MAIN STREET IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
 STARTING WORK IN MAPLE & MAIN AREA,
MONDAY APRIL 20 th

The Main Street improvement project will follow a six-phase construction sequence.

The first phase begins Monday, April 20th includes these tasks:  

     Site preparation, survey layout and CBYD (Call before You Dig) mark out.

Construction work will then begin with new stormwater drainage installation at Main and Maple streets intersection near the flagpole.

The contractor will also fill the voids under the sidewalk on Main between The Villager to Strut Your Mutt. This work must be completed before the second phase can begin which includes removal of the old sidewalk, the installation of electrical conduit, granite curbing new sidewalk, and Belgium blocks.

TRAFFIC:  During first phase there will not be any major changes to traffic. Two-way traffic will remain, with an officer on both sides of the work zone to facilitate alternate traffic flow as needed during the work times.

PARKING: There will be some adjustment of parking spaces while the drainage is being worked on, but there should not be blockage of the sidewalk during this time.

WORK HOURS: Work hours will be 7:30-5 Monday through Friday, although the construction company may work on Saturdays while the retail shops are closed. The company is being given a list of the restaurants who are open for take out and delivery and will make all efforts not to interfere with any business going on.
Once the contractor is fully mobilized and crews are underway more information will be shared on traffic control, parking and contractor’s work schedule. More information to come soon!

Implementation of System That Will Significantly Speed up Unemployment Claims During COVID-19 Emergency

  • Additional Weekly $600 Benefit in Federal Stimulus Funds Will Begin April 24;

  • New Benefit Program for Self-Employed Individuals Will Begin by April 30

The Connecticut Department of Labor launched a software improvement that will significantly increase the speed at which unemployment claim applications can be processed. Paired with the continued manual processing, the originally anticipated six-week wait period will be shortened to one week or less.
Anyone who has applied for unemployment benefits is urged to monitor their email for a notification from the Department of Labor directing them to take action on next steps in order to receive their benefits (be sure to check any 
spam or junk folders as well). To receive the benefits in the fastest way possible, claimants are advised to utilize direct deposit to have their benefits sent directly to a checking or savings account of their choice. In contrast, due to the national pandemic, a shortage of debit cards could cause an additional three-week delay for the vendor to issue the card.

Additional federal stimulus benefits, including $600 in additional weekly payments, will begin April 24

Processing for the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation, which adds $600 in federal stimulus funds to every weekly state benefit payment, is scheduled to begin April 24. The additional funds will be included in Connecticut benefit payments the following week.
In addition, the Department of Labor expects to begin accepting claim applications for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance – the federal program that provides benefits for self-employed individuals and independent contractors – by April 30.

Benefits for both programs will be retroactive to the date a person needed to apply.

For more information regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on unemployment benefits in Connecticut, members of the public are urged to read the list of  Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) provided by the Connecticut Department of Labor .

Town Hall Meeting with Matt Pugliese
Associate State Director
Connecticut Small Business Development Center

Friday, April 17, 2020
1:00 p.m. via Zoom Webinar

Join Matt Pugliese, Associate State Director, Connecticut Small Business Development Center for a virtual Town Hall Meeting designed to provide the latest news and updates on funding opportunities available. This is your chance to ask those important questions affecting your small business or non-profit.

Register in advance for this webinar. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. 



MEWS+ presents 
"Readying for Recovery: Resources for Middlesex County Businesses"

Tuesday, April 21, 2020
1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Join The MEWS+ Entrepreneurial Community as we host the leadership team from The Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce  to learn about the many local, state, and federal resources developed to help small businesses navigate and recover from the health and economic crisis. President Larry McHugh, Vice President Johanna Bond, and Vice President Jeff Pugliese will share information on:
 
  • Chamber webinars with Senator Blumenthal, Congressman Joe Courtney, and SBDC Counselor Jim Jackson;
  • How the CARES Act provisions - PPP, EIDL, and Tax Credits - apply to small business owners and startups
  • The Chamber’s Coronavirus Tool Kit;
  • SHOUT IT OUT campaign;
  • Community partners and local resources; and
  • Recovery fund opportunities.

Register in advance for this webinar. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. 



Dear Chester,

I am privileged to be present with many First Selectmen, Fire Chiefs and Emergency Management Personnel on the Governor's conference call twice a week. This is an opportunity to get information, but also to ask questions and bring the State's attention to rising problems and critical issues that are not being addressed. Some of that information I am able to then pass on to you directly in this email.

If there is a situation that you feel should be brought to the State's attention, to include DEEP, the Department of Economic and Community Development, the Department of Labor, Department of Public Health, Office of Policy and Management, Secretary of State, Lieutenant Governor, Emergency management, or other Departments and Commissions, please let me know and I will do my best to put that on the table or get answers to your questions.

Keep up the good work.

Be well,



Lauren