Two more companies joined the hunt for a piece of a $25 million General Electric Co. fund being used to develop downtown Bridgeport. The Connecticut Housing Finance Authority said Wednesday it is reviewing five proposals for the Re-Imagining Downtown Bridgeport plan, which it is administering.

Last year, GE Money, a consumer lending unit of the Fairfield-based conglomerate, agreed to buy $25 million in CHFA bonds, which would allow CHFA to present low-interest loans to winning bidders.

Tim Coppage, CHFA's vice president of housing development, said his organization re-issued the request for proposals in March to get more bids. Three proposals were submitted last year. This latest round of bids included Bridgeport developer Phil Kuchma's condominium building at 323 Fairfield Ave.

Kuchma said Wednesday work is continuing on the project as he gets the financing righted for the 84 condominium units after he lost his original financing.

Despite the loss of that financing, Kuchma said downtown is still taking shape and projects are being built. In general, he said, the tight credit market might mean some delays to other developer's projects that haven't gotten shovels in the ground. He did not cite any specific projects.

In addition to Kuchma, Urban Green Developers, which is renovating the Arcade Mall on Main Street, asked for funding for two of its projects.

Canyon-Johnson Partnership's plan for a $280 million mixed-use development at the site of the old Pequonnock

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Apartments is also in the running, as is Garfield Spencer's renovation of 333 State St.

Ed Lavernoich, the city's acting development director, said Bridgeport appreciates the efforts CHFA is putting into reviewing these projects.

There is no date for a decision on any of the bids, Coppage said. They are all still under review. Rob Varnon, who covers business, can be reached at 330-6216.