Fairfield Updates & Grants for the Arts

Fairfield
December 4, 2020
As we continue to deal with the direct impact of the pandemic, state and local government work continues on projects in many other areas. I hope you’ll take a look below at how you can provide input and support.

Have a safe and healthy weekend. Please avoid risky situations and indoor gatherings with people outside of your household. Keep up the great work wearing your masks, maintaining 6 feet of distance and washing your hands. The numbers continue to rise, so your actions make a difference.
Rooster River Forum

A few weeks ago, I joined Town Engineer Bill Hurley and area residents for a virtual meeting regarding the Rooster River. The town wants to hear from you about plans for flood mitigation. Hundreds of our neighbors were impacted by record breaking rain and the resulting 100 year flood that occurred in 2018. In response, the town contracted with Milone & MacBroom, Inc. (MMI) to look at a series of potential detention pond locations in order to avoid the widespread property destruction and unsafe conditions that occurred in 2018.

MMI evaluated the feasibility of creating floodwater storage/detention areas on seven identified open sites within the Rooster River watershed. The hope is that if developed, these sites could reduce the frequency and severity of flooding along the Rooster River. The proposed detention locations are:
  1. Tunxis Hill Park
  2. Algonquin Rd (mini detention areas)
  3. Melville Drive playground
  4. Owen Fish Park
  5. Woodfield Village
  6. Fairchild Wheeler

The photos below show what three of these sites could conceptually look like, and really how they could help mitigate the flooding:
Your input matters. Visit the project website and comment, ask questions and take the survey, which closes December 10th, to provide your input. In addition, if you have photos – with dates – of Rooster River flooding you have witnessed, please send them to Town Engineer Bill Hurley. The town will be holding another public meeting in the winter or spring of 2021. Bill keeps a distribution list, so let him know if you would like to be added.

One other important suggestion from Mr. Hurley – please don’t blow leaves into the river and keep the river free of debris. I would add, be sure to refrain from blowing leaves into the street, which then clogs the drains.
Grants for the Arts

Governor Ned Lamont announced that 5 Fairfield nonprofit arts organizations will be receiving $177,200 in grants this month under a program

 initiated by his administration to provide $9 million in grants to support the state’s arts community amid the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The Fairfield nonprofit arts organizations are:
  • Broadway Method Academy, Fairfield, $8,600
  • Connecticut Dance School, Fairfield, $9,700
  • Fairfield County Children's Choir, Fairfield, $8,100
  • Fairfield Theatre Company, Fairfield, $106,400
  • Greater Connecticut Youth Orchestras, Fairfield, $44,400

Congratulations to you!
Cultural Alliance

The Connecticut Office of the Arts is pleased to open registration for three (3) upcoming capacity building workshops, presented in cooperation with the

 Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
 
Dates & Times:
  • Monday, December 7 from 9 - 11 AM
  • Tuesday, December 8 from 9 - 11 AM
  • Thursday, December 10 from 9 - 11 AM

 Who Should Participate:

  • Arts Organizations
  • Cultural Attractions
  • Museums
  • Municipalities
  • Individual Artists
Full program details and registration links below.
There is no cost to participate.
 
Arts & Culture Capacity Building Module 1
Monday, December 7, 2020
9 - 11 AM

Who should participate?
Arts institutions, museums and cultural attractions and individual artists

9 - 10 AM
Envisioning a Future - Cooperatives and collaborations for resource sharing and cost efficiency

Experts:
Margaret M. Bau, Cooperative Development Specialist, USDA
Noémi Giszpenc, Executive Director, Cooperative Development Institute
Onyeka “Ony” Obiocha, Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, Hartford, CT
Doug Sauer, CEO, NY Council of Nonprofits

10 - 11 AM
Where the Money Is: The Third Resource
How nonprofit arts organizations can utilize fully-secured borrowing to survive the economic impact of the Covid-19 crisis. NOTE: This content is relevant to all non-profit organizations.

