Grants for Home Health Care Safety, Free Community College Expanded

August 7, 2024

Dear Neighbor,

We have a jam-packed newsletter for you this week.

First, a couple of items from recently passed or recently expanded legislation: a state grant program related to home health care safety and free community college expanded. Find all of the details in the subsections included today.

It’s Black Business Month and we are always interested in highlighting these businesses in our community. Avon’s own, Sarah Heath, started ShopBlackCT.com a few years ago and it’s a great resource to learn about businesses that may be new to you.

Speaking of shopping, it’s August and that means tax free week is coming up between August 18 and August 24. I plan on filing an expansion of the items included during our long session next year. I don’t know about the other parents, but I always thought cleats and ballet shoes should be included as well as sports helmets. There is always more we can do.

Stay as dry as you can with all the rain. Have a great week,

Eleni

NEW STATE GRANT PROGRAM: HOME HEALTH CARE SAFETY

A new state grant program set to launch soon will provide grants to home health and access agencies to fund improved safety protocols and support services for their workers. You can click on the image below to learn more about this program administered by the Department of Social Services (DSS).

(Special Touch Home Care)

FREE COMMUNITY COLLEGE EXPANDED

I am thrilled to announce an expansion of tuition-free classes here in Connecticut! Any high school graduate and legal resident of Connecticut, even those with past college experience, can benefit. Please click on the image below to learn more.

SUPPORT BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES IN THE 17TH

August is Black Business Month. It's the perfect time to recognize and support Black-owned businesses in the 17th district!

Please consider shopping at these businesses, whether it's retail, restaurants, or services. Share your experiences on social media, use hashtags like #BlackBusinessMonth, and leave positive reviews to boost visibility. Please click on the images below for a list of black-owned businesses in Avon and Canton, respectively.

For a complete listing of Black-owned businesses throughout the state, please click HERE.

NEW: CT CONSUMER PROTECTION AGENCY NEWSLETTER

Hot off the press is the first Connecticut Consumer Protection Monthly Newsletter! Here you will find topics covered, including scams, fraud awareness, and more. Feel free to email questions and suggest topics at DCP.Communications@ct.gov.

IT'S NATIONAL EXERCISE WITH YOUR CHILD WEEK

Physical activity is key to lifelong health and well-being. Children as young as preschool age benefit from exercise and fitness as much as adults. Being active helps children and teens:

Feel stronger and have more energy to do all the things they like to do
Focus better at school and perform better in sports
Feel, think, and sleep better
Reach and stay at a healthy weight
Build lean muscle
️Lower their risk for serious health problems
Keep bones, muscles, and joints strong

SALES TAX-FREE WEEK BEGINS AUGUST 18TH

Connecticut's annual Sales Tax-Free Week begins on Sunday, August 18, and runs through Saturday, August 24. It provides a chance to save money, whether it is taking the kids back-to-school shopping or treating yourself or your loved ones.

Retailers throughout the state offer additional discounts on clothing and footwear during Sales Tax-Free Week, providing consumers with even more ways to stretch their spending power.

During this tax holiday, most clothing and footwear items priced less than $100 are exempt from Connecticut's 6.35% sales tax. The exemption applies to each eligible item costing less than $100, regardless of how many of those items are sold to a customer in the same transaction. It applies to purchases made in-store, online, mail-order, and over the phone.