Local lawmakers applaud grant for Jones winery in Shelton

$25,000 to go toward facility expansion
HARTFORD - State Sen. Kevin Kelly, R-Stratford, and state Reps. Jason Perillo, R-Shelton, and Larry Miller, R-Stratford, applaud the Department of Agriculture for awarding Jones Family Farms Winery in Shelton a grant through the Agriculture Viability Grants Program.

“I want to congratulate the Jones family on their incredible efforts to keep local farm production thriving in Shelton,” Kelly said. “This grant is well deserved and I look forward to watching the farm grow and take on new projects.”

The Shelton winery will use the $25,000 grant to help fund an expansion of their wine-production facility.
The expansion is estimated to cost $203,365 and will enable the winery to significantly increase production.

“The Jones Family Farms Winery is a perfect example of the growing agri-tourism industry that is making a mark across the state and in Shelton,”  Perillo said.  “They are a great family business. I congratulate them on this grant and look forward to continued agricultural projects by their family and others throughout Shelton in the years ahead.”

“My congratulations go to the Jones Family Farm,” Miller said.  “They are one of the finest examples of a family-owned and operated agricultural business in our area, and I am excited to see the expansion they are enabled to achieve through the use of this grant.”

“I want to thank the state of Connecticut for investing in our farm and winery,” said Jamie Jones, a sixth generation farmer in the Jones family. “This year the winery is 10 years old. We’ve grown steadily since our start and have reached the point that we need to make a greater quantity and variety of wine. We will be using this grant to help us increase our number of tanks and production capability.”

Jones Winery is one of more than 40 organizations, including farms, agricultural non-profits and municipalities, that received state funding last week totaling $880,327 as part of a state-wide effort to grow Connecticut’s agricultural economy.

Funding was made available 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 throughout the state.

“The Jones family has provided amazing Connecticut-grown produce to the Shelton community for generations. This farm and winery represent our local history as well as the future of agriculture in Connecticut,” Kelly said.

The Jones farm began in 1848 with Philip James Jones, a Welsh-Irish immigrant. The farm expanded and the vineyard was added in 1999 at the Pumpkinseed Hill location by Jamie Jones. They bottled and sold their first wine in 2004.  

For more information, visit: www.jonesfamilyfarms.com/winery. 


This is a press release from state Sen. Kevin Kelly's office.

TEAM in Derby receives state grant

     Training Education and Manpower, Inc. DBA/Team, Inc. received $106,667 under the latest round of awards announced by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy. 

    The funding will be used for information technology upgrades and new service vehicles.

     “TEAM is crucial for their much needed service.  Their work impacts our local families and the entire Naugatuck Valley,” said state Rep. Linda M. Gentile, D-Ansonia. “I will continue to support their important efforts and thank Governor Malloy for doing the same.”

     “TEAM serves over 5,400 families in our region every year," said state Sen. Joseph J. Crisco, Jr., D-Woodbridge. “I'm thankful that Governor Malloy recognizes the vital role TEAM plays in battling poverty in our cities and towns. This funding will help them continue their essential work.”

     “TEAM provides support to thousands of families in the area,” state Rep. Theresa Conroy, D-Seymour, said. “This state funding will help them continue their good works.”

     In 1965, local officials created TEAM, Inc. to combat poverty in the region and to help low-income families increase their self-sufficiency.
     Today, TEAM manages over a dozen programs that seek to improve the lives of economically vulnerable families. With its central office in Derby, the agency is an integral part of the regional social safety net. TEAM provides both direct service and referrals to other area agencies. 

    A private, non-profit corporation, TEAM gives financial assistance, training, and supportive services to over 5,400 families in the region each year. Customers generally remain the poor, but the client base also includes parents, day care home providers, and frail elderly.

     For information and to see a specific breakdown of grants, visit Malloy's website: http://www.governor.ct.gov/malloy/cwp/view.asp?a=4010&Q=541154

This is a press release from Gentile's office.

Lawmakers to discuss impact of cut on mental health clinics

HARTFORD - The Fiscal Year 15 state budget includes a multi-million dollar reduction to the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, forcing the department to drastically reduce much of its grant funding for community-based outpatient mental health clinics. 

A Legislative Breakfast will be held at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday regarding a $25.5M cut to DMHAS and its effect on community-based, outpatient mental health and addiction services.

The event will be held in the Old Judiciary Room, third floor, Capitol building.
  
According to a press release from BHcare, a behavioral health organization: "If the state budget remains the same, thousands of Connecticut residents will no longer have access to mental health medication and treatment in their communities."


