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| COFFEE HOUR AT THE DITTY BAG THIS SATURDAY! |
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| I look forward to seeing you! |
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| CT DOAG CELEBRATES CT GROWN FOR CT KIDS WEEK,
GRANT AWARDED IN STONINGTON |
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STATE REPRESENTATIVE BUMGARDNER CELEBRATES $5,000 MICROGRANT FOR STONINGTON KELP COMPANY
State Representative Aundré Bumgardner (D-Groton/Stonington) is pleased to announce the celebration of Connecticut Grown for Connecticut Kids Week, an initiative promoting the connection between local agriculture and schools.
This year, several $5,000 microgrants have been awarded to projects across the state aimed at enhancing farm-to-school efforts.
Stonington Kelp Company has been awarded a microgrant for its project entitled, “Stonington Kelp in Stonington Schools.” The project will introduce local kelp into school programs and provide students with unique, hands-on learning opportunities.
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These projects exemplify the importance of integrating local agriculture into our schools,” Rep. Bumgardner said. “Not only do they support our local farmers, but they also educate the next generation about sustainability and the benefits of locally sourced food.”
Full grant applications are still open for larger projects, with deadlines approaching on October 25 for Track 4 (Farm to Early Childcare and Education) and November 8 for Tracks 1 (Farm to School K-12 Local Procurement Assistance) and Track 2 (Farm to School K-12 Experiential Learning Grant).
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| EARLY VOTING BEGINS IN CT ON OCTOBER 21ST |
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| Connecticut will be taking part in early voting for the first time! Please see the information below regarding deadlines, early voting locations, and election updates. |
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| TOWN OF STONINGTON HIGHWAY DEPT. NEWS |
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| From the Town of Stonington Highway Department:
Beginning on Thursday, October 17, 2024, the following roads will be milled and eventually paved:
- Babcock Street
- Maple Street
- Cherry Street
- Lathrop Avenue
- Pellegrino Road
- River Road between Mark Street and Mary Hall Road
Also, as fall arrives, please refrain from blowing or piling leaves in the roadways. Keeping the sides of the road and catch basins clear of debris, including leaves, is a priority, especially during inclement weather such as heavy rains. |
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CTDOT seeking public comment on Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)/Section 504 Transportation Plan
The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) is updating its Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)/Section 504 Transition Plan to showcase the agency’s commitment to providing an accessible transportation network for all while meeting federal ADA requirements.
CTDOT will be conducting public outreach both in-person and virtually. These events will offer opportunities for the public to provide input on the ADA Transition Plan. Meeting materials and any updates to outreach locations/dates/times will be updated on the CTDOT ADA Transition Plan website.
For more information, including in-person and virtual events, please click HERE.
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The replacement of roadway illumination systems in eastern Connecticut will begin on October 7, 2024.
The purpose of this project is to improve the operation and reduce the maintenance requirements of several roadway lighting systems located in eastern Connecticut that have reached the end of their life cycles.
This project consists of the replacement of existing roadway lighting systems on Route 1, Route 2, Route 6, Route 12, Route 78,1-95, and Route 154, which involves the replacement of the existing light standards, light standard foundations, light fixtures, concrete handholes, underground circuitry/conduits, and lighting control cabinets with new light standards, light standard foundations, light emitting diode (LED) type light fixtures, concrete handholes, underground circuitry/conduits, and lighting control cabinets, and the replacement of existing decorative post top light fixtures and lighting control cabinet with new LED type decorative post top fixtures and lighting control cabinet on the pedestrian walkway along 1-95 southbound at the south end of the Baldwin Bridge.
This project is located in eastern Connecticut at the following locations:
- I-95 from Vauxhall Street Extension through Interchange 83 to the Goldstar Bridge in New London
- Route 2 and Route 78 interchange in Stonington
- Route 1 and Route 154 overlap in Old Saybrook
- Route 1 from the end of the Route 154 overlap to Mill Rock Road East #1 in Old Saybrook
- Route 154 from the end of the Route 1 overlap to the I-95 ramp in Old Saybrook
- Route 2 at Interchange 13 in Marlborough
- Route 6 from Willimantic Road to Boston Post Road in Columbia, Coventry, Mansfield and Windham
- Route 12 and Route 2 overlap from Laurel Hill Avenue to the end of the overlap in Norwich
- Route 2 from the end of the Route 12 overlap to Taiman Street in Norwich
- Pedestrian walkway along I-95 southbound at the south end of the Baldwin Bridge in Old Saybrook.
