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In this week's eblast, you can read about clean air funding, expanding access to locally grown food, and more. You can click the links below to navigate between sections.
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A total of $1.55 million in state grants is being awarded to 12 organizations (including food pantries, community health centers, and nonprofits) to support the purchase of healthy, Connecticut Grown products from local farms for distribution to food-insecure residents.
One organization in Hartford will be receiving a portion of this grant money:
- Chrysalis Center Inc. (Hartford) – $60,000: Chrysalis Center will provide Connecticut-grown food through its Freshplace pantry to low-income individuals in Hartford, including those experiencing homelessness, reentry, and other barriers to stable access to healthy food.
These grants are being distributed through the Connecticut Department of Agriculture’s Local Food Purchase Assistance Grant Program, which is designed to expand access to fresh, locally grown food while also strengthening Connecticut’s agricultural sector. By connecting local producers with community-based organizations, the program helps ensure that nutritious food reaches those who need it most.
Now funded by the state, the program builds on a previously federally supported initiative and serves as a critical bridge in the wake of recent federal funding cuts, ensuring continued support for both vulnerable communities and Connecticut farmers.
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The state is making $15 million available through the national settlement of the Volkswagen emissions scandal to support clean air projects across Connecticut. Eligible projects must reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions, key contributors to smog, and help advance the state’s efforts to combat air pollution.
Older diesel engines are a major source of nitrogen oxide, which is linked to asthma, lung damage, and other serious health conditions, with children particularly at risk. Funding will prioritize projects that replace, repower, or retrofit aging diesel-powered vehicles and non-road equipment, significantly reducing harmful emissions.
Organizations interested in applying for grants can learn more through the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP). DEEP will also host an informational webinar on Tuesday, April 21 at 1:00 p.m. to review the application process and provide guidance. Proposals must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on June 11. Click here to register for the webinar.Click here for more information on the VW settlement.
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April is recognized as ABLE to Save Month in Connecticut, a time to raise awareness about financial empowerment for individuals with disabilities. The ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) program allows eligible individuals to establish tax-advantaged savings accounts that support greater independence and long-term financial security.
Recent expansions have broadened access to the program, making thousands more residents, including veterans, eligible by increasing the disability onset age to 46. ABLE accounts allow individuals to save more than $20,000 annually without jeopardizing eligibility for critical federal benefits such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Medicaid, providing a vital pathway to stability, opportunity, and self-sufficiency.
Click here for more information on eligibility requirements and to enroll. |
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This is a time for advocates, survivors, their loved ones, and the broader community to come together to speak openly about sexual violence by supporting survivors, raising awareness, deepening understanding, and identifying effective strategies and resources to prevent it.If you need support, The Connecticut Alliance to end Sexual Violence offers a 24-hour toll-free hotline, call 1-888-999-5545 (English) or1-888-568-8332 (Spanish).
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If you have any issues, concerns, or feedback, I would love to hear from you! Please feel free to contact me at 860-240-8585 if you ever need anything or by email at maryam.khan@cga.ct.gov.
Sincerely,
Maryam Khan |
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