New Businesses in Fairfield, Credit Rating Boost, and more

September 13, 2025



 

View this email in your browser

Dear Neighbor,

Happy Saturday!

It was great attending the ribbon cutting for the expansion of The Studio Fairfield, a great art studio in our town, to offer additional classes and a private event space!

It's so important to highlight the success stories in our town and celebrate the wins of our small businesses!

In the rest of this week's eblast, you can read about Fairfield's 9/11 ceremony, our Town Youth Council, and more. You can click the links below to navigate between sections.
 

9/11 Ceremony and Overcoming Political Violence in America

After another horrifying and senseless act of political violence this week, this year's 9/11 ceremony was particularly poignant and powerful.

My condolences go out to the family of Charlie Kirk; no one deserves to have their life stolen from them. 

As I have called out political violence in the wake of the vigilante killings of the Minnesota State Speaker Melissa Hortman, the attempted assassinations of President Trump, the events in Charlotte North Carolina, the murder of Brian Thompson, the shooting at the CDC, and on January 6th, I again call out the political violence against Charlie Kirk.

Political violence has become far too frequent and we can never tolerate it. The power of American democracy is to be able to speak freely, passionately share your ideas, and challenge others without ever having to fear for your safety.

The normalization of political violence erodes democracies. It has been frightening to watch the way the far right has used this tragedy to double down on division and for our President, from his seat in the Oval Office, to ratchet up political divides further.

Having spoken to thousands of people over the past many years, I have continuously heard that people do not want our country to continue on this course. They do not view their neighbors as enemies and want our political parties to figure out how to work together to accomplish things on their behalf to make their lives better.

I am grateful that here in Fairfield our Republican Town Committee called out this dangerous local rhetoric. We cannot control the voices in Washington or on the internet, but we can control how we each engage with one another with grace, to disagree respectfully, and to continue to recognize the humanity in each other. It's exactly what we did as Americans on Sept. 12, 2001 and we can get there again. 
 

Join the Town Youth Council! 

Are you, or do you know, a high school student that wants to make your voice heard and be involved? Join the Town Youth Council!

The Town Youth Council is an advisory board that meets on a monthly basis during the school year to plan and implement programs and discuss issues related to the Fairfield youth. Between helping plan community events like our annual tree lighting and holiday breakfast, learning valuable leadership skills, and connecting with your peers, joining the Town Youth Council is a wonderful way to give back to your community and develop valuable skills along the way. 

If you're interested, click here to learn more and apply!
 

COVID-19 Vaccine Access Protected in Connecticut 

The federal government has created uncertainty and confusion around access to the COVID-19 vaccine. In response to these actions, Governor Ned Lamont has implemented several executive actions to ensure that residents who wish to be vaccinated continue to have access to vaccines and that coverage remains uninterrupted under state-regulated health insurance policies. The actions will:

  • Permit pharmacists to order, prescribe, and administer the vaccine.
  • Establish statewide guidelines for who is eligible to receive the vaccine - Adults of all ages can receive COVID-19 vaccinations at pharmacies and medical practices while children between 6 months and 18 years of age can receive vaccinations through pediatric providers participating in the Connecticut Vaccine Program (CVP).

The accessibility of vaccines should not be determined by partisan politics. These changes will ensure that Connecticut residents and doctors alike have all the tools necessary to keep us healthy.

Click here to learn more. 
 

Connecticut Receives a Credit Rating Boost 

Thanks to sound fiscal management, Connecticut will receive another credit rating boost! Moody's and Fitch attribute the move to strong budgets, aggressive pension liability payments, and strong revenue growth. This is the seventh and eighth credit increases our state has received since the start of the Lamont administration.

So, why does this matter? These ratings upgrades will result in even greater demand for our bonds, creating savings for taxpayers, while freeing up resources for the state to make critical investments in education, housing, social services, and much more.
 

