Connecticut added 1,700 jobs in June, a 0.1% uptick to 1.65 million. As a result, the state’s unemployment rate dropped two-tenths of a percent to 4%.

The originally released May 2022 job gain of 1,600 was revised higher by 800 positions to a 2,400-job monthly gain, a 0.1% increase.

Private Sector employment gained 900 jobs (0.1%) in June to 1.42 million and the Government supersector was higher by 800 jobs (0.4%) to a level of 223,500. The Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk corridor recorded a decline of 2,600 positions and the Greater Danbury area was unchanged. Read More

The Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development’s (DECD) Office of Brownfield Remediation and Development (OBRD) is welcoming applications for funding under Round 16 of the following programs:

Available total funding is $25 million for both programs. Applications received under both programs will be reviewed simultaneously and award decisions will be made at the same time.

Please refer to the Notices of Funding Availability for more details on funding amounts, award criteria, and application schedule. Application materials are available under the Program webpages (see links above).

Government Ned Lamont’s budget office said on Wednesday that an economy on the verge of recession and 9% inflation was not enough to prevent the state government’s surplus from breaching the $4 billion mark.

The $4.3 billion surplus for the fiscal year that closed June 30 is unprecedented in the state’s history, one-fifth of the entire General Fund of the previous budget, and 30% more than the maximum budget reserve allowed by state law.

That means about $4.1 billion of last year’s $4.3 billion surplus will be used to pay off the state’s huge debt in its pension programs for state employees and municipal teachers. The remaining $200 million will go to the Rainy Day Fund – increasing it from $3.1 billion to $3.3 billion, which is equivalent to 15% of the general fund for the new fiscal year. Read More

The South Central Regional Council of Governments is developing a multi-jurisdiction hazard mitigation plan for 15 municipalities in South Central Connecticut. Among those 15 municipalities are East Haven, New Haven, Madison, Guilford, North Branford, and Branford.

With involvement from each of SCRCOG's 15 municipalities and the public, the Hazard Mitigation Plan Update will focus on the identification, assessment, and mitigation of natural hazards such as winter storms, hurricanes, and coastal flooding. The plan will result in a list of mitigation actions or projects each municipality can take to save lives and reduce damages. It will also double as a creditable "floodplain management plan" under FEMA's Community Rating System.

SCRCOG has received funding from the Connecticut Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security to update the South Central Region: Multi-Jurisdiction Hazard Mitigation Plan. The plan serves as an essential strategy for reducing current and future risks to natural hazards and improving the emergency preparedness in all fifteen municipalities. Updates are required every five years. This update is scheduled for completion in January 2023. Read More