In the early 1900s, a community began to form in the area surrounding Newhall Street as housing needs increased for workers employed at the Winchester Repeating Arms Factory in New Haven. This area became known as the Highwood District. A new elementary school was built during this period to serve the growing neighborhood.

Newhall Street School later served many functions in the Highwood community before being shut down in the mid-2000s and abandoned.

Our thesis is that a business and entrepreneurship education must play a significant role in helping to transform the Dixwell/Newhallville neighborhood. With that transformation in mind, ConnCORP purchased the renovated elementary school at 496 Newhall Street, Hamden and established The Lab—an immersive and transformative space for innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurial education.

Through our business incubator lab, our vision is to be a world class purveyor of entrepreneurial and financial literacy training to facilitate wealth creation and financial security within the urban community, forming the ecosystem for minority business growth and development, and increased home ownership.