Author: Alex

 

Bridgeport, CT – March 20, 2014

 

 

 

The WorkPlace Board of Directors will convene its quarterly meeting continuing the oversight of the development of Southwestern Connecticut’s Regional Workforce. 

 

 

 

 

 

WHO:          Joseph M. Carbone, CEO & President, The WorkPlace              

 

                  

 

WHAT:        The WorkPlace’s Board of Directors Meeting

 

 

 

WHERE:      Holiday Inn, Bridgeport

 

1070 Main Street, Bridgeport, CT

 

 

 

WHEN:        Friday, March 21, 2014

 

                    8:15 AM – 9:30 AM

 

                                               

 

DIRECTIONS:

 

 

 

From I-95 (North or South) take exit 27A and then take exit 2. Turn right off the exit to Lafayette Square and turn left at the traffic light onto Fairfield Avenue. Go 2 blocks, hotel is on the right at the corner of Main Street and Fairfield Avenue.

 

 

Street parking is available or you may park in the garage located on Middle Street.

 

Initiative Promotes Freedom of Choice In Long-Term Care System

 

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Dannel P. Malloy today announced that his administration is awarding $9 million in first-time funding to help Connecticut’s nursing home industry diversify services to meet the changing needs of older adults and other citizens with disabilities.

 

The grants are part of the state’s Strategic Plan to Rebalance Long-Term Services and Supports, a ground-breaking initiative to expand long-term service options for people who can live safely in the community instead of an institution.

 

“Simply put, many people are looking for greater choice about where and how they receive care,” Governor Malloy said.  “Our initiative promotes freedom of choice in the long-term care system by expanding the options available to our aging adults and other adults with disabilities.”

 

Part of the strategy involves helping skilled nursing facilities adapt to the growing demand for community-based services and supports.  In the first of three projected rounds of funding to help nursing homes diversify service delivery models, seven proposals were selected through a competitive procurement process:

 

• Southington Care Center (Central Connecticut Senior Health Services) – maximum award: $2,051,148.  The proposal aims to increase capacity to deliver and promote community services by building a single point of entry for central Connecticut residents, including a 24-hour hotline and a tool kit for community services; expand choice and improve health outcomes by expanding geriatric care management and creating a person-centered education and engagement program; and raising awareness about community long-term services and supports by developing a comprehensive marketing strategy targeted to hospitals.

 

• Mary Wade Home, Inc. (New Haven) – maximum award: up to $2,001,730, including up to $200,000 in pre-development funds and $1 million in capital funds.  The proposal establishes a home-maker companion agency to increase supply of direct-care workers in New Haven, expand person-centered educational opportunities and establish community navigators to assist people with connecting to local community supports.

 

• Litchfield Woods Healthcare Center (Torrington) – maximum award:  $2,269,103.  The proposal aims to expand infrastructure to support hospice services in the northwest corner and to open a home-health agency satellite.

 

• Miller Memorial Community, Inc. (Meriden) – maximum award: $1,338,110.  The proposal aims to introduce a new service delivery model that will improve continuity of care and help community members avoid nursing home placement, reduce length of stay in the nursing home and reduce hospitalizations post discharge.

 

• Hebrew Home and Hospital, Inc. (West Hartford) – maximum award: $1,072,220.  The proposal includes diversifying a wing of the nursing home to a transitional living wing which provides additional services and supports the transition of people back to the community.

 

• Hughes Health and Rehabilitation, Inc. (West Hartford).  Maximum award: $197,420.  The proposal includes funding for a community assessment to explore the need for establishment of adult family homes and a transitional living wing.

 

• Jewish Home for the Elderly of Fairfield County, Inc. (Fairfield)

Maximum award: $81,260.  The proposal includes the development of a protocol for affordable, community-based living in an adult family living home as an option so that seniors can remain in or return to the community from a nursing home.

 

The initial request for proposals was issued by the Department of Social Services, in conjunction with the Departments of Housing and Public Health.  The next request for proposals is anticipated to be issued this summer, with expected funding of up to $25 million available.  Federal and state Medicaid funding, as well as state bond funds, support the initiative.

 

“This new funding will help nursing homes expand the services they provide to better meet the changing long-term care needs of Connecticut’s elderly and citizens with disabilities,” said Office of Policy and Management Undersecretary Anne Foley.  “With this funding, we are encouraging the industry to develop a continuum of services that will help Connecticut residents remain a part of the community whenever possible.”

