Newsletter 7/30/2022

July 30, 2022

I hope you're enjoying your summer and staying cool. 
 

In this week's email, you can find information on:

  • Connecticut Clean Air Act
  • Food Drive Next Saturday July 30
  • CT Launches Loan Program Aiding Small Businesses
  • 32nd Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act 
  • Sustainable House Tour in Fairfield
  • Bonding for Fairfield 
 Connecticut Clean Air Act

While work at the federal level to step up the fight against climate change has been slow at best, here at the state level, House Democrats supported policies during the 2022 legislative session that will help cut our carbon footprint, promote environmental justice, and protect the health of Connecticut residents.

With Congress still negotiating climate policy and the Supreme Court actively harming efforts to cut carbon emissions, my colleagues and I took the lead on working to combat climate change and protect our environment by passing S.B. 4, AN ACT CONCERNING THE CONNECTICUT CLEAN AIR ACT.

This bill, which has officially been signed into law, takes steps to help our state breathe easier through cleaner air and moves the transportation market away from fossil fuels in favor of vehicles that do not aggravate asthma issues that many densely populated sections of our state experience.
 

S.B. 4 works to improve the quality of our air and environment by enacting the following measures:

  • Establishes funds to reduce transportation-related greenhouse gas in order to improve air quality;
  • Makes it easier for consumers to reduce their carbon footprint by increasing access to rebates and vouchers to buy electric vehicles;
  • Assists municipalities and businesses with the purchase of electric vehicle charging stations;
  • Improves air quality by reducing the allowable emissions emitted by medium and heavy-duty vehicles.

What affects the environment also affects each one of us. This legislation is a bold step in ensuring that Connecticut does its part to protect our planet and our future.
 
Food Drive Next Saturday July 30
Tomorrow, July 30, Operation Hope of Fairfield will hold a food drive. The drive will be held from 10 am - 12 pm on the Sherman Green in Fairfield. Cash, gift cards to grocery stores, nonperishable food items, toiletries and cleaning supplies will be accepted. See the flyer below for the complete list of donation suggestions. For more information on this event, please visit the Operation Hope of Fairfield website. 
 
CT Launches Loan Program Aiding Small Businesses
This week, the state launched the Connecticut Small Business Boost Fund, a low interest loan program for small businesses and nonprofits operating in our state. The fund is a public-private partnership focused on businesses and nonprofits located in low-income and historically underserved communities.
 
Small businesses and nonprofits can apply for loans with a fixed, 4.5% interest rate. To be eligible, entities must operate in Connecticut, have 100 or fewer full-time employees, and have annual revenues of less than $8 million. Applicants will be matched with a lender if they qualify for a loan. Once matched, the lender will help the business owner throughout the application process.

More information is available here.
 
32nd Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act 
Happy 32nd Anniversary to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)! Did you know that the ADA National Network is a free resource that provides information and training on the Americans with Disabilities Act?

Learn more about the resources you can access here.
 
Sustainable House Tour in Fairfield
Last week, Architect Leigh Overland, Owner of the Overland Design Group and Next Great American Homes, opened his home to Sustainable Fairfield Task Force and me to show us how he’s incorporating new technology and using Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF) to create modern, strong, efficient, and nearly maintenance-free homes at the same cost — or less — as traditional building techniques. There is no wood used in these homes so they are completely fire-proof and with the price of timber, this is a more affordable option. The exterior walls are poured concrete making these homes stormproof.

These homes are far more sustainable to build and Leigh who has been an architect for over 40 years has spent the past decade getting the word out on ICF building. He said the biggest obstacle of people choosing to build this way is simply that people don’t know about it. Because of his work educating more consumers and builders, ICF homes are popping up all around us! You can learn more about this here.
 
 
Bonding for Fairfield 
Earlier today, the State Bond Commission approved the bonding requests put forward by Cristin McCarthy Vahey and I, along with the support of State Senator Tony Hwang. In total, Fairfield received $3.75 million in funding.