Dominique Johnson

Dear Neighbor,

Happy Friday! I hope you have been enjoying your summer. Please read below to learn more about resources from CTSBDC, a public information meeting in Norwalk, and more! 

The Westport Police Department is proud to announce we will be offering a Citizens’ Police Academy starting on September 19^th.  Participants will gain a better understanding of the role of the police department in the community. This class provides participants and officers an opportunity to get to know each other and discuss issues that affect our community.

The academy can accommodate up to twenty-five community members who will participate in classes designed to take them through the various aspects of law enforcement.  They will learn about the different divisions and specialized units of the department as well as how the department operates and its role in the criminal justice system.  Participants will observe demonstrations and get hands-on experience with some of the equipment we use every day.  Academy instructors include highly trained and experienced officers and attorneys from Stamford Court.  In addition to the classes, participants will have the opportunity to experience a “ride-a-long” with an officer from the patrol division.  They will also receive Stop the Bleed training. 

Class participants will meet from 7:00pm- 9:30 pm for 8 weeks on the following dates:
Thursday, September 19^th
Thursday, September 26^th
Tuesday**, October 1^st         
Thursday, October 10^th         
Thursday, October 17^th         
Thursday, October 24^th
Thursday, November 7^th
Thursday, November 14^th

The academy is open to Westport residents aged 21 and older.  Applications can also be picked up at police headquarters and are due by Tuesday, August 27^th.  Applications can be returned to police headquarters to the attention of Lieutenant Cabana or emailed to her at jcabana@westportct.gov.

West Rocks Sidewalks are coming to Norwalk and the City is looking for your feedback! Join the City at the Transportation, Mobility, and Parking (TMP) Team’s Public Information Meeting regarding the West Rocks Road Sidewalk Project on Monday, August 19th, from 5-7pm at the City Hall Community Room, Room 128. It will be in an open house format, so you may arrive anytime and talk to a member of the project team 1-on-1.

Preliminary Design for the project has been completed and is slated for construction under Federal and City funds. In 2022, TMP proposed this project to Congressman Jim Himes and he secured $1.4 million in Federal Funding. In addition, the Connecticut Department of Transportation will be administering funding through the Local Road Accident Reduction Program (L.R.A.R.P.) for sidewalk and crosswalk enhancements along the West Rocks Road corridor.

The TMP Team is eager to present the Preliminary Plans to the community and receive feedback. 

For any questions, please contact Greg Pacelli, Transportation Planner, at gpacelli@norwalkct.gov.

Human Services Family-to-Family programs rely on community donations to provide crucial resources for Westport's financially insecure families. Community contributions allow Human Service to:

• distribute Walmart gift cards to bridge the financial gap for families who must purchase school supplies, backpacks, clothing, and other essentials to prepare their children for the new school year.
• provide families with crucial aftercare financial assistance for children who require safe, enriching, and nurturing environments after school so their parents can continue to work and provide for their families.

Tax-deductible donations of any amount will directly and positively impact the lives of those in need. No contribution is too small; every dollar counts in Human Services' efforts to support hardworking families. To contribute:

• ONLINE - go to www.westportct.gov/donate to access Westport Human Services' donation portal "We Care Westport" and click "Family to Family Programs—Seasonal Program."
• BY MAIL - with checks payable to the "Town of Westport Human Services" (Family Programs- BTS or Afterschool Program in the memo line) at 110 Myrtle Ave Westport, CT  06880.
• DROP OFF - Walmart gift card donations to Westport Human Services Room 200 at Town Hall.

For more information, the Westport Human Services care team can be reached at (203) 341-1050 or humansrv@westport.gov. If you or a friend need help, rest assured that every inquiry is confidential, with professional social workers providing a listening ear and resources to assist in determining available resources and support.                

Empowering Entrepreneurs: SBA Organized Event with CTSBDC Participation

Join entrepreneurial ecosystem providers that can help you start, grow, and expand your small business!

Learn all about FREE & low-cost resources available to help you with your business plan, access capital, and other great opportunities available to all entrepreneurs.

CTSBDC is thrilled to be part of this event hosted by the Connecticut SBA office. This gathering provides a crucial platform for connecting small businesses and entrepreneurs with resource partners such as ourselves, the Women's Business Development Council, the Department of Economic and Community Development, MYCT Savings, SCORE, and others.

See you there!

The Women’s Business Development Council (WBDC) announced the next round of our Ignite Grant Program, which will open on August 12, 2024. The deadline to apply is September 24, 2024. The application will also be offered in Spanish.

The Ignite Grant Program is designed to help women-owned businesses grow. The program offers grants of up to $10,000 to women-owned businesses in the state of Connecticut who have been in business for 2 or more years and have revenues between $25K and $2 million. 

For additional information and more details on the program, please visit their website at https://ctwbdc.org/ignite/

• Understanding different types of small business loans
• Preparing a strong loan application
• Insights from successful business owners and financial experts
• Q&A session to address your specific concerns

We look forward to seeing you there!

East Avenue, under the railroad bridge between Fort Point Street and Winfield Street, will be temporarily closed for a short term detour starting at 8:00 PM Friday, August 16 through 6:00 AM Monday, August 19. The north side of the railroad bridge will be de-constructed during this detour - please observe all posted detour signs.

Connecticut's annual Sales Tax-Free Week begins on Sunday, August 18 and runs through Saturday, August 24. It provides a chance to save money, whether it is taking the kids back-to-school shopping or treating yourself or your loved ones.
 
Retailers throughout the state offer additional discounts on clothing and footwear during Sales Tax-Free Week, providing consumers with even more ways to stretch their spending power.

During this tax holiday, most clothing and footwear items priced less than $100 are exempt from Connecticut's 6.35% sales tax. The exemption applies to each eligible item costing less than $100, regardless of how many of those items are sold to a customer in the same transaction. It applies to purchases made in-store, online, mail-order, and over the phone.

Click here for a list of exempt and taxable items. 

Shop smart – and locally whenever possible to support small businesses – to save during Connecticut’s Sales Tax-Free Week!

ATTENTION: The East Norwalk Train Station will be temporarily closed starting August 17 through  September 6. Trains will NOT stop in East Norwalk. A special rush hour commuter shuttle offered Monday - Friday.  Please see the graphic below for more information.