 

Department of Social Services Commissioner Roderick L. Bremby said, “One of the noteworthy factors in this process is our success in building the first state/federal partnership with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to support nursing home diversification.  This is critical, since HUD underwrites mortgages for 59 of the approximately 230 nursing facilities in Connecticut. Nursing facilities wishing to diversify business models must get support from underwriters to use the building for a purpose other than the traditional nursing home model.”

 

Department of Housing Commissioner Evonne M. Klein said, “Connecticut’s aging residents need as many care and living solutions as possible.  The Governor’s strategic plan and this funding are important steps to address the long-term needs of this population.  With the number of long-term care recipients only growing, we need to focus our energy on options that increase the number of people who can receive care in their homes, which will reduce costs for everyone and improve the quality of life for many.”

 

Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Jewel Mullen said, “This initiative fosters new care models which will allow people entering the long term care system to remain in their own home and enhance their quality of life.  Most of the proposals chosen for this initiative can be implemented without changes to current regulations.  DPH looks forward to working with health care providers and other state agencies to support these resident-centered care delivery models that ultimately will lead to better patient safety and reduced health care costs.”

 

Connecticut’s Strategic Plan to Rebalance Long-Term Services and Supports, released by Governor Malloy last year, includes the nation’s first town-by-town projection of a state’s long-term care needs and strategies to meet those needs (www.ct.gov/dss/rebal

).  These data provide the framework for rebalancing initiatives, including funding for skilled nursing facility diversification.

 

Even with Medicaid continuing to fund more than $1.6 billion in institutional care alone in Connecticut, the trend of nursing facilities seeing less demand for their services has been increasing in Connecticut and elsewhere.  A total of 35 skilled nursing facilities have closed since January 2001 as resident censuses declined across the state.

 

The strategic rebalancing initiative includes a coordinated approach to reducing institutionalized beds where projections indicate that they will not be needed, and ensuring that nursing facilities diversify their services to participate in prevailing home- and community-based care trends.

 

HARTFORD – In Wednesday’s Education Committee meeting, State Representative Gail Lavielle (R-143) introduced legislation that would have eliminated the requirement for school districts to adopt uniform regional school calendars. Her proposal, which she raised in an amendment to a related bill, did not pass after much discussion by the committee.

 

The adoption of uniform regional school calendars, which would take local control away from Boards of Education, was mandated by the state in legislation passed in 2013. Rep. Lavielle’s amendment would have made adopting uniform regional school calendars optional, preserving local control over education.

 

“I am very disappointed that the majority of the Education Committee’s members refused to take into account the very strong objections expressed by school districts throughout our district and Western Connecticut to the mandate for uniform regional school calendars,” said Rep. Lavielle. “School districts have always been able to collaborate to adopt regional school calendars if they wanted to, so why should they now be required to do it?

 

“Many educators, administrators, and Board of Education members in our part of the state strongly oppose this idea for several reasons, including professional development imperatives and local customs and preferences, and many have also said that the potential for savings on transportation is negligible. The mandate for regional school calendars is just one more indication of the one-size-fits-all view of education that is so prevalent in the General Assembly. School districts and the families they serve should have more control over their destiny.”

(EAST HAVEN, CT) – Governor Dannel P. Malloy is urging the Connecticut General Assembly to adopt legislation he introduced that will provide an authorization of up to $25 million to support the launch of the Shoreline Resiliency Fund – a low-interest loan program the Governor created late last year

that will help residents who are subject to coastal flooding elevate their homes and flood-proof their businesses.

 

While start-up costs to administer the program were approved in January

, the fund cannot begin helping residents and businesses until it receives financing.

 

“The frequency of severe weather has been increasing, putting homes and businesses near Connecticut’s historic and valued shoreline at risk,” said Governor Malloy, who made the announcement at an event at East Haven’s Cosey Beach, a neighborhood that suffered a significant amount of damage from recent severe weather.  “The Shoreline Resiliency Fund will help residents whose homes and businesses are subject to coastal flooding take a proactive role in preparing for the next storm.”

 

As proposed by Governor Malloy, the Shoreline Resiliency Fund will provide loans of up to $300,000 for 10 years with no principal or interest for one year.  Funds can be used to elevate or flood-proof primary and secondary single homes, one to four unit owner-occupied rentals, and businesses.  There is no income cap for applicants.

 

To be eligible, homeowners and business owners’ structures must be subject to coastal flooding and located in either Zone VE or Coastal Zone AE, as defined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the National Flood Insurance Program.

 

“The program is a smart, forward-thinking approach that will help fill the funding gaps left by the many federal disaster recovery programs already available to help homeowners,” said Evonne Klein, Commissioner of the Department of Housing, which administers the Shoreline Resiliency Fund.  “With Governor Malloy’s leadership, we’re assisting homeowners and businesses to recover from the devastation of recent major storms, but we’re also supporting measures to fortify properties against such widespread damage in the future.”

