nstallation next Wednesday, September 3rd and Thursday, September 4th, 8am-5pm - paid for by Neighborhood Economic Opportunity Grant & partnered with City of New Haven and Street Plans for implementation

Ceremony Scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on September 4, 2025, at Sherwood Island State Park

Governor Ned Lamont and Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz are inviting members of the public to attend the State of Connecticut’s annual 9/11 Memorial Ceremony, honoring and celebrating the lives of those killed in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. This year’s ceremony will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 4, 2025, at Sherwood Island State Park in Westport.

Family members of those who were killed in the attacks will participate, and the names of the 161 victims with ties to Connecticut will be read aloud.

Every year, the State of Connecticut intentionally holds its official memorial ceremony several days prior to the actual anniversary in order to accommodate the family members and friends of the victims. Because Connecticut is in such close proximity to New York City, many family members and friends who live in the state choose to also attend the annual ceremony that is held at the site of the World Trade Center on September 11. Scheduling Connecticut’s ceremony on a different day makes it easier for those who wish to attend both ceremonies.

Connecticut’s official memorial honoring the victims of the attacks is located on a peninsula at Sherwood Island State Park, where on a clear day the Manhattan skyline can be viewed across Long Island Sound. The memorial features stones engraved with the names of the people with ties to Connecticut who were killed in the attacks. The state park was chosen as the site for the memorial because it is the location where, in the hours immediately following the attacks in 2001, many people gathered to observe the smoke and devastation on Lower Manhattan from across Long Island Sound. Additionally, the site was used immediately after the attacks by the Connecticut National Guard as a staging area for Connecticut’s relief efforts to New York City.

Live

Governor Ned Lamont today announced that Connecticut will hold its annual Sales Tax-Free Week from Sunday, August 17, through Saturday, August 23, 2025.

During this weeklong sales tax holiday, retail purchases of most clothing and footwear items priced under $100 are exempt from the Connecticut sales tax. The exemption applies to each eligible item costing under $100, even if those items are purchased in the same transaction.

“Our annual sales tax holiday gives Connecticut consumers some extra savings during the busy back-to-school retail season,” Governor Lamont said. “I encourage everyone to take advantage of these savings and, as always, support our many locally-owned small businesses.”

“As students are preparing to head back to the classroom, Sales Tax-Free Week is the perfect time for parents and families to stock up on necessary clothing and other essentials, while saving money,” Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz said. “These savings offer a great reason to shop locally, where every dollar spent supports our neighborhoods and communities.”

“This is a great opportunity to stock up on all those items you’ll need for the back-to-school season,” Connecticut Department of Revenue Services Commissioner Mark Boughton said. “We encourage everyone to take advantage of these savings and shop local.”

For detailed information on Sales Tax-Free Week, including a list of individual items that are exempt or taxable, visit portal.ct.gov/drs/sales-tax/sales-tax-free-week.

Meet the Candidates: Hamden Democratic Primary Forum | Hosted at African American Lodge #024

Over 200 residents gathered on Saturday, August 2, 2025, at The African American Lodge #024 in Hamden, CT, for a powerful and informative Democratic Primary Candidate Forum.
Moderated by 94.3 WYBC’s “The Electric Drum” host and media professional Jose Candelario, this event offered voters a unique opportunity to hear directly from the candidates ahead of the upcoming primary election.

Candidates included:

Dominique Baez
Peter Cyr
Lushonda Howard
Adam Sendroff
Walter Morton
Jameka Jefferies

Community members packed the hall at 12 Manila Avenue, engaging with the candidates’ platforms and asking critical questions about the future of Hamden. The forum was presented by The African American Lodge #024, a pillar of civic engagement in the region.

Don’t miss highlights from this important political event as candidates laid out their vision, answered tough questions, and connected with the community ahead of the Democratic Primary.

The Jose Candelario Show Sits Down with Bud Mench of BMMG1.com !

#MentalHealthAwareness #NewHavenCT #MentalHarmonyFoundation #QHouseNewHaven #CommunityHealth #WellnessFair #MindfulnessMatters #SelfCare #EndTheStigma #MentalHealthSupport #PublicHealth #NewHavenEvents #HealingTogether

HARTFORD, Connecticut – On Wednesday morning, State Treasurer Erick Russell hosted the July meeting of Connecticut’s Investment Advisory Council (IAC), which convened at the State Office Building in Hartford. In that meeting, Treasurer Russell announced $775 million in new investment commitments for the Connecticut Retirement Plans and Trust Funds (CRPTF).

“The foundation of our investment decisions, and ultimately our long-term investment success, is our strategic asset allocation,” said Treasurer Russell. “By thoughtfully calibrating our portfolio across asset classes, including these investments we’re announcing today, we’re positioning the CRPTF to weather market fluctuations and capture growth over time.”

In private real estate, Treasurer Russell committed up to $150 million to Sterling United Properties I CF, L.P., and $200 million to TA Realty Core Property Fund, L.P. 

In private credit, he committed up to $175 million to Anchorage Credit Opportunities IX, L.P., and up to $75 million to Anchorage Credit Opportunities IX Co-Investment, L.P.

In private investment, Treasurer Russell announced a commitment of up to $175 million to Integrum Capital Partners II, L.P. 

These commitments followed feedback provided to the Treasurer by the IAC at the May meeting.

Several potential investments were reviewed for consideration at the meeting. Presentations included Reverence Capital Partners PE Opportunities IV (Fund VIII) L.P. and Verdane Freya XII AB (private investment fund opportunities), Crescent CRPTF Private Credit L.P. (a private credit fund opportunity), and HarbourVest Infrastructure Income Partnership L.P. and Palistar Digital Infrastructure Fund III L.P. (both infrastructure fund opportunities).

