Connecticut

May 11, 2009 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed 3 new cases of novel H1N1 flu (swine flu) among Connecticut residents.

Positive results for H1N1 flu were received today by the Department of Public Health for residents of Hartford, Ridgefield, and Stamford. These confirmation results were for probable cases previously identified by the state Public Health Laboratory and sent to the CDC for confirmation testing. The Public Health Laboratory now has the ability to conduct its own confirmation testing.    » read more »

May 11, 2009 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that municipalities across Connecticut will share in $4.7 million in federal funds to help transform local brownfields – parcels of contaminated land, often former industrial sites – back into economic development opportunities, open space and other productive uses.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is allocating the money as direct grants to the municipalities. The grant awards are a combination of stimulus funds through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and the EPA’s general brownfield grant program.    » read more »

May 8, 2009 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today held a public signing ceremony for legislation that establishes important protections for Connecticut car dealerships facing an extraordinarily difficult economic climate, especially as American auto manufacturers undergo a painful restructuring process.    » read more »

All Cases Mild; Individuals Have or Are Recovering

May 8, 2009 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed ten new cases of novel H1N1 flu (swine flu) among Connecticut residents.

Positive confirmation results for H1N1 flu were received by the Department of Public Health from the CDC for six Fairfield residents as well as residents of North Granby, Wethersfield and Glastonbury. A case was also received from the Public Health Laboratory in Massachusetts, which conducted the confirmation test on a Manchester resident who was treated in that state. All of the individuals are recovering and did not require hospitalization.    » read more »

Will Create Jobs for Construction, Repairs, Inspections

May 6, 2009 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that several Connecticut lakes, rivers and other flood control areas will benefit from $5.6 million in federal stimulus funds as part of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ comprehensive civil works initiative that will create an immediate need for construction and maintenance jobs while preserving valuable natural and recreational resources.

“The Army Corps’ investment in Connecticut will pay tremendous environmental and economic dividends,” Governor Rell said. “These are all important flood control projects that will benefit our state for generations to come by protecting and preserving irreplaceable natural resources.”    » read more »

May 5, 2009 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that the state has applied for $470,955 in federal stimulus funds that would allow the state to continue its efforts in combating gang violence and taking illegal guns off the street.

The one-year grant would be used to fund four key positions in the Department of Correction that are responsible for providing prison intelligence to regional task forces that address gang and fugitive activity, gun violence and terrorist threats.    » read more »

May 5, 2009 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed that the first two probable cases from two Fairfield University students have tested positive for novel H1N1, or swine, flu.

Results from the CDC confirm that two Fairfield University students are positive for novel H1N1 flu. DPH is still waiting for confirmation from the CDC on five other Fairfield University students who were deemed as “probable” cases this weekend. This brings the total number of confirmed cases of novel H1N1 flu to four. The CDC confirmed last week that an adult from Stratford and a Middlefield child tested positive with novel H1N1. Results on a Southbury adult require additional testing.    » read more »

Encourages Fire Chiefs to Apply for Grants Aimed at “Shovel-Ready” Station Construction

May 3, 2009 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that she has written to fire chiefs around the state to inform them of $210 million in competitive federal stimulus grants that will be available for local fire station construction and renovation.

“Connecticut has a long and proud tradition with volunteer and professional firefighting. Resources are traditionally committed to much-needed life-saving equipment with little left over for capital improvements,” Governor Rell said. “These grants can help local departments advance their ‘shovel-ready’ projects while creating construction jobs that will put money back in their local economies.”    » read more »

6 More ‘Probable’ H1N1 Flu Cases

May 2, 2009 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed that a child from Middlefield has tested positive for the H1N1 flu, or swine flu, virus. In addition, the Department of Public Health (DPH) Laboratory has identified six additional “probable” cases of H1N1 flu in Connecticut.    » read more »

Will Create Need for Hundreds of Skilled Workers And More Training Opportunities Statewide

April 25, 2009 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that the state will receive $64.3 million in federal stimulus funds to greatly expand a statewide program that helps thousands of low-income families reduce energy costs and consumption by weatherizing their homes.

The Governor said the expanded Weatherization Assistance Program, administered by the Department of Social Services, is expected to service thousands of additional homes, creating a greater need for hundreds of workers in a number of trades and energy-related or “green collar” jobs.    » read more »

April 27, 2009 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell announced today that the state is getting $48.5 million in federal stimulus funds to help dozens of municipalities – large and small – repair and update aging water and sewer infrastructure with “shovel-ready” projects that will create immediate jobs for construction workers, designers and engineers.

“From modernizing waste and storm water systems to updating treatment technologies, we are building on our long-standing investment in clean water. The workers on these sites will pump money back into local economies,” Governor Rell said. “The much-needed projects help us safeguard the environment and protect the quality of our waters.”    » read more »

April 24, 2009 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that the state will distribute nearly $9 million in federal stimulus funds to 143 municipalities for energy efficiency projects under a block grant plan the Rell Administration is submitting to the Legislature for review.

The Governor said the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants (EECBG) are in addition to nearly $15 million in stimulus funds under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) that the federal government directly awarded to 26 of the state’s largest municipalities last month.    » read more »

Rell Administration Develops Broad-based Plan For $38.5 Million in Stimulus Energy Funds

April 23, 2009 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that the state has developed a comprehensive energy plan that uses $38.5 million in federal stimulus funds to expand fuel cell initiatives, improve energy efficiency of state buildings and provide incentives to homeowners and businesses for alternative energy technologies to reduce energy costs.    » read more »

New Initiative Would Target “Doctor Shoppers,” For Rehabilitation Rather Than Criminal Arrest

April 22, 2009 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell announced today that the state is applying for more than $620,000 in federal stimulus grants to hire special durational staff within the Department of Consumer Protection to target individuals who abuse prescription drugs by “doctor shopping,” the practice of seeing multiple physicians and pharmacies to acquire controlled substances for nonmedical use.    » read more »

Proposal, Approved by Union Leaders, Now Headed to Rank-and-File State Employees for Consideration

April 21, 2009 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that the tentative agreement between her Administration and state employee labor unions makes significant changes in employee benefits that will result in cost savings to taxpayers now and in years to come. In addition, union leaders have made tentative agreements on their individual labor contracts that include wage freezes and furlough days for all state employees. The combined changes will save more than $637 million in the next two budget years, while a furlough day and the deferral of certain pension payments included in the agreement will also allow the state to achieve some savings in the current fiscal year.    » read more »