Kara Rochelle

The Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development has created the CT CARES Small Business Grant Program to help small businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Eligible businesses can apply for a one-time grant of $5,000 to use for payroll, rent/mortgage, utilities, equipment purchases and other items.

Wednesday our state reported its second straight day with a 2 percent or higher positivity rate of COVID-19/coronavirus and hospitalizations continue to climb. Our state has not seen a hospitalization rate like Wednesday's since June 16.

While our state's positive test rate is lower than hotspots across the U.S., we must remain vigilant in practicing behaviors that reduce our risk of transmitting or contracting the virus.

Tuesday, fellow leaders and I joined TEAM at Nolan Field to provide families with fresh fruit, vegetables, cheese, and milk during the USDA Farm to Families Food Box distribution. That afternoon, we ran out of food boxes around 3 p.m. We handed out 28,000 pounds of food in about three hours. Families in the Lower Valley have been significantly impacted by the ongoing pandemic and are need of help.

Wednesday, the Connecticut General Assembly convened for a special session to pass several critical bills that seek to enhance the quality of life for residents, create opportunities for economic development, strengthen worker protections, promote secure and organized elections, and hold public utilities accountable.

The Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) today announced that it has issued a ruling that will extend the enrollment period for the COVID-19 Payment Program for non-residential utility customers through November 1, 2020. The enrollment period for the program for both residential and non-residential utility customers will now extend through November 1.

This week, 250,000 unemployed workers in Connecticut became eligible to receive another $300 a week as part of the federal disaster aid program. Existing Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) claimants have already self-certified and do not need to do anything to receive the additional benefit.

After nearly 6 months out of school buildings, students, teachers and paraprofessionals returned to school this week and last week. Thank you to the administrators and teachers at Ansonia and Derby schools who dedicated countless hours of planning and creative thinking to implement a reopening plan that safeguards the health of students, educators, families, and our communities. School leaders have taken great care to ensure students, staff, and faculty can learn and teach in a safe environment.

On Monday the chairs of the Energy and Technology Committee unveiled the "Take Back Our Grid Act." The legislation seeks to hold Connecticut utilities responsible and provide stronger protections for ratepayers.