Connecticut

March 18, 2009 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that she has written to local police chiefs, mayors and first selectmen to inform them that federal stimulus money is now available to hire new police officers or bring back laid-off officers.

The Governor said approximately $1 billion is available nationally and law enforcement agencies must apply for the competitive grants, which are part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. In her letter, the Governor urged local police departments to apply for the grants as soon as possible.    » read more »

March 10, 2009 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell and the co-Chairs of the Legislature’s Banks Committee – Senator Bob Duff and Representative Ryan P. Barry – today announced they have reached agreement on legislation that would make mediation a mandatory part of all real estate foreclosures in Connecticut, a move that could sharply reduce the number of borrowers losing their homes.    » read more »

Federal Extended Benefits Program Begins in April

March 10, 2009 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell announced today that the federal government has notified Connecticut that it meets the criteria for an Extended Benefits (EB) program that will provide 13 additional weeks of unemployment compensation to those who are out of work. This will increase the maximum benefit entitlement to 72 weeks for many claimants.

According to the Governor, the 13 weeks are in addition to the 26 weeks of state benefits and the 33 weeks of federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC-08) currently being provided to the state’s jobless residents.    » read more »

March 9, 2009 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell announced today that the state’s Recovery Working Group approved more than $200 million in federal stimulus transportation projects to quickly create jobs on dozens of statewide transportation projects, including bridge replacement and repair, road paving and traffic signal work.

“We literally want shovels in the ground and people hired by next month,” Governor Rell said. “It is essential we put people back to work and money back into our economy as soon as possible. These projects will do that as well as improve the condition and safety of our roads and bridges.”    » read more »

March 9, 2009 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced she has directed the Department of Transportation to immediately begin working with municipal leaders on a plan that would secure state funding for local bridge maintenance and repair.

The $28 million local bridge program has provided financial assistance to towns and cities since 1984, but because of the serious budget deficit the state is facing, the bridge program had been slated for possible suspension. Cities and towns use program funds for the construction and maintenance of bridges on municipally maintained roads.    » read more »

March 9, 2009 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced she is adding a requirement that state infrastructure projects funded with incoming federal stimulus money contain a 25 percent ‘green’ component, a stipulation that goes beyond federal mandates and is designed to bolster Connecticut’s emerging green collar workforce and while conserving energy and resources.

“This is a tremendous opportunity to not only put people back to work but to build on the progress we have already made to build a green collar workforce and protect our environment,” Governor Rell said. “Connecticut is a proven leader in green technology and renewable energy and it makes perfect sense to position our state for future growth at the same time we rebuild our economy.”    » read more »

Legislation Would Increase Funds for Unemployment, Hasten Permit Deadlines for Shovel-Ready Projects

March 6, 2009 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced she has written to legislative leaders requesting passage of emergency legislation that would allow the state to quickly access millions of dollars in federal stimulus aid and begin putting people to work.

Connecticut is in line to receive approximately $3 billion: $1.65 billion in direct aid, $1.3 billion in Medicaid assistance. There are also billions of dollars more in competitive grants available. It is estimated the state could create and/or save nearly 41,000 jobs from the stimulus.    » read more »

March 6, 2009 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today unveiled a comprehensive state Web site to help citizens follow the flow of federal stimulus dollars into Connecticut, track the progress of stimulus-funded projects and monitor the availability and creation of jobs through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

“It is essential that this process be as transparent and helpful and open as possible,” Governor Rell said. “Through this Web site, anyone – any citizen, public official, jobseeker, contractor – can track where the federal money is going and who is hiring,” Governor Rell said. “Not only is this transparency a stipulation of the federal act, it is the absolute right thing to do when so much taxpayer money is at stake.”    » read more »

March 4, 2009 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today urged legislative leaders to adopt spending cuts outlined in her deficit mitigation plan as a way of avoiding state employee layoffs and cuts in higher education that will be necessary under the sharply increased rescissions included in the General Assembly’s mitigation plan.

Governor Rell’s deficit mitigation plan proposed $6.3 million in additional agency spending reductions – the fourth such round of cuts she has made. However, the plan adopted by the Legislature requires the Governor to make $20 million in unspecified agency budget cuts, an increase of $13.7 million over her proposal. At the same time, lawmakers ignored more than $46 million in other savings that the Governor proposed.    » read more »

Purchase Ban on Items and Goods Will Help Close Budget Shortfall During Remainder of Fiscal Year 2009

March 3, 2009 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that she has directed all executive branch agency heads to freeze the purchasing of goods and items for the remainder of the current fiscal year which ends June 30, 2009. The Governor ordered all of her Commissioners and Executive Directors to avoid any purchasing which is not absolutely and immediately essential to the operation of state agencies.    » read more »

March 1, 2009 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that she has signed a letter to President Obama officially certifying Connecticut’s acceptance of stimulus funds.

Governor Rell’s February 27 letter to the Executive Office of the President attests that all money “will be used to create jobs and promote economic growth in a manner that is in the best interests of the taxpayers of the State of Connecticut.”

“The task before us now is to get people back to work, get our economy moving again and position us for success when the national business climate improves,” Governor Rell said.    » read more »

Stimulus Package Helps State Provide Further Aid to Connecticut Job-Seekers, Families

February 28, 2009 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that job-seekers in Connecticut will be getting a “bump” in unemployment insurance of $25 a week, starting with claims filed this week, due to the federal stimulus bill. Governor Rell said eligibility for extra federal unemployment assistance offered to people whose state benefits have expired is also extended under the stimulus bill.    » read more »

02/26/2009 -- WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced an $880,286 grant to assist approximately 165 workers affected by layoffs at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Ledyard, Conn.

"Today's grant will give affected workers access to re-employment services, allowing them to return to work faster," said Deputy Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training Douglas F. Small.

Awarded to the Connecticut Department of Labor and administered by the Eastern Connecticut Workforce Investment Board, the grant will provide employment and training-related assistance to affected workers.

Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, owners of the Foxwoods Resort Casino, announced layoffs on Sept. 30, 2008, because of the gaming industry's downturn. Those layoffs occurred on Oct. 17, 2008.    » read more »

February 26, 2009 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today issued the following statement after the General Assembly completed legislative action on a deficit mitigation plan for fiscal year that ends June 30:

“I am pleased the Legislature has finally taken action. Given the economic problems that continue to burden both our nation and our state, the deficit for this current fiscal year is likely to continue to grow – so every dollar saved is critical.    » read more »

Increase Underscores Urgency of Mitigation Plan, Governor Says

February 20, 2009 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that her budget office now estimates the shortfall in the current year’s state budget at about $944 million, up about $22 million from its estimate last month. Governor Rell on Thursday delivered a deficit mitigation plan to the Legislature that would cut $1.1 billion in state spending, more than closing that gap without resorting to layoffs or new taxes.    » read more »