Josh Elliott

Facebook Live – Virtual Town Hall

This Sunday, join Rep. D'Agostino and me for an interactive conversation at 5:00 P.M. This is an opportunity to share your questions, ideas, or concerns. You can watch the event and ask us questions on my Facebook.

GOVERNOR LAMONT PROVIDES UPDATE ON CONNECTICUT’S CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE EFFORTS(Latest Data as of 5:00PM on Friday, May 8, 2020)

Data updates on testing in Connecticut

A county-by-county breakdown includes:

County	Laboratory-Confirmed Cases	Hospitalizations	Deaths
Fairfield County	12,879	439	1,006
Hartford County	6,904	348	884
Litchfield County	1,130	17	103
Middlesex County	775	41	108
New Haven County	8,887	448	669
New London County	755	36	50
Tolland County	530	5	46
Windham County	249	2	5
Pending address validation	302	0	3
Total	32,411	1,336	2,874

For several additional graphs and tables containing more data, including a list of cases in every municipality, click here.

Guidance for Phase 1 of reopening plans

During his news briefing this afternoon, Governor Lamont and Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner David Lehman outlined some of the details his administration is considering for Phase 1 of Connecticut’s reopening plans on May 20. Documents containing guidance for businesses about those plans are currently being finalized and are anticipated to be released later Friday evening or on Saturday. As soon as those documents are ready, they will be published online and publicly noticed so that businesses can have an opportunity to review the details.

Additional $3 million in funding available for COVID-19 Business Response Program

The Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) has committed an additional $3 million to the COVID-19 Business Response Program, which provides financial relief to minority-owned and women-owned small businesses negatively impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.

The program, administered by the Hartford Economic Development Corporation (HEDCO), provides zero-interest lines of credit of up to $20,000 to small businesses with 20 or fewer employees. Since the program was announced last month, HEDCO has received 607 applications and 137 small businesses have been approved for $1.6 million in assistance.

DECD, by increasing its financial commitment from $2 million to $5 million, will more than double the number of companies receiving financial support during this difficult time. HEDCO is no longer accepting applications for the program – the additional $3 million will be directed to applications previously received.

Department of Revenue Services extends deadlines for certain administrative protests and tax appeals

The Connecticut Department of Revenue Services today announced that it is extending the deadline for filing certain protests with its appellate division by 90 days. The agency also issued guidance regarding the filing of tax appeals.

For more information, read the press release issued today by the Department of Revenue Services.

Face coverings remain available for essential small businesses with fewer than 50 employees

The State of Connecticut is continuing to distribute free face coverings to essential small businesses with fewer than 50 employees through a partnership with the Connecticut Business and Industry Association and its affiliate CONNSTEP. Eligible businesses include those defined as essential by the Department of Economic and Community Development.

Eligible essential small businesses can request up to two free face coverings per employee by filling out the form here.