Funding for Connecticut announced in economic recovery plan

Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) announced today that Connecticut will receive $2.97 billion in direct assistance in the economy recovery package, which is expected to pass the Senate tonight and be sent to President Barack Obama for his signature. The funding is expected to help create and retain approximately 41,000 jobs in Connecticut. Under the legislation, Connecticut will receive $1.65 billion in direct aid and $1.32 billion in Medicaid assistance. The final package also includes billions in additional funding for competitive grant programs that Connecticut will also benefit from.

With our state’s unemployment rate above 7 percent and another 1,700 Connecticut families entering foreclosure last month, it is clear that Connecticut is feeling the full effect of the economic crisis,” said Dodd. “We clearly need to act quickly to jumpstart our economy, which is why I have fought to make sure that our state gets the resources it needs in the economic recovery package. This funding will help create and save close to 41,000 jobs in our state, provide relief to the people in Connecticut who are struggling in these tough economic times and make a down payment on our future economic security.”

Key funding provisions in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act include:

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE

· Approximately 277,766 Connecticut residents will receive additional Unemployment Insurance benefits.

· The Federal Emergency Unemployment Insurance program will be extended through the end of Dec. 2009, which will benefit approximately 44,580 Connecticut residents.

· States that modernize their Unemployment Insurance systems to make them more accessible to part time and low wage workers, will receive federal funding to cover the administrative cost of these improvements. Connecticut would be eligible for up to $84 million if they modernized their system.

WORKER RETRAINING

· Connecticut will receive $29 million in additional funding for worker retraining and employment services.

MAKING WORK PAY TAX CREDIT

· This credit will provide up to $400 per year to workers. Approximately 95 percent of working families are eligible for the tax credit.

INFRASTRUCTURE

$487.5 million for Connecticut infrastructure projects.

$302 million for rebuilding and improving Connecticut’s roads and bridges.

$137.5 million for Connecticut in transit formula funding.

Nearly $36 million in public housing capital funds for Connecticut.

' $11 million in Community Development Block Grant (CBDG) funds for Connecticut.

$19.7 million for Connecticut in Drinking Water State Revolving Fund and $48.8 million in Clean Water State Revolving Fund for clean water and waste water projects.

ENERGY

$39 million in State Energy Program funding for Connecticut to address energy priorities and to adopt emerging renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies.

$66 million to help Connecticut families reduce their energy bills through the Weatherization Assistance Program.

PUBLIC SAFETY

Connecticut will have at least $80 million in stabilization funds that can be used to prevent fire fighter and police officer layoffs and other cuts to critical services $21 million in Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant funding for Connecticut to prevent, fight and prosecute crime

EDUCATION

$5 million in Head Start funding to improve the school readiness of Connecticut’s children and $14 million in Child Care and Development Block Grants to help hardworking families with childcare assistance

$443.5 million in state stabilization that will, among other things, help communities in Connecticut prevent teacher layoffs, funding cuts to education and other services, and the modernization, renovation, and repairs of public school facilities and higher education institutions

$12 million in Community Services Block Grant funds to assist with key services in Connecticut, including childcare, employment, education, emergency services, health care, housing, nutrition, transportation, youth development, and coordination of resources and community participation.

Increases the maximum Pell Grant by $500, which will benefit nearly 52,000 low income Connecticut students

CHILD TAX CREDIT

· The families of an additional 96,000 children in Connecticut will be eligible to claim an expanded Child Tax Credit.

Source: http://www.norwalkplus.com/