Expert: Richard Linzer, Linzer Consulting
Register for Module 1
 
Arts & Culture Capacity Building Module 2

 Tuesday, December 8, 2020
9 - 11 AM

Who should participate?
Arts institutions, museums and cultural attractions and individual artists
 
9 - 9:30 AM
Basic Financial and Business Strategy Principles with Luke Blackadar
Luke Blackadar is Director Legal Services for the Arts & Business Council of Greater Boston, where he manages the Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts of Massachusetts. Luke counsels artists and arts organizations of all disciplines on contracts, nonprofit law, copyright, and trademark.
 
9:30 - 10 AM
SBA and the Arts & Culture Sector
SBA has valuable resources to offer for arts organizations and individual artists. SBA Regional Administrator Wendell Davis will present information you can use about PPP forgiveness, non-recourse debt programs and resources available about digital marketing from ‘MBAs Fight Covid.’ SBA experts will be answering attendee questions in the ‘chat’
 
10 - 11 AM
TechSoup 101
Tech Soup provides the connections, expertise, and resources to unlock the power of tech for social good. This presentation will provide an overview of how Tech Soup can support arts and culture organizations and artists in the areas of Tech Literacy, Digital Marketing and E-Commerce.
 
Expert: Cameron Jones, VP for Solutions and Services,TechSoup
Register for Module 2
 
Arts & Culture Capacity Building Module 3
Thursday, December 10, 2020
9 - 11 AM
Who should participate?

Municipalities, arts and cultural organizations, and individual artists
 
9 - 11 AM
The Role of Art and Artists in Building Business and Communities
This module will focus on place-keeping and will feature case studies and actionable recommendations for cross-sector collaboration between municipalities, arts organizations and artists to build communities, spur the creative economy and to leverage arts and culture as a driver of activities in our cities.
 
Experts:
Bridget Anderson, Indiana Director, Patronicity
Beth Flowers, Executive Director, The AIR Institute
Lynne McCormack, National Director of Place-making, Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC)
Register for Module 3
 

Shop Small and Support Local Businesses

The Fairfield Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Town of Fairfield, recently announced the launch of a unique gift card program to support the business community as we approach the holiday season and beyond. If you missed yesterday’s Shop and Stroll, this is a great way to show your support.

The Fairfield Community eGift Card is the first digital gift card redeemable exclusively in Fairfield. All of your favorite Fairfield restaurants, retailers and service providers in one place. Use the Fairfield Community eGift Card at any of the participating locations in Fairfield and Southport.

eGift Card FAQs:

How do I purchase a card? 

  • Purchase your e-card online at Fairfield Community eGift Card.
  • Purchasers only need the email or cell phone number of the person they would like to send an eCard to.
  • Purchaser can write a personal message to be sent with the eCard.
  • Select a denomination up to $250.
  • Select a date for the eCard to be delivered. Today or any time in the future.
  • The purchase of the card is subject to a delivery fee of $1 + 5% of the card value.
  • The purchaser will receive a notification when the eGift card is sent, viewed and redeemed.

How is the Fairfield Community eGift Card delivered?

  • The gift recipient will receive an email or text letting then know that the purchaser has sent them an eGift Card.
  • The personal message from the purchaser is seen by the recipient.
  • The recipient can find a list of participating merchants in the email or text.
  • The recipient presents an image of the card on their phone at the time of redemption and the cashier processes as a Mastercard.
  • The card balance is displayed on the phone, and can be used at other participating businesses until spent.

Where can Fairfield Community eGift Cards be redeemed?

  • Gift cards can be redeemed at any of the participating locations in Fairfield and Southport.
  • Click here for a full list of shops, restaurants, hotels and spas accepting Fairfield Community eGift Cards.
  • More businesses are being added all the time.

Are physical cards an option?

  • No, plastic cards are not available.
  • The card is available electronically on a cell phone, or if you choose, you can print out the card on a piece of paper from your device.