This post is taken from a press release from BHcare.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

Lawmakers hail funding to boost security at Derby schools

     State lawmakers representing the city of Derby all expressed gratitude for a school security grant announced today by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy.

    Three Derby schools will receive $267,873 from the state, to be matched by $107,139 from the city. 

     This is the first round of Competitive Grants for school security, part of the Gun Violence Prevention and Children’s Safety Act passed in the legislature this year.  

      “I’m grateful for the state’s effort to keep our children safer,” said State Rep. Linda M. Gentile, D-Ansonia, Derby. “Assuring our schools remain sanctuaries of learning is critical and this modernization will go a long way in maintaining that trust.”

        “Security upgrades are expensive additions to local budgets., I am very pleased the state is able to defray the costs through the school security grant program,” said state Rep. Theresa Conroy, D-Seymour, Beacon Falls, Derby.

     “The legislature set up this program to address the school safety issues that became everyone’s concern last year; this grant program matches schools that have identified needs with the resources we made available to help,” state Sen. Joseph J. Crisco, D-Woodbridge, said. 
“The security infrastructure upgrades we envision are meant to prevent or avoid a crisis wherever possible, and this initiative fortifies our efforts to deter violence in that regard.”

     The three schools in Derby are:

·  Irving Elementary;

· Bradley Elementary;

· Derby High School.

    The funds may be used for costs associated with security infrastructure improvements made in the wake of the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown.

     Improvements include security windows, bullet-proof glass, new school entrances and radios. 

   
   A school security assessment survey was conducted by each local school district that applied which resulted in funding during this first round of grants.  Additional grants are expected in the future.

     “We performed a full assessment of all schools so we’re ready to begin work quickly,” said Derby School Superintendent Dr. Matthew Conway.  “Our three schools are older construction so the locks and cameras we install will be a welcome upgrade.”

     The award will be administered by the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection in consultation with the Department of Education and the Department of Construction Services.  


This is taken from a press release from Gentile's office.

Conroy schedules hours in Beacon Falls, Seymour

Theresa Conroy

State Rep. Theresa Conroy, D-Seymour, is scheduling office hours for constituents in Beacon Falls and Seymour.

Office Hours in Beacon Falls are scheduled from 6-7:30 p.m. Aug. 13  in Town Hall, 10 Maple Ave., Beacon Falls.

Office Hours in Seymour are scheduled from 6-7:30 p.m. Aug. 15 in Town Hall, 1 First St., Seymour.

 “I look forward to meeting with constituents to answer any questions they may have concerning legislative or related issues,” Conroy said.

This is a press release from Conroy's office.

Crisco to co-host business conference at Ansonia Armory

Jobs Bill highlights will be presented

HARTFORD – State Sen. Joseph J. Crisco, Jr., D-Woodbridge, and state Rep. Linda M. Gentile, D-Ansonia, will co-host – along with the Lieutenant Governor’s office and the state Department of Labor – the Greater Valley STEP UP Conference Wednesday. More than 100 area businesses are already registered for the series of presentations and meetings to help companies in the region better understand the Connecticut Jobs Bill and its STEP UP program.

The conference is scheduled from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Ansonia Armory, 5 State St. Highlights of the Jobs Bill enacted last fall and expanded economic development programs enacted in June will be spelled out in presentations and exhibits.

“It’s been gratifying to see widespread acceptance of the provisions of our jobs bill, with businesses from throughout Connecticut taking advantage of the direct assistance available to them,” Crisco said. “This conference is aimed at small businesses and manufacturers in our backyard to make sure they’re completely familiar with the jobs-generating, inventory expansion, and marketing assistance programs available to them as well as our newly expanded eligibility for these programs.”

Crisco said the state’s Small Business Express program is now available to companies with up to 100 employees with grants to launch new products or expand inventory, and the STEP UP job training program has new payroll incentives for employers to help them cover the costs associated with hiring and training new employees, including post-9/11 veterans.

“Area business owners could be eligible for wage reimbursement programs, job training grants, tax credits, and other direct assistance to help them expand their business and enhance their company profile,” Crisco said. “We’re very excited that so many business owners have pre-registered and hope more of them turn out for this important event Wednesday morning.”

“One of the presentations offers specifics about the payroll assistance available to those who hire post-9/11 veterans of the Armed Forces, who often need a helping hand while integrating back into civilian life,”Crisco added. “This is particularly appropriate, given the sacrifices made by these veterans in service to our nation, and the timing is serendipitous, given this week’s anniversary of those deadly attacks.” 

This was taken from a release from Crisco's office.