| As a representative of Fairfield, I am very proud to serve as Co-chair of the Connecticut Main Street Working Group to continue advocating for our vibrant Main Street! I'm excited to share an update from our recent October meeting.
During our last meeting, we listened to Community and Economic Development Directors and Main Street and downtown directors. They shared with us what support has been most helpful, what they still need, and what the General Assembly can do to ensure that all stakeholders are able to thrive during these challenging times. This feedback is critical in establishing a meaningful set of priorities for our next legislative session that will begin in February.
Specifically, we discussed:
- The need to reign in third-party delivery fees.
- Working with DOT and other agencies to promote more public art projects.
- Continuing to support programs such as "Small Town Economic Assistance Program" (STEAP), Main Street Investment Grant, historic tax credits, and leveraging Federal support for conversion projects.
- Connecting public transit networks within and across our metropolitan areas.
- Greater support for streetscape improvements and pedestrian-friendly design (Complete Streets) in our downtowns.
- The role of sustainability, storm water drainage, and resiliency.
On November 8th, Alexandra Daum, the Deputy Commissioner of the Dept. of Economic and Community Development will join us to discuss two recently announced grant opportunities for communities- the Innovation Corridor Program and the CT Communities Challenge Program. If you are interested in attending this meeting, please email me at Jennifer.leeper@cga.ct.gov. |
