Small businesses and nonprofits in Connecticut with a 20 or fewer full-time employees or a 2019 payroll of less than $1.5 million can apply for a one-time grant of $5,000 from the state.

The state Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) is administering the program, which has a total of $50 million to distribute from the federal CARES Act. Online applications will be available beginning Monday, November 9, and will be open for just one week. The entire $50 million is expected to be disbursed by the end of the year.

For information, including eligibility requirements, click here.

You can also view this recorded Zoom Q&A session, in which DECD staff answer questions about the program.

Today marked the return of more strict rules for businesses and individuals after a resurgence of the COVID-19 coronavirus in Connecticut. Gov. Ned Lamont has pulled back from the Phase 3 reopening protocols to what he is calling Phase 2.1, a slightly modified version of the Phase 2 reopening rules. 

You can read Lamont's Executive Order No. 9K here.

You can also read the state Department of Economic & Community Development's rules for reopening here.

In brief, the rules allow restaurants and cafes no more than 50% occupancy inside (it had been 75%), and to close for inside and outdoor dining by 10 p.m. (They can still do curbside pickup and delivery beyond that time.) 

It's hard to believe anyone could be unaware by now that tomorrow is Election Day. In fact, hundreds of thousands of people in Connecticut have already voted by absentee ballot.
For those who have not yet voted, tomorrow is the day. We hope you plan to vote, that you know where your polling place is, and that you plan to wear a mask, keep socially distant and bring your own pen (black or blue ink). 
We also hope you have taken some time to familiarize yourself with the candidates -- not just for president, but for Congress, the state Senate and state House of Representatives -- and with any initiatives that may be on the ballot in your town.
If you need information, you can find a wealth of it on the Secretary of the State's website here. The "Elections Voting Home Page" offers information including how to stay safe at the polls and town-by-town sample ballots. It also offers links to check whether you are registered to vote and where to cast your ballot in person in your district. 
I probably don't have to tell you that this an important and significant election, and I hope I don't have to motivate you to get out and vote. Instead, I will thank you for participating in this election and meeting your civic responsibility. 
Good luck to all the candidates!

The state has a new grant program specifically intended for manufacturers:
The REV-Up! Connecticut Back to Work program.
This program, administered through the CT Center for Advanced Technology (CCAT), provides wage subsidies and the design & support of a customized training plan for employees.
The program is time sensitive – it is only available through December 30, 2020.
Some highlights of the REV-Up! program include:

• Wage subsidy up to $20/hour for new or returned COVID-19-impacted manufacturing experienced employees
• Time worked could be from date of hire through 12/30/2020, with consideration for retroactive subsidy for those hired on or after 9/1/2020
• Customized training -- including online, hands-on and on-the-job trainings with mentor, a Technical Training Coordinator provided by CCAT
• Additional support, such as childcare and transportation or laptop/equipment support, for qualified employees

CCAT would be glad to connect quickly with any Chamber member who is or has recently hired manufacturing talent that meets the criteria, so they can maximize use of this program, especially the longer-term benefit of upskilling. More detailed information about the program is available below. You can also find more information or register online at https://180skills.ccat.us/rev-up/.
If you have questions, please contact CCAT’s Ed Marinko at emarinko@ccat.us or (860) 291-8832.
 
REV-Up! Connecticut Program Information
Program Purpose
The REV-Up! Connecticut Back to Work program will drive immediate impact in the manufacturing industry by re-engaging manufacturing talent and upskilling workers with the Industry 4.0 technology skills of the future.  The focus of the REV-Up! program will be up-skilling in high demand competencies such as Quality, Inspection and Industry 4.0 Technologies. The REV-Up! Program, through CCAT, will administer a wage reimbursement to help mitigate employer training costs. All interested employers will work with REV-Up Training Team to design and support completion of a training plan specific to the upskilling required for the hire of the jobseeker.
Program Highlights

• A way to REV-Up! your workforce for 2021 by hiring a manufacturing worker who has been laid off or furloughed due to COVID
• Employer wage reimbursement/subsidy, up to 40 hours per week, and up to $20 per hour for work performed through December 30, 2020.
• Wage reimbursement/subsidies will be available for hired/rehired employees until December 30, 2020, with retroactive consideration for unemployed manufacturing workers hired as recently as September 1, 2020.
• An accelerated training plan, with customized training services will be designed and supported in the program. The up skilling will have three core training elements: Online with use of 180 Skills, Hands-on and facilitated Applied Trainings with CCAT Advanced Manufacturing Center (AMC), and On-the-Job Training with a CCAT provided Mentor.
• Employer supportive services, such as resources and instructional materials that could include laptops, software or other training equipment to facilitate high quality, skill-based training will be available on an as-needed basis.
• Employee supportive services to assist with Childcare, for those most in need, up to $1000 until December 30, 2020, for an estimated ten employees under this program will be available according to guidelines.

Program Eligibility
Employer is a CT located Manufacturing or Allied Service Provider Company(Allied Service Providers only include companies that physically interact with a manufactured good to alter the product - for example industrial Heat Treaters and industrial Platers).

• Must be registered for at least 3-years and currently generating revenue.
• 51% or more of the company's revenue must be generated from the sale of goods the applicant manufactures or from allied services provided to manufacturers.
• Must have at least 3 full-time employees.
• Must be operating in an appropriately zoned commercial area.
• Must be in good standing with the State of CT, Department of Labor and Department of Revenue Services, and in full compliance with all Federal and State laws, and will provide such proof
• Employee must be hired by employer on or after September 1, 2020
• Employee must be previously employed in Manufacturing but laid off due to COVID
• Employee must be upskilled through training plan customized and implemented in partnership with REV-Up! Technical Trainer and employer

Initial Application Submission & Process Considerations

• Employer Applications will be processed on a first-come first-served basis.
• Provide initial application with the required details and information on if candidates are known hires/rehires or have already been identified as potential applicants.
• Evidence of the applicant's ability to meet the required eligibility must later be provided in employee data collection (i.e. unemployment claim approval, recent printout of unemployment payment history and resume with last job information).

·         Wage subsidy would begin no sooner than date of hire of qualified employee(s), with consideration of retroactive application to September 1, 2020, until program end December 30, 2020.  W9 with Federal Employer ID number required.

Training Consultation and Design

• REV-Up! accelerated training plan will be discussed and designed for each individual employee covered under this program, in partnership with REV-Up! Technical Training Coordinator and Employer representatives. 
• The up-skilling core training will include a plan with 3 elements:  Online with use of 180 Skills, Hands-on and facilitated Applied Trainings with CCAT Advanced Manufacturing Center (AMC), and On-the-Job Training with a CCAT/REV-Up! provided Mentor.

Monitoring and Compliance

• Wage reimbursement processing will require invoicing with wage records due by November 20, 2020 and again by January 15, 2021.
• Any other subsidies established for an employee will require additional forms and verification.
• For continuous improvement, we will request your evaluation of the program launch, training feedback mid cycle by employee, and overall program evaluation in early January 2020.
• We will contact you approximately 12 months after the REV-Up! program ends to obtain feedback on employee success, retention and application of trainings learned to confirm impact of REV-Up! program on your organization.

It is our goal to respond to all REV-Up! inquiries within 24 business hours, and to quickly set meetings to review program criteria, employer and employee eligibility, and begin to design customized training plans to help you successfully re-engage manufacturing talent!