Economic Development News & Updates in
Greater New Haven
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The American Rescue Plan: Impacts on Connecticut |
The Need for Action in Connecticut
The pandemic and the associated economic crisis have had a severe impact on Connecticut. The need for action is clear:
- Since the pandemic began, more than 285,000 people have been infected with COVID-19 and more than 7,000 people have died.
- The unemployment rate is 8.2%, up from 3.7% before the pandemic.
- Since February 2020, more than 155,000 fewer people are employed.
- 181,000 adults – 9% of all adults in the state – report not having enough food to eat. This includes 170,000 adults living with children, or 12% of all adults living with children, who report that the children in their household do not have enough to eat.
- An estimated 91,000 renters or 11% of renters are not caught up on rent.
- An estimated 815,000 adults or 32% of all adults statewide report having difficulty covering normal household expenses.
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New Haven's Valisure Detects Benzene in Hand Sanitizers |
Valisure has tested and detected benzene, a known human carcinogen, in several batches across multiple brands of hand sanitizer, which are considered drug products regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Benzene is known to cause cancer in humans according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the World Health Organization (WHO), and other regulatory agencies. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) defines benzene as a carcinogen and lists “inhalation, skin absorption, ingestion, skin and/or eye contact” as exposure routes. The FDA states that benzene should not be used in the manufacture of any component of a drug product because of its unacceptable toxicity; however, to meet the high demand for hand sanitizer during the COVID-19 public health emergency, FDA has allowed an interim limit of 2 parts per million (ppm) for benzene only in aqueous solution (liquid) hand sanitizers. Of the 260 hand sanitizer products tested by Valisure, including liquid and non-liquid products, 44 batches (17%) contained benzene with the highest level of benzene detected of 16.1ppm, which is over eight times this interim limit.
Valisure is asking FDA to request an immediate recall of the contaminated batches and to update its guidance to include an exposure limit for benzene in addition to a concentration. Read More
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Data updates on vaccine administration in Connecticut |
The following data represents the total number of COVID-19 vaccinations administered in Connecticut, as reported to the state as of March 29, 2021. Read More
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Women continue losing jobs at rates higher than men |
Women made up nearly two-thirds of new unemployment claims at the start of the pandemic.
A year later, things look uncomfortably similar.
“It’s not that women are choosing to leave the workforce — they’re being pushed out,” said Julia Fullick-Jagiela, associate professor and chair of management and co-director of the People’s United Center for Women and Business at Quinnipiac University.
Women work the majority of low wage jobs and jobs that don’t have child care support. They’re also working in sectors that have been the hardest hit by the pandemic, including retail, travel and food service.
It’s these burdens that have cost women their jobs and created barriers for their return to work. Read More
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Government Contracting Workshops – April 2021 |
The U.S. Government is the largest customer in the world, buying all types of products and services — in both large and small quantities. By law, the U.S. Government is required to consider buying from small businesses.
The U.S. Government buys from small businesses to:
- Support small businesses as engines of economic development & job creation
- Offer opportunities to disadvantaged socio-economic groups
- Gain access to the new ideas that small businesses provide
- Ensure that large businesses don’t “muscle out” small businesses
Join the SBA Connecticut District Office in our series of Contracting workshops, where you will learn how to get started in marketing/selling to federal agencies and improve your probability of being “found” by Federal contracting offices and large Federal Prime Contractors. Read More
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Cybrexa Therapeutics Receives Green Light From FDA On Investigational New Drug Application For CBX-12 (Alphalex™-Exatecan) Read More
Connecticut Moving Up COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility to All Residents 16 and Older on April 1 Read More
House passes bill to extend outdoor dining for CT restaurants Read More
Hot Jobs in South Central Connecticut Read More
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