 

Flood-proofing is any combination of structural and non-structural additions, changes, or adjustments to structures which reduce or eliminate flood damage to real estate or improved real property, water and sanitary facilities, structures and their contents. Flood-proofing includes, but is not limited to, ensuring:

 

• Walls are watertight (substantially impermeable to the passage of water)
• Structural components can resist hydrostatic and hydrodynamic loads and effects of buoyancy
• Utilities are protected from flood damage

 

“The recovery and repair effort continues for many families in East Haven and elsewhere along Connecticut’s shoreline,” said State Senator Len Fasano (R-Durham, East Haven, North Haven, Wallingford).  “This program provides an affordable way for qualified homeowners and businesses to elevate their properties, protecting them from drastic insurance premium increases and helping to protect them from future catastrophic weather events.”

 

“The Shoreline Resiliency Fund is the type of aggressive action we need to protect our residents and address the threats associated with extreme weather,” said State Representative Roland Lemar (D-East Haven, New Haven).

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Dannel P. Malloy and state Department of Agriculture Commissioner Steven K. Reviczky today announced that more than 40 farms, agricultural non-profits and municipalities will receive state funding totaling $880,327 as part of an ongoing effort to expand Connecticut’s growing agricultural economy.

 

“Our diverse and vibrant agriculture sector is an important economic driver for our state with enormous potential for future job creation and economic growth,” said Governor Malloy. “These grants are a clear sign that we can both preserve our agricultural heritage and help it expand and create jobs.”

 

Funding was made through the Agriculture Department’s Farm Transition Grant and Farm Viability Grant programs, designed to increase farm production, promote Connecticut Grown products and create jobs. The funding – which requires a match from the grantee – will leverage nearly $2.4 million in investments.

 

Approved projects include:

 

• Improvement of dairy, mushroom, Christmas tree and fruit farms
• Construction of greenhouses
• Building/modernization of retail farm-product and maple syrup stands
• Expansion of wineries
• Promotion of farmers’ markets
• And construction of an aquaculture eel-raising facility

 

“Connecticut’s agriculture economy is making many significant advances in the right direction, and these grants will help keep that momentum going,” Cmsr. Reviczky said. “These are important investments that will benefit both producers and consumers.”

 

Agricultural Viability Grants are made available through Public Act 05-228, An Act Concerning Farmland Preservation, Land Protection, Affordable Housing and Historic Preservation.  This landmark legislation serves to protect and preserve Connecticut for future generations by providing funding for municipal open-space grants, farm viability and preservation, historic preservation and new and existing affordable housing programs, along with new infrastructure to support and promote agriculture in the state.

 

Farm Transition Grants (agricultural producers and cooperatives) 

 

• Grants Allotted: $508,487
• Total Farm Project Dollars : $1,479,899

 

Miller Tree Farm LLC, Durham – Farm diversification into a maple syrup production facility.

Total project budget: $25,000; Grant: $12,500

 

Six Paca Farm, LLC, Bozrah – Increase fiber mill efficiency through purchase of compressor for washer and carding machine; hot water heater for faster, efficient heat, and a rug yarn-winder  and a tumbler that cleans fibers. Total project budget: $36,200; Grant $18,000

 

7 Falls Mushroom Farm, Higganum – Creation of a 1,000 log Shiitake mushroom production area for sale at local markets. Total project budget: $15,866; Grant: $7,963

 

MK Dairy, Lebanon – Construction of a pavilion for educational functions on preserved land site. Total project budget: $40,000; Grant: $20,000.

 

May Hill Farm, Woodstock – Increase milk production through purchase of a Lely Juno Feed Pusher. Total project budget: $16,500; Grant: $8,250

 

Shady Maple Farm, Salisbury – Redo milking parlor in order to raise dairy and beef cows. Total project budget: $19,965; Grant: $9,982

 

Holmberg Orchards, Gales Ferry – Purchase of an orchard work platform and pruning system.

Total project budget: $76,758; Grant: $38,379

 

Sweet Apple Farm LLC, Easton – For plantings at a new farm-production orchard.

Total project budget: $1,750; Grant: $875

 

Marine Bait Wholesale, Middletown – Construction of aquaculture production system for the raising of wild eels for sale.  Total project budget: $111,186; Grant: $49,999

 

Fabyan Sugar Shack, LLC, North Grosvenordale – Convert from gas generator to electric power in order to run vacuum pump and add lines and taps to produce more syrup. Total project budget: $34,000; Grant: $17,000

 

Allen Hill Farm, Brooklyn- Install photovoltaic solar electric generating system for Christmas tree farm.  Total project budget: $38,478; Grant: $19,239

 

Rogers Orchards, Southington – Install a trellis system for a high-density orchard.

