State Capitol Update for the week of March 28th
April 1, 2022Dear Friend,
This is my State Capitol update for the week of March 28th.
If you prefer to watch rather than read, click here.
Welcome to April!
The big news of this week for the Northwest Corner came yesterday, when the State Bond Commission approved $3 million in funding to construct a Federally Qualified Health Center in North Canaan. The new health center will provide much needed increased access to comprehensive, quality primary and behavioral healthcare to the area for everyone in Northwest Connecticut regardless of their ability to pay.
The site is located on East Main Street, more or less across from Stop & Shop. (It’s fenced off now, after the existing buildings were used by the North Canaan Fire Company for a training exercise.) Demolition of the existing buildings will be happening soon, so stay tuned for progress reports! It would not have happened without long-time leadership from Nancy Heaton at the Foundation for Community Health, Joanne Borduas, Executive Director of Community Health & Wellness who will run the center, and many leaders in North Canaan who have helped make sure an appropriate site was selected and have supported the process that has brought us to this point. (For more information on the project, see the section below.)
This week, as many do, featured many #days, but they felt particularly relevant this week given the issues we are currently wrestling with: National Doctors’ Day, National Take a Walk in a Park Day, and National Farm Workers Day, for example. On that last one, I will be holding a virtual forum on the Future of Farming on April 11 at 5:30 pm. It’s a fantastic panel, and I hope you can join me. We will also record it so that it’s available if the timing doesn’t work for you. (For more information, see specifics in the section below.)
This is a big sports weekend. It’s the final weekend of NCAA basketball’s “March Madness,” and we are all rooting for the UConn women who will play a Final Four game against Stanford tonight. (And if you missed their double overtime victory over NC State, it was AMAZING!) On a personal level, my husband and I are hoping to catch a few of my son’s college baseball games this weekend if the rain holds off in Chicago. Whoever your team is, I hope they win this weekend!
Here’s a list of today’s topics:
- COVID-19 Weekly Update. Click Here
- Regional vaccination clinic at Housatonic Valley Regional High School. Click Here
- Funding approved by State Bond Commission for health center in North Canaan. Click Here
- The Future of Farming: a virtual forum on April 11 at 5:30 p.m. Click Here
- Agreement with Sikorsky keeps headquarters in Connecticut through 2042.
Click Here - Governor Lamont proclaims “Husky Weekend” in Connecticut to honor the UConn women’s basketball team. Click Here
- Resources for Problem Gambling. Click Here
- National Doctors’ Day. Click Here
- Shane Kinsella Memorial Run/Walk returns on April 30. Click Here
- Camp Moe in Torrington to reopen under Northwestern Connecticut YMCA. Click Here
- Shepaug Dramatics present “The Wizard of Oz”. Click Here
- Providing information to Connecticut residents. Click Here
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For several additional graphs and tables containing more data, including a list of cases in every municipality, visit ct.gov/coronavirus and click the link that is labeled, “Data Tracker.”
Regional vaccination clinic at Housatonic Valley Regional High School (HVRHS)
REMINDER: HVRHS will be hosting a Pediatric (Ages 5-11) Vaccination Clinic today, Friday, April 1, 3:00 - 7:00 p.m., in partnership with Griffin Health. This is open to the public and no appointments are necessary.
ONLY PEDIATRIC (AGES 5-11) VACCINATIONS WILL BE ADMINISTERED AT THESE CLINICS - NO ADULT (12+) DOSES WILL BE AVAILABLE.
A parent or guardian must accompany the child, ages 5-11, and only the pediatric Pfizer vaccination will be administered. A Pediatric Intake Form.pdf must be completed - you may print and complete it in advance, or forms will be available to complete at each clinic.
Funding approved by State Bond Commission for health center in North Canaan
FROM PRESS RELEASE:
The state will provide $3 million in funding to construct a Federally Qualified Health Center in North Canaan. The new health center will provide much needed increased access to comprehensive, quality primary and behavioral healthcare to the area for everyone in Northwest Connecticut regardless of their ability to pay.
