West Hartford Receives Funding for New Britain Ave Clean-Up

January 13, 2022

Dear Neighbor,

Last week, the Town of West Hartford received $953,646 to remediate the former Puritan Furniture Store located at 1051 and 1061 New Britain Avenue. West Hartford was one of only 13 communities chosen for this competitive grant.

The funding will be used to clean-up the site for the proposed construction of a 131-unit mixed-income, mixed-use transit-oriented development.

The funding is provided through the state Department of Economic and Community Development's Brownfield Remediation Program.

Our community is focused on transit-oriented development and expanded housing to strengthen economic development and create vibrant neighborhoods to live, work and play. This investment in the 20th District will be critical in achieving that long-term goal. I look forward to your feedback about this project as we work together for the future of the district.

COVID-19 UPDATE

In case you missed it, the Biden administration announced over-the-counter, at-home COVID-19 tests will be covered by insurance policies starting Saturday, January 15, 2022. This will allow most consumers with private health coverage to access 8 free over-the-counter, at-home COVID-19 tests per covered individual a month. Certain individuals may even be able to receive more tests if ordered by their health care provider following an individualized clinical assessment. Health insurers can cover the costs upfront or require policy holders to submit a claim for reimbursement.

Testing is a critical component in our country's strategy to mitigate community spread of COVID-19 and ensure effective treatment for patients with COVID-19. As testing ramps up across the country, this will help expand access to this critical resource. To read more about this announcement, please click here.

Last week, Governor Lamont signed three new executive orders to help our state manage the COVID-19 pandemic. The executive orders are as follows:

Executive Order No. 14B
- COVID-19 vaccination booster requirement for employees of long-term care facilities
Executive Order No. 14C
- COVID-19 vaccination booster requirement for employees of state hospitals
Executive Order No. 14D
- Flexibility to provide for adequate healthcare resources and facilities
- Practice before licensure for certain healthcare profession applicants and graduates
- Temporary permits for certain healthcare providers extended
- Participation in resident physician assistant program prior to permit issuance
- Temporary suspension of physician assistant supervision restrictions
- Temporary suspension of in-person supervision requirement for advanced practice registered nurses
- No employer charge for sequestration expenses

To read more about these executive orders, please click here.

LEGISLATIVE BUSINESS

I'm pleased to announce that CT Humanities has awarded a total of $16 million in CT Cultural Fund Operating Support Grants to 624 nonprofit museums and cultural, humanities, and arts organizations. Of this funding, a combined $82,500 was awarded to four nonprofits right here in the 20th House District. These funds were allocated on behalf of the Connecticut General Assembly budget approved by Governor Lamont last years. CT Humanities worked in partnership with the Connecticut Office of the Arts to award the funds to ensure all residents had access to rich cultural experiences.

Investing in our arts and culture are essential to our communities - now and for our future. You can read more about these awards on the CT Humanities website here.

Last session my legislative colleagues and I worked collaboratively with the Governor to secure and allocate $70 Million in funding for Connecticut workers. With funds from the federal American Rescue Plan Act, we created CareerConneCT, a program designed to help those whose employment was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

For Workers

CareerConneCT is focused on:

Reskilling and Upskilling: Continuous learning and job training are essential.
Inclusiveness and Effectiveness: Help propel worker success while advancing social equity.
Mutual Success: Helps students, workers, and Connecticut thrive by uniting employers, workforce development boards, secondary- and post-secondary institutions, and community and economic organizations.

Workers will now have online access to short-term training programs, where they can earn an industry-recognized credential and enter employment in in-demand careers. Click the button below to visit the CareerConneCT portal and stay up to date on training opportunities.

CareerConneCT Portal

STATE & LOCAL RESOURCES

Would you like to start off the New Year by investing to support Connecticut small businesses and towns becoming more energy efficient — while you save money and earn more interest than most savings accounts or CD rates? Check off that resolution and consider a short-term investment in our new Green Liberty Notes!

This crowdfunding campaign was launched by a Connecticut Green Bank subsidiary, and allows citizens to invest in our mission of confronting climate change while helping the Small Business Energy Advantage (SBEA) program. SBEA provides interest free loans to Connecticut businesses and towns who undertake energy efficiency projects.

The West Hartford Library is hosting a virtual book club for immigrants on Thursdays from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. starting on January 20 until March 24. The Building Connections Book Club is for West Hartford advanced English learners who want to develop their English reading and communication skills in a diverse, inspiring and encouraging environment. Each week, participants will receive reading material and then will meet virtually to ask questions and discuss the text. Interested individuals can email Elizabeth Hanlon at eemhanlon@gmail.com to register or text/call 860-305-1786. The book club is free. To learn more, click here.

As always, if I can be of assistance to you and your family, please reach out to me at 860-240-8585 or email me at Kate.Farrar@cga.ct.gov. Follow @KateforCT on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to stay up-to-date on everything I'm doing at the Capitol!

Sincerely,

Kate Farrar
State Representative
she/her/hers