housing demand for households earning 80% to 120% of the area median income.

Why it matters

This shift in property development aims to bridge the gap in housing affordability for middle-income residents. By converting existing structures like hotels into multi-family housing, the firm seeks to supply quality options for workers in a high-cost environment.

Workforce Partners currently manages 500 properties and plans to develop another 500 units, including 250 apartments at the former Circle Hotel site. The company targets households earning between 80% and 120% of the area median income.

The players

Ed Gormbley

The founder of Workforce Partners who has worked in property development for 16 years.

Workforce Partners

A developer that employs 30 people and focuses on creating housing for families earning 80% to 120% of the area median income.

The details

Workforce Partners utilizes economies of scale and modern technology to renovate existing hotels and carriage houses into residential units. The firm intends to redevelop the Circle Hotel into a complex featuring 250 apartments alongside 110 hotel rooms. These projects are intended to increase the availability of housing stock for families in Connecticut who often face limited options at their specific income levels.

2010: Workforce Partners was founded by Ed Gormbley.
2010: Ed Gormbley filed a lawsuit against GE regarding asset valuations.
End of 2026: Completion is expected for five new townhouses on Clinton Avenue.

Money Landscape

This expansion of rental units occurs as Connecticut faces a persistent regional shortage of middle-income workforce housing. The effort highlights a broader trend of repurposing commercial assets to address local affordability challenges.

Families earning 80% to 120% of the area median income may soon find more rental options as these multi-family projects reach completion. Interested residents should consult a financial advisor to determine how such housing costs fit within their monthly budget.

The takeaway

The firm is scaling its operations to offer 500 new residential units specifically for the middle-income demographic. Residents looking for housing should track local planning board filings in Norwalk and Fairfield for updates on unit availability.