Posted on April 1, 2020 by admin
The Paycheck Protection Program is a federal initiative providing forgivable loans. This program is aimed specifically at small businesses with 500 or fewer employees, including nonprofit entities (including churches), veterans’ organizations, tribal concerns, self-employed individuals, sole proprietorships and independent contractors. Businesses with more than 500 employees are eligible in certain industries.
The program has a total funding level of $349 billion and is administered by the US Department…
Posted on March 31, 2020 by Greg MacKinnon
HARTFORD – The House Republican caucus today in a letter to Gov. Lamont offered proposals to provide immediate relief to struggling businesses, idle workers, families and taxpayers coping with the economic consequences of the ongoing health crisis – including breaks on overdue property taxes, for companies facing high unemployment insurance rates and those saddled with student debt.
The proposals could be enacted quickly through executive orders if Lamont chooses to do so and would not require any…
Posted on March 23, 2020 by admin
The state’s Department of Community and Economic Development on Sunday night issued its guidance for business owners regarding Gov. Lamont’s executive order that closes non-essential businesses to help combat the spread of COVID-19. The governor on March 20 issued an executive order that goes into effect Monday, March 23, and 8 p.m. Read the executive order here, and you can review the clarifying guidance about what businesses are exempt from the order here. A great number of types of businesses…
Posted on March 20, 2020 by admin
Amid the onslaught of pandemic news that has jolted Americans and Connecticut residents over the spreading health crisis, jarring their daily routines, disrupting their lives and leaving them to question their faith in government, spring arrived on Thursday, March 19, at 11:49 p.m.
It came a little ahead of usual — in fact, the earliest spring in a century. Normally the season begins on March 20 or 21. In other times, this most certainly would have brightened our hearts and doors, as sunshine finally…
Posted on March 17, 2020 by admin
Connecticut small businesses negatively impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak can now apply for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (up to $2 million) through the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA.)
You can learn more about the program at www.sba.gov/disaster, and check out its three-step process in English or en Espanol. You can begin the online application process here. Need help? Call SBA at 1-800-659-2955.
Additionally, small business owners with questions about the SBA loan program or other types…
Posted on March 17, 2020 by admin
In a move to support the state’s business community during the COVID-19 outbreak, the state’s Department of Revenue Services (DRS) has announced an automatic extension of Connecticut filing deadlines for certain annual tax returns. The extension is effective immediately. See information from DRS:
Effective immediately, the filing deadlines for certain annual tax returns due on or after March 15, 2020, and before June 1, 2020, are extended by at least 30 days. In addition, the payments associated…
Posted on February 28, 2020 by Greg MacKinnon
HARTFORD – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is closely monitoring an outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel (new) coronavirus (COVID-19) that was first detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China. According to the CDC, efforts at this time are focused concurrently on containing spread of this virus and mitigating the impact of this virus.
CDC has also stated the immediate risk of this new virus to the American public is believed to be low at this time. Regardless,…
Posted on February 14, 2020 by admin
HARTFORD – House Republican Leader Themis Klarides today raised questions over the distribution of $16 million more in municipal grants and asked the chairs of the Finance Committee what formula was used to hand out the money in advance of a long-awaited, and delayed, vote on tolls.
In an unusual circumstance, neither the non-partisan Office of Fiscal Analysis or the Office of Policy and Management could, or would, provide any details.
Klarides said her office was told by the OFA to direct any questions…
Posted on December 5, 2019 by admin
HARTFORD – House Republican Leader Themis Klarides today criticized Gov. Lamont for punishing towns and cities by holding hostage millions in local aid that they rely on to maintain and plow roads as municipalities dig out from the first major snowfall of the year.
“This is a failure of leadership on the part of the governor. The calendar says it is December and the administration is still holding hostage much-needed funds that towns and cities rely on to maintain and plow their roads,’’ Klarides…
Posted on October 4, 2019 by admin
HARTFORD – The audit of the Connecticut Integrated Vehicle and Licensing System, CIVLS, within the Department of Motor Vehicles today revealed ongoing problems of administering the information technology system, and renewed questions about addressing longstanding and troubling problems that have plagued the agency over recent years, State Rep. Laura Devlin of Fairfield, the Ranking House Member on the Transportation Committee, said.
The auditors highlighted 19 areas of concern. Another 14 involving…