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Dear Neighbor,
No rest for the weary after the start of session last week. We are busily screening bills in our committees, raising proposed bills, meeting with advocates and constituents, and preparing for when we get to the public hearing process.
I’m sharing a wonderful success story this week about a newer business in Collinsville that is women-owned and was a recent recipient of the Ignite Grant from the Women’s Business Development Council. I hope you’ll take a minute to read it.
Last week, I hosted a press conference with the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness and my colleagues to discuss the appropriations request we are seeking to work toward eliminating homelessness in Connecticut. It was stunning to have over 100 people in attendance and to see such excellent news coverage both of the event and the issue at hand. I’m sharing some of that coverage this week.
Also, you’ll find a text scam warning . . . one that both my husband and I received on our phones and perhaps you have as well. The text says that you owe a bill for a toll. The text I received came from an international number so it immediately set off warning bells for me, but it’s something to be aware of as these kinds of scams are getting more common.
Wishing you a good week,
Eleni
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It was standing room only this morning at the Connecticut Business Association’s (CBIA) 2025 Economic Summit Outlook. Governor Lamont started us off with his preview of what he would like to see in terms of affordability and continuing to make workforce improvements.
I was on the legislative panel with my colleagues Representative Tammy Nuccio, Senator Cathy Osten, and Senator Ryan Fazio. As usual, the time went by very quickly but we were still able to cover the fiscal guardrails, bipartisanship, support for vocational training, affordable housing, energy, and affordable healthcare. |
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| I appreciated the opportunity to connect with so many business leaders from around the state and am looking forward to hearing their input as we move through the legislative session. |
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| Yesterday, I had the privilege of visiting Hollow’s Tattoo Studio and Art Gallery in Collinsville. The reason for my visit was to celebrate that the owner, Jacky Ortiz, received the Women’s Business Development Council’s Ignite Grant in the amount of $10,000. |
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| Jacky’s story is incredibly inspiring, moving here from Puerto Rico as a child because her mother wanted her to have a better life. She overcame domestic abuse, worked long hours at Amazon and slowly built a following as a tattoo artist. She now employs four other women, and she hopes to help even more women build their craft and their own businesses. |
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| While you may not be in the market for a tattoo, Jacky’s store is filled with delightful art and gifts. I hope that this grant will help Jacky grow her business and stay in Collinsville for a long time! |
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We’ve seen a 13% increase in homelessness during our point-in-time count from one year to the next. Not only do we not want to see a double-digit increase, it’s time we start to see double-digit decreases.
The challenge remains for us to provide stable funding, especially for cold weather services. It’s especially difficult to hear that the people providing the services are also nearly homeless themselves because their wages and the rising cost of rent are pricing them out.
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Working with the CT Coalition to End Homelessness, we can make a difference in the lives of people unhoused in shelters, many of whom are working, some even working more than one job. I’m pleased my colleagues and over 100 attendees prioritized this issue last week.
Click on the links below to read stories on the topic:
Please click below to watch a short video. |
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| From inception to date, CT Paid Leave has paid over $1 billion in connection with more than 190,000 approved claims. Claim volume has increased by 17% since 2022 and 9% in the last twelve months.
To learn how many paid leave claims have been filed in Avon, Canton, or any other district as well as the application rates on a per 10,000 person basis by clicking on the map below. |
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| The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is awarding Connecticut $11.6 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to increase and extend service along the CTrail Hartford Line. |
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The CTrail Hartford Line Expanded Enhancement Project will:
- Add one weekday round trip from New Haven to Hartford, addressing a midday service gap of up to three hours.
- Increase customer service hours at Hartford Union Station by 75%.
- Extend the weekend 6456, 6457, 6458, and 6459 trains to Windsor Locks station.
- Extend the weekday 4401 train from Windsor Locks to Springfield.
- Continue previous 2020 funding for the addition of two weekday trains between New Haven and Springfield.
- Enhance connectivity of the existing rail service along the Northeast Corridor.
For more details, please click HERE. |
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| I want to make sure all of you stay safe and informed! A new scam is circulating where fraudsters are sending text messages claiming you have an unpaid toll and asking for payment. Please DO NOT click any links or provide any personal information. |
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| Some tips from the FBI:
If you receive one of these messages, file a complaint with the IC3, www.ic3.gov. Include where the number of the originating text came from, and the website from which the number was generated.
⚠️Delete any scam texts received.
⚠️If you clicked any link or provided your information, make efforts to secure your personal information and financial accounts. Dispute any unfamiliar charges.
⚠️Always verify any toll-related charges directly through official state websites or customer service.
Stay vigilant and share this message with your friends and family to help protect our community! |
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| Starting Saturday, Jan. 25, Canton nonprofit organizations seeking full or partial funding are invited by the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving to apply for a grant ranging from $250 to $10,000. |
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Over the past three years, the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving’s Canton Greater Together Community Fund has awarded 23 grants totaling $85,530 to address a wide range of community needs and improvements in Canton.
This is the fourth call for grant proposals in Canton. For more information, including eligibility, guidelines, and how to apply, please click HERE.
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| As we approach Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, let's take a moment to reflect on the extraordinary legacy of a leader whose vision of justice, equality, and nonviolent resistance transformed our nation and inspired the world. Dr. King's unwavering commitment to civil rights reminds us of the power of courage, compassion, and collective action to create meaningful change. |
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| Let's honor Dr. King's memory by recommitting ourselves to the pursuit of equity, inclusion, and unity in our communities. Cheers to Avon Friends for Equity! The grassroots organization is hosting an MLK event at the Avon Free Public Library this Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. To learn more about this family-centric gathering, and what the organization is all about, please click HERE.
Sincerely,
Eleni Kavros DeGraw
State Representative |
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