Henry Genga

How to Sign Up - Visit go.neighborhoodtrust.org/8w57. Click the button “Sign Up” and select the Neighborhood Trust Budget Coach you prefer. Choose the best time within the next few days to speak with your coach by phone or Skype for 30 minutes. Take advantage of FREE lifetime access to financial coaching.
 
Get ready to vote by absentee ballot in the November 3 election: all registered voters in CT have the ability to vote during the November 3, 2020 General Election using an absentee ballot. While it is important to note that polls will still be open like normal from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Election Day and you can vote in-person if you want, all registered voters also have the absentee option this year.  If you want to vote by absentee ballot in CT:

1. Obtain an absentee ballot application: The Secretary of the State has mailed absentee ballot applications to every active, registered voter in the state. If you haven't received one yet, it should arrive in the mail within the next several days. You can also download the application online here. It is important to note that this is not a ballot – it is just an application that you need to fill out to request a ballot.
2. Fill out the application: when filling it out, you have the option of selecting "COVID-19" as a reason, in addition to the 6 existing reasons.
3. Send the application to your Town Clerk: where you are registered to vote. You can drop it in one of the secure ballot boxes installed outside of every Town Hall, mail it, or hand deliver it.
4. Once the application is processed, an absentee ballot will be mailed to the voter starting on October 2. 
5. Complete your absentee ballot: Make sure to follow all instructions as required, otherwise your vote may not be processed. Remember to sign the inner envelope, seal only your ballot inside of the inner envelope (one ballot per envelope), and seal the inner envelope inside of the outer envelope.
6. Send your completed absentee ballot to your Town Clerk!
7. All ballots must be received by the close of polls at 8:00 P.M. on November 3: Don’t get held up due to delays in mail delivery! It is strongly recommended that you return your ballot by using the secure drop boxes that have been installed outside of your local Town Hall.

Additional Resources

• Check to see if you are registered to vote
• Register to vote online or update your registration
• Find your polling place
• Town Clerk contact list

 
CT Business Matchmaker 2020 event: The University of Hartford’s Entrepreneurial Center & Women’s Business Center’s 11^th Annual CT Business Matchmaker is designed to help address small businesses facing lost sales and networking opportunities due to COVID 19. This year, the event will be held in a virtual format on Friday, October 2, from 8:00AM until 2:30PM.  CT Business Matchmaker pairs small, established businesses, contractors, and service providers with “Primes,” which are large and medium-sized companies, municipalities, agencies, and other hiring entities who are actively interested in growing and diversifying their supplier lists.

Primes can expect to be connected with experienced small businesses that can fill a range of roles from skilled labor and products to operations consulting. This event will be an interactive, virtual experience. Attendees will be able to identify potential partnerships during a series of 10-minute, one-on-one video interviews that are designed to connect small businesses with companies and agencies that subcontract services and supplies. They will also have the opportunity to network with other small businesses.  Registration for small businesses will open Tuesday, September 8. Register here. To learn more, visit www.hartford.edu/matchmaker.
 
FoodShare
Walk Against Hunger – Virtual Fundraiser:
Happening NOW through Saturday, September 19^th
To Donate and/or Join a Team go to FoodshareWalk.org
To post your virtual Walk on social media use #FoodshareWALK
To benefit Foodshare and Participating Agencies

FOODSHARE needs volunteers: There is an immediate need for Volunteers!  Each Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday in September could use up to 30 volunteers at Foodshare’s Drive-Thru Food Distribution at Rentschler Field, East Hartford. With many summer volunteers going back to school and others now working we need your help in recruiting more volunteers.  At Rentschler, the volunteer’s day begins at 8:00 am and goes through 12:30 pm. 

Social distancing will be enforced. Every volunteer will be expected to wear a mask, and wear sturdy, comfortable closed-toe shoes. Gloves will be provided.   Don't forget your sun screen lotion!  As an additional screening tool, volunteers' temperatures will be taken on site.   Children ages 12-15 must volunteer with an adult/guardian; ages 16 and over can come on their own. Must be able to lift 20 pounds consistently during the 4.5 hour shift.  Water and break times are provided.  Individuals – can sign up online at Foodshare’s VolunteerHub – listed as Produce Sorting – (Pop-Up Produce) - E. Hartford
VolunteerHub will list the number of volunteer slots that remain open on a specific day, if filled, please check another date.  Corporate Groups – are welcome, please call Edna Bailey at 860-856-4326

Shorter (about 1 hour) volunteer commitments are available at many of the 60+ local Mobile Foodshare sites.  Individuals – can sign up online at Foodshare’s Volunteer Hub – listed as Mobile Foodshare (by site/location)
 
 Membership to the Connecticut Science Center
 Families who are EBT (food stamps) and/or Husky “A” and “C” recipients are eligible for an annual 4-person or 6-person Access Membership to the Connecticut Science Center at a 90% discount – as low as $20!

Due to COVID they can apply for the Access Membership program remotely and easily via e-mail by sending a photo of their Connecticut state ID and phone number, along with their EBT or Husky card to membership@ctsciencecenter.org.  A Connecticut Science Center Access Membership allows low-income families to visit throughout the year with unlimited free general admission, full-access to all the galleries, free admission to local zoos and aquariums during certain months like Mystic Aquarium and camp scholarship opportunities for their kids. 

This month (September) those who sign-up may be eligible for a STEM-In-The-Box Scholarship for their child(ren) between the ages of 6-12. STEM-In-The-Box Scholarship is a 3-week virtual after-school program with materials provided to do hands-on science from home with our STEM educators. To learn more about STEM-In-A-Box click https://ctsciencecenter.org/stembox/ . We have a limited number of scholarships available.

To learn more about the Access Membership program you can click https://ctsciencecenter.org/blog/access-granted-creating-an-opportunity-for-diversity-and-access/. 

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about Access Membership, please feel free to call me at 860-520-2198.
 
Eversource Extends Deadline for Enhanced Small Business Energy Efficiency Offerings
In an effort to help small business owners reduce their energy costs and impact on the environment during this difficult time, Eversource is extending its enhanced incentives for common energy-saving measures for small businesses to October 15. Check out this link to read more about it. https://www.metrohartford.com/about-us/newsroom/eversource-extends-deadline-for-enhanced-small-business-energy-efficiency-offerings/
 
Access Health
Access Health is the CT health insurance marketplace and was established under the Affordable Care Act.
It’s a place where individuals and small businesses can shop, compare and enroll in quality healthcare plans—and we are the only place where Connecticut residents can qualify for financial help. The mission to increase the number of insured residents… improve health care quality… lower costs… and reduce health disparities in the state of Connecticut.
 
Training Opportunities
The CT’s Workforce Boards due to CARES Act funding in response to the Corona virus pandemic are offering training opportunities for FREE to individuals impacted by COVID. The trainings being offered are in the fields of Finance, IT, Construction, Transportation, Manufacturing and Healthcare and directly connects candidates with employment afterward. These trainings are free and include a $200 weekly stipend while you participate in the training, and supports for childcare and transportation. Attached you will find the description to the fields mentioned above and the amazing opportunities to obtain further benefits after completing the training successfully.

Please share with your students and If anyone is interested in enrolling or receiving more information, please have them contact our office at 860-622-5507 for further assistance. We would love to help them navigate this process and help with enrollment. 

• Assistant Director( Recruitment and Administration)
• Strive Casemanager/ Facilitator
• Job Developer