Robin Comey

I hope this email finds you and your family well. I have some great news to share: Branford has been awarded grant money thanks to the CT DOT's Community Connectivity Grant Program to improve sidewalk safety and walkability. Keep reading to find out more.

There is plenty to get to in the email below, so make sure to keep scrolling for more on:

• Around Town
• CT DOT Grant Funding
• Early Start CT
• Upgraded DSS Phone System
• Food Drive and Food Assistance
• Community Events

On Wednesday morning, I had the pleasure of joining the Clifford Beers Community Care Center roundtable to discuss CT InCK, a child-centered service and payment model designed to reduce costs and improve care for children by focusing on prevention, early identification, and treatment of behavioral and physical health needs.

CT InCK is working towards connecting the dots with other initiatives at the local and state level to:

• align healthcare efforts
• improve health outcomes for families
• remove gaps in services
• promote health equity
• allow for reimbursement for care coordination across care providers

The hope is to provide an affordable, sustainable, and equitable healthcare initiative that is adaptable across the state of Connecticut.

The Town of Branford has selected At Home Branford and partners to redevelop the town-owned property at 11 Cherry Hill Road, transforming the historic site into an affordable residential community. 

The project represents a major step forward in Branford’s ongoing efforts to expand housing options for residents of all incomes while preserving community character and historic resources. 

The redevelopment will include:

• Eight affordable homeownership units, designed for income-eligible households earning below 80% of the area median income (AMI)
• Three affordable rental units located within a restored portion of the historic building
• Preservation of the property’s architectural character and integration with the surrounding neighborhood
• Landscaping and site improvements that enhance the property’s appearance and community connections

The project still needs to obtain local approvals and financing commitments. Once completed, the development construction timeline will be established to provide long-term affordable housing opportunities and contribute to Branford’s ongoing efforts to strengthen neighborhood vitality and economic diversity.

The State of Connecticut is awarding nearly $12 million in grants to 17 towns and cities through the Connecticut Department of Transportation’s Community Connectivity Grant Program. The funding will support projects aimed at improving transportation safety and mobility.

Branford will receive $800,000 for its Pathways Improvement Plan to install 1.6 miles of sidewalk to address connectivity gaps and upgrade accessibility to existing facilities along Ivy Street, North Ivy Street, North Main Street, Cedar Street, and Rose Street.

These state-funded grants provide financial support for local infrastructure initiatives designed to create safer, more accessible conditions for pedestrians and bicyclists in urban, suburban, and rural communities.

Click here for more information about the Community Connectivity Grant Program.

Thanks to the Early Childhood Education Endowment, an initiative that was passed by the General Assembly in the 2025 legislative session, the expansion of the Early Start CT program in 2026 marks an important step forward in meeting the growing demand for high-quality early childhood care and education across Connecticut.

Beginning in January 2026, up to 1,000 new spaces will be added to the state’s Early Start CT program, expanding access to affordable early learning opportunities for more families. In addition, the state will increase provider payments by up to 8% to help offset operational costs and support higher staff compensation. The endowment supports the governor’s initiative to implement the largest expansion of early childhood education services in Connecticut’s history. We are thrilled about this program and the tremendous benefits it will bring to children, families, and communities across the state.

Early Start CT is a state-funded early care and education program serving income-eligible families with infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and school-age children. The program is administered by the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood (OEC).

To support this expansion, OEC will soon launch a Request for Applications (RFA) for child care providers interested in offering Early Start CT spaces. The RFA will be open to child care centers, group child care homes, family child care homes, and public school preschool classrooms throughout the state.

Click here for more information on Early Start CT.

The Department of Social Services (DSS) has successfully launched a new streamlined and user-friendly experience for callers with an upgraded phone system. 

The Benefits Center phone number has not changed.  Customers still contact DSS at 1-855-6-CONNECT (1-855-626-6632). ​ 

The new system includes: 

• A simplified phone menu designed to help customers reach the right service
• A self-service experience for checking case status and benefit information 

Customers who enter their Client ID when calling will benefit from a customized service and be routed to the correct call queue. Additionally, for those who prefer to self-serve, the system now allows them to: 

• Check if DSS has received their documents and when they were reviewed
• View their case status and, if active, access benefit details 

Customers now have access to call-back options, allowing them to: 

• Save their place in line, or
• Schedule a call at a time that works best for them 

CT Foodshare is having a food drive requesting donations of food and funds on Sunday, November 23 from 10:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. at the Branford Stop & Shop (22 Leetes Island Road).

Volunteers are still needed, click here to register.

Dress for the weather, this is an outdoor event.