Governor Rell Certifies Connecticut’s Acceptance

of Stimulus Funds

            Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that she has signed a letter to President Obama officially certifying Connecticut’s acceptance of stimulus funds.

Governor Rell’s February 27 letter to the Executive Office of the President attests that all money “will be used to create jobs and promote economic growth in a manner that is in the best interests of the taxpayers of the State of Connecticut.”

“The task before us now is to get people back to work, get our economy moving again and position us for success when the national business climate improves,” Governor Rell said.

For the average citizen in Connecticut, the immediate effect of the stimulus will be felt as soon as Monday when thousands of residents currently collecting unemployment will see a $25 bump in their weekly checks.  The extra money will have a broader effect, because it injects an additional $2.5 million to $3 million a week into Connecticut’s economy.

Governor Rell has formed a broad-based working group of municipal officials, business leaders, legislators and state agency chiefs to determine the final, prioritized list of “shovel-ready” projects to be funded through the federal stimulus package.  The working group’s first meeting took place on February 26.

Last week, Governor Rell announced nearly $7.5 million in federal stimulus funds have been awarded to three Connecticut cities and a major hospital for lead abatement work.  The recipients and breakdown of the grants are:

·        Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, Hartford, $875,000

·        City of New London, $2 million

·        City of Norwich, $1.69 million

·        City of Waterbury, $3 million