Jaime Foster

The Connecticut Department of Agriculture (DOAG) administers many grant programs that are beneficial to farmers and farmland in our state and our towns. I wanted to share two of these programs with you: the Farmland Restoration Grant and the Climate Smart Agriculture and Forestry Grant.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved Governor Lamont's request to expand the natural disaster declaration for certain parts of our state due to the summer drought that has continued through fall. Agricultural producers in all 8 Connecticut counties are eligible to apply for assistance through the Farm Service Agency to help offset production losses resulting from the drought.

I'm so pleased to announce that we just received word from Governor Ned Lamont that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved Connecticut's request to expand the natural disaster declaration. This approval means that Fairfield, Hartford, Litchfield, Middlesex, New London, and Windham counties have each been designated as primary natural disaster areas due to the drought - with New Haven and Tolland being named "contiguous disaster counties."

Today, the Connecticut Department of Transportation (DOT) announced that workers will be requiring additional hours of work for the High Friction Surface Treatment project that has been ongoing in Ellington, East Windsor, and the surrounding area.

We talk often about the funding needed to keep our small towns at their best, and that’s why I’m so happy to announce that Ellington has been awarded a grant through the Small Town Economic Assistance Program (STEAP).

Alongside, Connecticut Attorney General William Tong, Director of East Windsor Recreation & Community Services Melissa Maltese, and Social Worker Rebecca Stack, I will be holding an Elder Justice Forum this evening at 5:30PM at Ellington Senior Center. I hope to see you there!

Join myself, Social Worker Rebecca Stack, and representatives from the DMV on Thursday, September 15 at 10:30AM at Hall Memorial Library (93 Main Street). We'll discuss the number of resources available to our veterans. Plus, refreshments provided by LuAnn's Bakery!

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has designated New London and Windham counties as primary natural disaster areas, and Hartford, Middlesex, and Tolland counties as “contiguous counties” due to the recent drought. Under the declaration, farms in those areas are eligible to be considered for federal assistance - like FSA emergency loans from the Farm Service Agency, assuming other eligibility requirements are met.