Total project budget: $80,000; Grant: $20,000

 

Jones Family Farms Winery, Shelton – Wine-production facility expansion.

Total project budget: $203,365; Grant $25,000

 

Taylor Brooke Winery, Woodstock – Expansion of winery through construction of a covered external grape crush pad, wine storage building and automated bottling room.

Total project budget: $321,000; Grant: $49,999

 

Larson’s Garden Center, LLC, Burlington –   Purchase of a green sustainable wood-heating system for their greenhouse facility and an additional Quonset greenhouse to be used for wood and crop residue storage of the fuel. Total project budget: $86,700; Grant: $42,500

 

Farm Viability Grants (municipalities and agricultural non-profit organizations)

 

• Grants allotted: $371,840
• Total project values:  – $898,744

 

American Farmland Trust, Windsor – Update and reprint the booklet Conservation Options for CT Farmland. Total project budget: $22,202; Grant: $11,803

 

Brass City Harvest, Waterbury – Mobile farmers’ market and nutrition program.

Total project budget: $95,576; Grant:  $12,000

 

Community Farm of Simsbury – Construction of greenhouse and equipment flame weeder, scales, heating mats. Total project budget: $10,000; Grant: $5,000

 

CT NOFA – Educational marketing Campaign. Total project budget: $7,000; Grant: $3,500

 

CT Agricultural Experiment Station – Two–year low trellis hop trial research for small farmers. Total project budget: $76,600; Grant: $45,960

 

Harbor Watch, Westport – Help eliminate sources of pollution in support of local commercial and recreational shell fishing industry. Total project budget: $136,840; Grant:  $38,815

 

New Haven Farms, New Haven – Wellness program to improve health outcomes by increasing participants’ consumption of fruits and vegetables. Total project budget: $282,188; Grant: $25,000

 

North Central Conservation District, Vernon – Installation of seasonal high tunnel and greenhouse at Willard-Cybulski Correctional Institute in Somers. Total project budget: $98,138;  Grant: $49,370

 

North End Action Team, Middletown – Farmers’ market promotions. Total project budget: $3,000; Grant: $1,500

 

River COG Regional Agriculture Council, Essex – Connect area farms in 17 town region through website, brochures, conference and analysis. Total project budget: $70,000; Grant $42,000

 

Urban Oaks Organic Farm, New Britain – Energy audit on greenhouses including heaters, insulation, equipment. Total project budget: $97,200; Grant: $48,600

 

Town of Bozrah – Farmers’ market promotions. Total project budget: $5,073; Grant: $2,536

 

Town of Essex – Ivoryton Village Farmers’ market promotions and advertising

Total project budget: $6,000; Grant: $2,999

 

Town of Hamden, Maselli Farm – Farm feasibility study. Total project budget:  $30,000; Grant: $18,000

 

Town of Lebanon – Farmland preservation property appraisals and surveys; market master and farmers’ market promotions. Total project budget: $30,591; Grant: $15,000

 

City of Milford – Pollution source survey of Wepawaug River for protection of shellfish beds

Total project budget: $14,627; Grant: $6,720

 

Town of East Lyme, Niantic Farmers’ Market – Market promotions and advertising.

Total project budget: $11,400; Grant: $5,000

 

Town of Southbury – Farmers’ market promotions and advertising. Total project budget:  $6,001; Grant: $2,999

 

Town of Suffield – Appraisals for farmland preservation program and consultant for farmers’ market website and advertising. Total project budget: $24,750; Grant $11,450

 

Town of Voluntown – Farmers’ market promotions and advertising. Total project budget: $13,563; Grant: $6,088

 

Town of Weston – Improvements to Lachat Farm. Total project budget: $35,000; Grant:  $17,500

 

The grants were awarded on a competitive basis and a match must be supplied by the applicant.  The Department of Agriculture’s share of the budget is capped at $49,999 in matching funds.  Grantees have up to one year to complete their project, according to the terms of their contract.

 

Funding is not limited to producers.  Non-profit organizations and municipalities also are eligible, and may use the grants for town or regional planning purposes provided that agricultural components are involved.  The Department of Agriculture plans to open up the grant-application period again in November.

 

For more information on these grants, please visit the Department’s website at www.ct.gov/doag/

. Click on: “Programs and Services” and then: “Agriculture Viability Grants.”