Online Survey For Westport Residents, April is National Volunteer Month, and More!

April 12, 2024


 
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Dear Neighbor,

Happy Friday! I hope you have had a productive and fulfilling week. Below, you will find an online survey for Westport residents, information on the parade for the UCONN men's basketball team, and more! 
Tax Credit Program is Currently Accepting Applications for Municipal and Tax-Exempt Organizations

Director of Human Services Elaine Daignault has announced that the Town is now accepting applications for the 2024 Neighborhood Assistance Act (NAA) Tax Credit Program sponsored by the CT Dept. of Revenue Services (DRS). The deadline for submissions to the Town's Human Services Department is Friday, May 17, 2024. The NAA program is designed to fund municipal and tax-exempt organizations by providing a corporation business tax credit for businesses that contribute cash to these entities.

The NAA program allows businesses to claim a State tax credit for cash contributions to qualifying community programs conducted by tax-exempt or municipal agencies. The community programs that qualify for the NAA tax credit include but are not necessarily limited to energy conservation, employment and training, childcare services, programs serving low-income persons, open space acquisition, crime prevention programs, and affordable housing development. The minimum contribution on which a tax credit may be granted is $25,000, and the maximum contribution that any nonprofit or municipal entity can receive under this program is $150,000. No Town funds are involved in this program.

Each municipal agency or tax-exempt organization wishing to participate in the NAA Program must complete the program proposal application on the CT DRS website. This form must be submitted to the municipality for approval by its governing body. All locally approved programs must be submitted to the DRS before July 1, 2024.

For further information about the Neighborhood Assistance Act Program, please visit the DRS website . (Search for 2024 Neighborhood Assistance Act program application). Agencies wishing to participate should submit applications to Elaine Daignault, Director, Westport Department of Human Services, 110 Myrtle Ave., Westport, CT 06880 by Friday, May 17, 2024. The list of participating agencies will be submitted to the Representative Town Meeting for approval at its meeting on Tuesday, June 4, 2024.
Reminder - Early Literacy Roundtable on Tuesday 
This upcoming Tuesday, State Representative Comey and I will hold an Early Literacy Roundtable. We will discuss the importance of developing children's literacy skills, and how that will positively impact their future. The event will be held on April 16 from 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM in Room 310 in the State Capitol Building. Hope to see you there!
Online Survey for Safe Streets and Roads for All Safety Action Plan in Westport

The Town of Westport has announced the launch of an online map-based survey aimed at gathering public input in support of the development of the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Safety Action Plan project.

The survey provides residents with an opportunity to share insights, experiences, and suggestions to help shape the future of road safety. By engaging with the community, Westport aims to identify key concerns, prioritize safety measures, and implement strategies to create a safer multi-modal transportation system for all residents and visitors.

To complete the online SS4A Safety Action Plan survey, please visit www.fhistudio-apps.com/westport-map. The survey is mobile-friendly and can be completed in just a few minutes.
Put The Phone Away Or Pay 
April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. Connecticut has launched a state wide program to remind all drivers to Put the Phone Away or Pay when they are behind the wheel. Through April 30, law enforcement will step up its enforcement of distracted-driving laws.
UCONN Men's Basketball Team Wins Another Championship
The legacy of excellence continues! 
 
Congratulations to our unstoppable Huskies on a back-to-back NCAA championship titles! 

Please see the flyer below for information on Saturday's parade. 
April is National Volunteer Month 
April is National Volunteer Month. To highlight the month, I wanted to talk about Connecticut's Student Loan Reimbursement Pilot Program! This initiative, which is set to begin in July,  encourages volunteerism and supports our dedicated volunteers by helping alleviate student loan burdens.
 
While there are other requirements, one of the best pieces of this bill is the volunteer piece-- 50 volunteer hours required per year to qualify for up to $5,000 a year (for up to four years) in relief.

Volunteerism helps people stay connected to the communities and causes they care about and debt relief helps people participate more robustly economically; they can start families, buy a home, get a better interest rate when purchasing a car, and pursue their dreams of being debt free.
Early Childhood Event in Norwalk 
Tomorrow, April 13, there will be a citywide celebration of early childhood at the SoNo Collection from 10 AM - 1 PM. Please see the flyer below for more information.
Please don't hesitate to reach out to me with any questions and concerns you may have - I can be reached at Dominique.Johnson@cga.ct.gov, or through my office phone - 860-240-8585.

Have a great weekend! 

Sincerely,

Dominique Johnson
State Representative
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