Kara Rochelle

I hope this message finds you and yours well.

I am pleased to share with you that nearly $230,000 in new relief funds will be coming to support local food and beverage establishments in Derby and Ansonia that were financially hit over the past few years due to COVID-19.

To implement this program, DECD utilized data from the Department of Revenue Services (DRS) to identify two groups of recipients that are eligible for a Connecticut Hospitality Industry Support Grant, based on losses incurred due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Business owners who are eligible will receive a check directly from DRS during the week of August 8, 2022—no application is necessary. You can learn more about this program here.

This event is part of my regular series of community events I hold each month to build strong relationships with people in our community. This is an opportunity to connect with me to discuss your thoughts, concerns, questions, and feedback on state issues. I'll also give an update on what we accomplished to help middle- and working-class families, seniors, kids, and our community this session.

I hope to see you there!

If you can't make it to this event, but would like to connect with me, you can reply to this email and we can set up a time to speak.

The CT Health Horizons Program is expected to provide 1,200 students with tuition assistance, expand seat capacity to serve 1,000 more students, and build career pathways through partnerships between colleges and employers. Ensuring Connecticut residents have access to quality health care starts with investing in a dedicated, highly-trained workforce.

You can learn more about this great program here.

Working to protect our environment and natural resources helps create healthier communities, spurs job growth and economic opportunity. Here in the Valley, we've been overburdened by pollution - it's impacted our air quality, our rivers and our soil. There is a strong body of research that demonstrates children exposed to pollution are more likely to develop asthma and that exposure to poor air quality can worsen symptoms. According to data from the state Department of Public Health, about 16% of Ansonia school children and 17% of Derby school children have asthma. Approximately 14.3% of students across the state are affected by asthma. 

Improving air quality and protecting our water and soil are important for our community. I was proud to support key legislative initiatives in the 2022 session, like the Connecticut Clean Air Act and SB 10, which both take steps to reduce transportation emissions, improve air quality, transition to clean energy, and protect our environment.

The environmental scorecards are helpful tools in measuring our state's progress in the effort to curb pollution, helping voters hold state elected officials accountable, and determining future action. You can read more about the scorecard here.

In order to be eligible to apply, an individual must have:

• Been employed as an essential worker in Connecticut between March 10, 2020 and May 7, 2022
• Not had the option to work remotely
• Not been employed by a federal, state or municipal government agency
• Earned $149,999 or less annually

Payments will be allocated on a sliding scale based upon a worker's annual income. The deadline to apply is October 1 and the application is available here. 

Approved applicants could receive checks up to $1,000. There have been concerns that the volume of people applying for the program may result in the checks being less than $1,000. While I'm pleased we worked to create this program, I strongly believe workers deserve more funding than what was allocated for the program.
 
Earlier this year, our state established another relief program for essential workers as well.  The Connecticut Essential Workers COVID-19 Assistance Fund was created to help those who lost wages and faced out-of-pocket medical expenses and burial costs due to COVID-19. This program is still accepting applications.

Both programs will provide much needed assistance to our state's essential workers, who went above and beyond during a period of tremendous difficulty. 

Click here to learn more about the Premium Pay Program and the Connecticut Essential Workers COVID-19 Assistance Fund.

Drop off locations in Derby include:

• Derby Senior Center, 293 Main St : Monday-Friday from 8:30PM to 4:30PM
• Derby Public Library, 313 Elizabeth St: Monday-Wednesday from 9AM to 8PM; Thursday from 9AM to 6PM; Friday from 9AM to 5PM; Saturday from 9AM to 2PM
• TEAM, Inc., 30 Elizabeth St: Monday-Friday from 8:30AM to 4:30PM

In addition to donating supplies, individuals can also make a monetary donation. You can do so by visiting valleysaveouryouth.org/#donate.

For further information, please click here.

If you're making the trip to the best littlest city in the state, make a day of it because it's also home to the best bagels in the state (A.M. Bagel), top tier beer garden (The Hops Company) and top tier wings at (Dew Drop Inn), according to Connecticut Magazine. 

Please excuse our downtown’s current appearance, there’s over $25 million in road and bridge renovations and apartment construction underway, and another $25 million of renovations to our train and bus station in the works.

Please feel free to contact me with any thoughts and concerns you may have on Kara.Rochelle@cga.ct.gov or 1-800-842-8267. Follow my Facebook page for regular legislative updates.

All my Best,

Kara Rochelle
State Representative