Kate Farrar

It was great visiting Root2Rise Farmer's Market & Community Art Pop-Up last week with my West Hartford delegation colleague, State Senator Derek Slap! The market was filled with fresh local food, hands-on activities (with worms!), and art celebrating our planet.

Earlier this year, Root2Rise received a Farm Viability Grant from the Connecticut Department of Agriculture to purchase fresh produce from local farms to be distributed to West Hartford elementary school families at a reduced cost. It will also fund education initiatives to increase knowledge about our local food system. 

West Hartford will use this funding to start a food scrap collection pilot program to reduce food waste. I'm proud to have supported funding for this project in our latest budget and sustainable solutions for a greener future. You can read more about this here.

At least 50% of the investment will fund underserved businesses such as minority, women, disabled, veteran-owned companies, and residents in distressed municipalities. This initiative will also support startup businesses.

The following local nonprofit economic development organizations that support small business formation, growth, and innovation, will manage the funding.

The grant recipients are:

• Black Business Alliance ($2.7 million)
• The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven ($7.2 million)
• Girls for Technology ($5 million)
• Hartford Economic Development Corporation (HEDCO) and Spanish American Merchants Association (SAMA) ($7.7 million)
• Middlesex County Revitalization Commission ($1.5 million)
• Minority Construction Council (MCC) ($1 million)
• Social Enterprise Trust, Inc. DBA reSET ($2.225 million)
• Southeastern Connecticut Enterprise Region Corporation (SECTER), ($4.5 million)
• Realist Lab ($5 million)
• Women’s Business Development Council (WBDC) ($9.8 million)

These grants will strengthen Connecticut’s small business ecosystem and fuel economic growth across the state. You can learn more here.

CTMOM is a two-day clinic that provides FREE dental care to the underserved and uninsured, who would otherwise go without it.

The clinic opens at 8 a.m. on November 12 on a first-come, first-served basis.

Services include cleanings, fluoride treatments, sealants, x-rays, oral health instructions, fillings, extractions, root canal treatments on front teeth, limited partial dentures for front teeth

During the past 14 years, CTMOM has provided over 20,339 Connecticut citizens with more than $13,152,444 worth of free dental care.

For additional information, please click here.

Pumpkins will be sent to Quantum Biopower in Southington where they will be transformed into compost and bio-fuel. Make sure to remove all candles from the pumpkins before dropping them off. Do not place plastic bags, trash, or recyclables in the organics container. You can learn more here.

This month, join in events taking place throughout the state of Connecticut to recognize, celebrate and honor Native American heritage.

Sincerely,

Kate Farrar
State Representative
she/her/hers