Federal qualified health centers serve vulnerable individuals and families, including people experiencing homelessness, agricultural workers, residents of public housing, and veterans. Patients will be able to receive primary care, mental health, and non-emergency services no matter the economic, geographic, or cultural barrier.
"Federally qualified health centers are integral parts of delivering healthcare to rural areas like the Northwest Corner and opening a health center in North Canaan has been a top priority for many years. Today, by approving a $3 million grant for construction of a health center by Community Health and Wellness Center, the state made sure this project will at last become a reality," said Rep. Horn. "At a time when we are seeing the withdrawal and constriction of healthcare services in rural communities throughout the country, I am deeply grateful for the state’s full-throated support for this project, and for the crucial financial support from the Foundation for Community Health."
For several years, the town of North Canaan along with the Community Health and Wellness Center of Torrington and the Foundation for Community Health have worked to get this project off the ground and into the community.
“We at foundation for Community Health have been excited to partner with Community Health and Wellness Center, Rep. Maria Horn, the state, as well as members of the local community to bring this project to fruition. Federally Qualified Health Centers go beyond providing medical care and seek to work with people and families to address other needs that may impact their health and wellbeing like coordinating transportation or connecting them to other needed resources or programs,” said Nancy Heaton, MPH, CEO, Foundation for Community Health.
"We are elated that through the valued partnerships and community support in the town of North Canaan, support from the Foundation for Community Health and from Representative Maria Horn, we have reached the point of making what everyone has been hoping for a reality. We are looking forward to being a community partner and providing access to primary care and mental health services in an area where those resources are lacking,” said Joanne Borduas, BSN, MBA, CEO-Community Health and Wellness Center.
"This is fantastic news for the Town of North Canaan. Every opportunity to bring qualified health centers to our NW corner is extremely beneficial. A job well done," said First Selectman Charlie Perotti.
"Community Health and Wellness has a sterling record of providing high quality healthcare services in the region, and this is a huge step forward for quality, accessible, and affordable healthcare in the Northwest Corner," said Rep. Horn.
Community Health and Wellness has been the recipient of two Health Resources & Services Administration quality awards for providing quality services. They currently operate two healthcare facilities in Winsted and Torrington.
The Future of Farming: a virtual forum on April 11 at 5:30 pm
Agriculture played a major role in the early growth of Connecticut as one of the original 13 colonies that would form the United States of America. Between 2002 and 2012 the number of Connecticut farms increased 43 percent, thanks to an increased consumer appetite for locally sourced food, drawing some younger people to start up small farms.
Free transit services in the Northwest Corner April 1 through June 30
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Agreement with Sikorsky keeps headquarters in Connecticut through 2042
The State of Connecticut has reached an agreement with Lockheed Martin that may bring potential new helicopter lines to Sikorsky’s Stratford facility, sustain more than 7,000 jobs, and keep Sikorsky’s headquarters in Connecticut through 2042.
Lockheed Martin, the parent company of Sikorsky, is bidding on helicopter programs that will replace several existing programs, including the legendary Black Hawk. The agreement, which needs legislative approval from the Connecticut General Assembly, provides up to $75 million in incentives depending on the level of work secured.
The proposed 20-year agreement ensures that if Lockheed Martin is successful in securing these federal contracts, the production work will occur in Connecticut. The performance-based incentives will be in the form of sales and use tax offsets and tax credits. The agreement requires Sikorsky to maintain its headquarters in Connecticut and maintain significant employment through 2042, among other requirements.
Sikorsky has facilities in Stratford, Bridgeport, Shelton, North Haven, and Trumbull, and has 242 suppliers throughout Connecticut. Governor Lamont proclaims “Husky Weekend” in Connecticut to honor the UConn women’s basketball team
Resources for Problem Gambling March was Problem Gambling Awareness Month, and though we’ve turned the calendar page, the final games of “March Madness” (the NCAA college basketball tournament) continue this weekend final four games for both the men’s and women’s teams. That will also mean increased betting activity as part of Connecticut’s legalization of sports betting and online casino gaming in October 2021. While gambling may be a form of entertainment for some people, it is a harmful addiction for others. If you or someone you know has a problem with gambling, please take advantage of the resources below, which are available in Connecticut.
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