CT Veterans Affairs Stand Down 2025 Event 

A reminder that on Thursday, September 19, from 9am-2pm, the Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) will host its annual Stand Down event. This event is a commitment to serving Connecticut’s veterans, military personnel, and their immediate families by providing “one-stop” access to a range of programs and services offered by state and federal agencies, veterans organizations, and community-based nonprofits at regional sites across the state.
 
A formal ceremony will be held at the Rocky Hill Stand Down location at 9:30 a.m.; however, you're welcome to attend any of the six Stand Down locations at any time throughout the day.
 
Stand Down locations are:

  • Bridgeport: University of Bridgeport, Wheeler Recreational Center, 400 University Avenue
  • Southington: Southington Armory, 600 Woodruff Street
  • Danbury: Danbury War Memorial 1 Memorial Drive
  • Norwich: Easter Seals Veterans Rally Point, 24 Stott Avenue
  • Rocky Hill: Connecticut Veterans Affairs campus, 287 West Street
  • Stamford: UConn at Stamford, 1 University Plaza


Click here for more information. 
 

Veterans Hall of Fame Nominations 

A final reminder that the Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame is now accepting nominations for the Class of 2025. The Hall of Fame honors veterans from Connecticut who have made a positive impact in their community after the conclusion of their military service. 

To be eligible, nominees must have been born in Connecticut or lived in the state for at least five years. They must also meet the definition of a “veteran” under Connecticut General Statutes § 27-103 and have received an honorable discharge from the U.S. Armed Forces.

The submitted nomination package must contain the completed nomination form, the veteran’s discharge documents, and a detailed narrative of the veteran’s community and/or public service at the local, state, and/or national level and the veteran’s contributions to the community at large. The focus of this honor is on the veteran’s service to their community after leaving the military.
 
Click here to download the nomination package. You can find detailed instructions and information on eligibility criteria within the nomination package.
 
You must submit a completed nomination package to the Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs by September 15. You should deliver them either by email to lindsay.jesshop@ct.gov or mail through the U.S. Postal Service to:

Office of the Commissioner of Veterans Affairs
ATTN: CT Veterans Hall of Fame
287 West Street
Rocky Hill, CT 06067
 

A Boost in Local Infrastructure Project Funding

Great news! Governor Lamont recently announced a 33% increase in funding for Connecticut's Town Aid Road (TAR) grant program, with state support rising from $60 million to $80 million for FY26-27.

The TAR program supports all municipalities across our state with the costs of essential transportation-related needs, including road and bridge repair, snow plowing, tree trimming, traffic signal upgrades, public transit services, and more.

Public transportation and infrastructure are two of the most essential services provided by the government, and I'm excited to see this significant increase in funding.

For more information on the Town Aid Road grant program, and to see how much your municipality has received from the program, click here.
 

Events this Weekend
Shopping on Post Road Walking Tour
Meet at Sherman Green Gazebo
Sept. 13 10:30am-noon
Read more here
Oktoberfest
FTC & Sanford Street Lots
Sept. 13, 2-6pm
Read more here
 

Open Play & Storytime!
Open Play at the Victorian Cottage
Fairfield Museum (370 Beach Rd., Fairfield)
Tuesdays, Sept. 9 - Oct. 28 10am-noon
Read more here
Sing Me a Story
Fairfield Museum (370 Beach Rd., Fairfield)
Tuesdays, Sept. 9 - Oct. 28, 10am
Read more here
 

I'm committed to ensuring your voice is heard. Please don't hesitate to call my office at (860) 240-8585 or email me if there's anything I can do for you. Be sure to follow @LeeperForFairfield on Facebook and Instagram to stay up-to-date on everything I'm doing at the Capitol.


Sincerely,

Jennifer Leeper
State Representative

Website
Website

Email
Email

Facebook
Facebook

Instagram
Instagram

Forward to a friend | Unsubscribe from this list | Update subscription preferences