$4B in federal aid will help state during pandemic

Dec. 29—Connecticut is slated to receive more than $4 billion in federal funding through the new stimulus bill signed into law, with funding going directly to residents, those on unemployment, small businesses, rental assistance, schools, and several other areas.

"Economic help is on the way for small businesses and individuals," Gov. Ned Lamont said during a briefing with reporters Monday.

While President Donald Trump wavered, he ultimately signed the $900 billion stimulus package Sunday night.

Lamont called Trump's posturing "unnecessary ... grandstanding," but added he's glad the president eventually signed the stimulus package into law.

VIRUS AID

CONNECTICUT TO RECEIVE: $4 billion in federal funding for individuals, small businesses, schools, renters, and several other areas.

BUSINESS LOANS: $285 billion for small business loans

CHRISTMAS SURGE: Lamont is cautiously optimistic there won't be another surge in COVID-19 cases following the holidays.

Of the more than $4 billion slated for Connecticut, more than $695 million will go toward unemployment assistance, which will run through mid-March, Lamont said.

Many will receive $600 direct payments, which represents $1.6 billion coming to Connecticut residents within the next week or so, Lamont said.

However, the direct payments may increase to $2,000 per person after the U.S. House voted Monday to increase the allocations. The U.S. Senate was expected to act on the increase today. This was the sticking point that Trump hesitated on.

Lamont said the direct payments may come as early as this week if direct deposit was used for the first round of stimulus checks, but added that unemployment benefits may come "next week, or soon thereafter."

He said the state will continue to provide funding to make up the difference for those earning less than $100 in unemployment in order to enable them to access additional unemployment benefits.

Schools throughout the state are expected to receive their portion of $745.5 million to help cover costs associated with the coronavirus, and $237 million is slated for rental assistance to cover the costs related to an eviction moratorium that remains in effect until at least Feb. 9, which Lamont said he hopes to extend.

There also will be $285 billion in Paycheck Protection Program, or PPP, loans for small businesses that are continuing to struggle through the pandemic.

The new round of PPP loans, which are forgivable, provides an opportunity for relief for companies that didn't receive funding through the first round of loans, as well as those with no more than 300 employees and those with revenue loss due to the pandemic and received funding through the initial round of loans.

Glendowlyn Thames, deputy commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development, called this "really good news" for businesses in the state, adding that the final criteria for eligibility will be posted on the agency's website later this week.

The federal package also includes $66.9 million for child care, $210 million for public transit, $124 million for highways, and $8.9 million for airports.

It also provides $41.4 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency funeral benefits for those who can't afford proper funerals for their loved ones who have died from COVID-19.

Lamont said that while the added funding is welcome, he is still hopeful the federal government will pass another stimulus package that provides aid to states and municipalities whose budgets have been significantly impacted by the pandemic.

Meanwhile, there has not yet been a large uptick in COVID-19 cases following Christmas, and Lamont is hopeful that doesn't change after New Year celebrations.

"They're probably going to go up a little bit," Lamont said of COVID-19 cases, but added that he's hopeful the spike won't be as significant as after Thanksgiving.

Since Thursday, an additional 8,457 people have tested positive for the virus in Connecticut, bringing the total to 181,200, with 1,219 hospitalized, a net increase of 19.

An additional 113 people have died since Thursday, bringing the total number of fatalities linked to the virus to 5,904.

Of the nearly 140,000 tests conducted since Thursday, 6.05% came back positive, as the positivity rate remains steady after a spike following Thanksgiving.

Among those who tested positive was an unidentified member of Lamont's staff, the fourth member of the governor's staff to test positive for COVID-19.

Lamont's Chief of Staff Paul Mounds said that "strict protocols" have been practiced within the governor's office and that no one other than the person carrying the virus will be quarantining because they were not in close contact with the infected person in recent days.

As of Monday, the state has administered more than 36,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, which is now available at 76 locations, with eight more expected to be added this week.

Staff and residents at 72 nursing homes have received their first doses, and Lamont expects about two-thirds of the state's long-term care facilities to do the same this week and the remainder by the middle of January.

"We're off to a great start," Lamont's Chief Operating Officer Josh Geballe said of vaccines. "We're doing extremely well."

Geballe noted the number of people who've been vaccinated is likely larger considering there's a time lag with some of the reporting from Walgreens and CVS, which are running vaccination clinics.

Geballe said that on both Tuesday and Wednesday of last week, more than 7,000 vaccinations were done each day. He said that's the "run rate" the state needs to meet when it begins receiving the 57,000 doses a week promised by the federal government.

Once widely available, Lamont is encouraging all residents to get vaccinated, including those who have been infected with the virus and recovered.

Geballe said the second phase of vaccinations, known as 1B, will include certain categories of front-line essential workers, people over age 75, and "potentially some other populations" the state's vaccine allocation committee is considering right now.

This story includes Associated Press reporting.

During session, Eric can be found at the Capitol in Hartford, reporting the information that readers want and need to know. For insights and updates on legislation, politicians, committees, and commissions that affect the entire state of Connecticut, follow Eric on Twitter: @BednerEric.

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