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| Dear Friend,
This is my State Capitol update for the week of February 21.
If you prefer to watch rather than read, click the image below to hear about the issues contained in this newsletter. |
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| Happy FFA week to the Housatonic Valley chapter – and thanks for the delicious breakfast and good company this morning. |
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Here’s a list of today’s topics:
- Free Resources to File Your Taxes. Click here.
- Students Can Apply To Join CT Board of Education. Click here.
- ICYMI - Women's Business Development Council Now Accepting Grant Applications. Click here.
- ICYMI - New Matching Funds Grant Program Supporting CT Communities Pursuing FEMA Funds. Click here.
- Events in the Northwest Corner. Click here.
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| There are several free resources available this year for anyone who needs to file state and federal taxes.
You can use the IRS Direct File Tool, which is a new option for anyone who lived and earned all their income in Connecticut last year.
Click here for more information on IRS Direct File Tool.
The federal government is also offering the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, which offers free tax preparation services to eligible taxpayers. Here is some of the eligibility date for VITA:
• Household income less than $68,000
• If self-employed, business expenses should be less than $35,000
• No income from a rental property
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Do you know of a public school student who wants to participate in statewide education policy? If so, please encourage them to apply now to potentially serve on the Connecticut State Board of Education! The selected students, who must be a rising senior, will serve a one-year term, beginning July 1, 2025.
The governor will appoint two public school students who will lend an important perspective to deliberations on the State Board of Education. The selected students will not have voting privileges.
Participants must complete their application, and it must be received by mail or email by Monday, March 17.
Click here or check out the graphic below for more information. |
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Access Health CT (AHCT) Small Business announced its new BusinessPlus platform to help Connecticut business owners manage health benefits more efficiently. BusinessPlus provides access to Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements (ICHRAs) and will launch this summer.
Introduced by the federal government in 2019, an ICHRA is a type of health benefit where employers can provide employees with pretax dollars to help cover their health insurance premiums and qualified medical expenses. With this option, Connecticut employees can shop, compare and enroll in one of the 22 Qualified Health Plan (QHP) options offered through AHCT’s individual marketplace.
Previously, employers had limited plan choices, a one-size-fits-all solution for an employee base that was not one size. And with rates increasing annually, employers were faced with offering expensive options or nothing at all.
BusinessPlus provides a more flexible, simple and affordable option for Connecticut employers.
With an ICHRA, employers can offer coverage through the state-based exchange for some, or all, of their employees. Employers can provide a pretax monthly contribution for employees to help offset the cost of insurance premiums. Or in some instances, if an employee qualifies for subsidies through the exchange, the employee can use Advanced Premium Tax Credits (APTCs) to offset the cost of premiums, and the employer would not provide any contributions at all – a significant advantage to both the employer and employee.
Employees use the employer contributions or APTCs to reduce the cost of their health insurance plan through AHCT’s individual marketplace. This offers employers a way to remain competitive while decreasing costs and offering more health coverage options for their employees. And with the employer’s contributions, employees will benefit from lower costs and the freedom to choose health coverage based on their needs. |
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| Attention small business owners - the Women's Business Development Council is now accepting applications for two grant programs designed to help businesses at various stages of development.
The Ignite Grant Program offers grants of up to $10,000 for local women-owned businesses. To qualify, business must:
- Be in operation for at least two years
- Have annual revenues between $25,000 and $2 million.
The application will remain open through Monday, March 10. Learn more about the Ignite Grant HERE. |
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| The Child Care Business Opportunity Fund provides grants of up to $25,000 to licensed and aspiring child care businesses. The program supports businesses at different stages, from start-ups to those looking to expand. You can apply now through Monday, March 3. CLICK HERE for more details.
Live information sessions are available throughout the application period. These sessions will cover grant requirements and provide an opportunity to ask questions. Register for an information session HERE. |
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| DEEP is accepting applications for a new matching funds grant program to support Connecticut communities pursuing funds through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant program. This new matching grants program is a component of the DEEP Climate Resilience Fund, which helps communities invest in projects that address vulnerabilities to extreme weather and reduce impacts to critical infrastructure.
DEEP’s Matching Funds for FEMA, BRIC program is open to municipal governments, local public utilities, federally recognized Tribal nations, and other entities eligible for FEMA BRIC funding. DEEP will award between one and three quarters of a project’s non-federal match requirements, with larger awards going to projects that benefit environmental justice communities and incorporate nature-based solutions.
Applications are due by midnight on March 3, 2025. Additional details on review criteria and how to apply can be found in the Request for Proposals on the webpage for the DEEP Climate Resilience Fund.
For questions about this program, please email DEEP.climateresilience@ct.gov. |
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| The 8th annual Winter Weekend in Norfolk will be held this weekend. There will be live music, art shows, winter sports, movies, tours, open houses and more! Click here for a complete list of events. |
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| Norfolk Historical Society Events |
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| The 30th Annual Litchfield Jazz Festival will be held on July 25-27 at the Thomas Perakos Performing Arts Center in Washington, Connecticut. Click here to purchase tickets. |
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REVOLUTIONARY RENAISSANCE - Motets, Madrigals, and Canzonas by Groundbreaking Composers of the 16th Century
Concerts on March 1 & 2, 2025 in Lakeville, CT and Great Barrington, MA - Information and Tickets: www.crescendomusic.org
Dedicated to bring to our audience jewels of the minorities in musical life, this concert program features underperformed repertoire of the Renaissance. |
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| It is my honor to represent our district. I look forward to hearing from you about the issues raised in this newsletter, or any other topics you think I should know about. You can email me at maria.horn@cga.ct.gov or call me at (860)-240-8585. Thanks for reading, and I wish you a safe weekend.
Click here to forward to forward this email to a friend. |
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| Sincerely,
Maria Horn
State Representative |
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