Norwich — The state Bond Commission on Wednesday approved funding for capital improvements to Norwich schools, an environmental assessment of the second Ponemah Mill building and a planning grant to update the Norwich Harbor Management Plan.

As a state-designated Alliance District for school improvement, Norwich qualified for state funding for capital improvements to city schools. The Bond Commission on Wednesday approved $580,000 for that purpose.

Norwich will use the funding to replace water fountains at the Samuel Huntington, Thomas Mahan, Moriarty Environmental Sciences Magnet, John B. Stanton, Uncas, Veterans’ Memorial, Wequonnoc Arts and Technology, Kelly Middle and Teachers’ Memorial schools.

The funding also will pay for repaving parking lots and driveways at Huntington, Mahan and Teachers’ Memorial schools.

The state-funded Integrated Day Charter School on Thermos Avenue also received $849,920 for extensive renovations, including heating and ventilation, floor and roof replacement and improvements to the school playground.

The commission also approved the $200,000 brownfields environmental assessment grant announced by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy Nov. 20 to continue the redevelopment of the Ponemah Mill complex in Taftville. It will fund a study of the second building, which once housed Central Sports, for possible environmental contamination.

Developer Onekey LLC has no definite plans for the building, but is considering commercial development to complement the 237 apartments being created in the adjacent, much larger Ponemah Mill No. 1 building.

The Bond Commission also approved a $7,500 planning grant for the Norwich Harbor Management Commission to update the 20-year-old Harbor Management Plan. Last June, the Connecticut Port Authority endorsed that grant, along with several other, much larger harbor project grants also approved Wednesday, during a meeting at Norwich City Hall.

c.bessette@theday.com