LANE CLOSURE/DETOUR INFO
There will be a separate notice issued before work on the specific Routes listed below:
- Route 1
- Route 2
- Route 6
- Route 12
- Route 78
- Route 154
- I-95
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| The CTDOT is developing a Resilience Improvement Plan (RIP) to help identify climate-related vulnerabilities and prioritize solutions across the agency’s multi-modal transportation network.
The RIP uses federal formula funds allocated for resilience-related planning activities under the Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-Saving Transportation (PROTECT) program created under the Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act (IIJA).
By developing the RIP and incorporating it into the state’s Long-Range Transportation Plan, Connecticut will be eligible to reduce its federal/state cost share on transportation projects. The process also prepares the state for the continued operation and rapid recovery of surface transportation systems affected by major weather events, including natural disasters and changing climate conditions.
The plan will be conducted in two phases. Phase one will conduct a risk-based vulnerability assessment that draws on existing and future climate data to rank the vulnerability of state-owned assets. In the second phase, CTDOT will develop an implementation plan identifying potential projects, timelines, and cost estimates.
A survey is open to the public to provide feedback on what types of projects CTDOT should consider to improve resiliency across the state. To complete the survey, please click HERE.
For additional information, including a video overview of Connecticut’s statewide Resilience Improvement Plan, please click HERE. |
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| CLIMATE RESILIENCE FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES |
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| The Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) recently announced the strategic expansion of the successful DEEP Climate Resilience Fund (DCRF) program to enable communities better to access federal funding for climate resilience.
This upcoming investment of state funds will help towns, Councils of Government, and other stakeholders pursue project planning, and in some cases construction, allowing them to tap into the billions of federal dollars available to improve local resilience. |
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| DEEP is issuing a Request for Information and seeking feedback on two programs. The first is a new DCRF funding category for deployment to give eligible applicants money to build projects that will make Connecticut more resilient to climate change and extreme weather impacts. Second, DEEP is seeking feedback on the design of a new Climate Resiliency Revolving Loan fund that the Legislature authorized earlier this year.
DEEP will hold virtual public meetings on both programs on October 24 and October 30, and written comments are due by November 8. You can find more details HERE. |
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| CRAFT BEER MANUFACTURERS THIS ONE IS FOR YOU |
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| Do you know a craft beverage manufacturer who wants to reduce the amount of energy, water, waste, or chemicals they use? The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) can help. Craft breweries in CT are eligible for small grants to offset the cost of equipment that reduces pollution, increases efficiency, and helps fight climate change. For details on how to apply and more, please click on the image below. |
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| GROTON PUBLIC SAFETY SURVEY |
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| Want to help the City of Groton improve its current parking regulations? Click on the image below to take a survey. |
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Connecticut’s minimum wage will increase by 66 cents to $16.35 per hour starting on January 1, 2025. The change is required under state law and links the state’s minimum wage to economic indicators, specifically the percentage change in the federal employment cost index.
The law requires the state to change the minimum wage each year based on the U.S. Department of Labor’s calculation of the employment cost index for the 12 month period ending on June 30 of the previous year. |
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| Workers deserve this raise. Not only will these pay bumps help hard-working families, but the money spent is often pumped back into local businesses and communities. |
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| A HISPANIC HERITAGE MOMENT |
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Hispanic Heritage Month Essay Contest Reminder
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| Hispanic Heritage Month runs through October 15th!
You can participate in this month's celebration by encouraging your child to participate in the 17th annual Hispanic Heritage Student Essay Contest for a chance to win a $3,000 scholarship or an iPad.
Middle and high school students are asked to write how they connect with Hispanic culture in 500 words or less. |
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| Participants can select a person, cultural experience, celebration, or tradition that has touched them in a meaningful way and explain why that connection is important. Optimum and Univision Foundation are sponsoring the competition and will accept essays through October 31. There will be a celebratory event for the winners in December. The official contest rules can be found HERE. |
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| COMMUNITY EVENTS AND NOTICES |
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| Do not hesitate to contact me with any thoughts or concerns you may have at Aundre.Bumgardner@cga.ct.gov or 1-800-842-8267.
Sincerely,
Aundré Bumgardner
State Representative |
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