Wednesday’s meeting also included a presentation on an update to the CRPTF’s Investment Policy Statement as well as strategic reviews of Global Fixed Income and Risk Mitigation.

“Our Investment Advisory Council brings exceptional insight and judgment to the table, and their support is a major driver of our portfolio’s strength,” said Treasurer Russell. “I’m grateful for their clear-eyed analysis as we navigate these critical investment decisions.”

The IAC shares responsibility for Connecticut’s investment strategy and performance. Its members are appointed by unions representing teachers and state workers, legislative leaders, and the Governor. It plays a key role in setting the pension funds’ investment policy and asset allocation, and in the hiring of key investment personnel. All IAC meetings are open to the public. Meeting materials, including past agendas and investment presentations, are available on the Office of the Treasurer’s website: portal.ct.gov/OTT/About-the-Treasury/Advisory-Council. 

About the Office of the Treasurer 

The Office of the Treasurer is charged with safeguarding Connecticut’s financial resources through prudent cash management and debt management, with the State Treasurer serving as principal fiduciary for six state pension and twelve state trust funds. Additionally, the Office enhances the state’s fiscal stability through programs promoting financial literacy and college savings, and it leverages business partnerships to support the advancement of Connecticut’s social and policy priorities, including combating gun violence and protecting our environment. The Office of the Treasurer is led by State Treasurer Erick Russell, the first Black out LGBTQ person to win an election for statewide office in American history. To learn more, visit portal.ct.gov/ott. 

ARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he has signed into law the biennial state budget bill for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, which makes historic investments to expand access to early childhood education, which is among the costliest item for families, all while holding the line on taxes.

Notable investments include:

• Early childhood education: The budget makes historic levels of investment to support Connecticut’s early childhood education system, including $417.5 million in fiscal year 2026 and $443 million in fiscal year 2027. General Fund appropriations for early childhood education are up $252.7 million between fiscal years 2018 and 2027 – a 133% increase. In addition to these investments, the budget establishes the Early Childhood Education Endowment by transferring up to $300 million of the unappropriated General Fund surplus at the close of fiscal year 2025. This endowment will be used to make more early childhood education slots available and enroll more children into the system.
• Special education: The budget makes historic levels of investments to support special education, growing by $44.9 million in fiscal year 2026 and an additional $49.9 million in fiscal year 2027, as well as capital investments of $10 million in each year. By 2027, state investments in special education will have grown by 95%.
• K-12 education: The budget fully funds Education Cost Sharing (ECS) grants for towns and cities, including a hold harmless provision that provides $8.7 million in fiscal year 2026 and $17.4 million in fiscal year 2027 to ensure that no municipality loses ECS funding over the biennium. Since Governor Lamont took office in 2019, ECS grants have grown by roughly $443 million – an 18% increases in support for K-12 public schools.
• Higher education: The budget increases funding for the Roberta B. Willis Scholarship Fund – Connecticut’s state-funded scholarship program for residents who attend in-state public and private higher education institutions – by $1.4 million in fiscal year 2026 and $16.4 million in fiscal year 2027. When combined with $15 million previously reserved for fiscal year 2026, both years of the biennium will be funded at $41 million – the highest level of state-appropriated scholarship funding in more than a decade. General Fund support for UConn is increased by an additional $49 million in fiscal year 2026 and $34 million in fiscal year 2027; UConn Health receives an additional $29 million in fiscal year 2026 and an additional $25 million in fiscal year 2027; and Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) receives a budget increase of an additional $32 million in fiscal year 2026 and $45 million in 2027.
• Health and human service providers: The budget supports $50 million in fiscal year 2026 to annualize fiscal year 2025 increases and $126 million in fiscal year 2027 to support a 3% increase for private providers, plus an additional $30 million specific to non-DDS providers. Plus, the budget provides an additional $100.1 million to support the group home settlement over the biennium, representing a 15% increase.
• Housing: The budget provides $3.5 million in fiscal year 2026 and $5 million in fiscal year 2027 to support eviction prevention, as well as support HUBs, which are the physical locations where individuals and families get appointments to gain access to homelessness resources. Plus $6.7 million is provided, beginning in fiscal year 2027, to increase elderly and disabled RAP vouchers, as well as HeadStart on Housing Vouchers, which is a system approach to combating homelessness with the support and collaboration of private providers, state agencies, and local communities across housing, childcare, and social services.

Governor Lamont said, “This is a balanced, sensible budget that is under the spending cap, provides predictability and stability for residents, businesses, and municipalities, and holds the line on taxes while keeping us on a sound fiscal path. Importantly, it includes significant investments in our education system, beginning with historic levels of support for early childhood education, up through our K-12 public schools and our higher education institutions. It also protects our social services safety net, prioritizing our health and human services providers and increasing support for our most vulnerable residents, including seniors and those who have disabilities, who receive Medicaid. And while we are doing all of this, we are continuing to make historic and long-overdue payments into the pension system, preserving the strength of our fiscal guardrails, and making fiscally responsible investments into the rainy-day fund that will protect our state against any potential economic headwinds we may face in the future. I thank the legislature for their hard work and collaboration on this budget. While other states are increasing taxes and cutting services, economic analysts are pointing to Connecticut as an example of a state that has worked hard to maintain fiscal stability and is making the smart decisions that are critical for economic growth.”

Senate President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney said, “This budget includes several major initiatives, including a new trust fund for early childhood education that will be transformative in getting children ready for kindergarten, and a larger investment in special education to help towns deal with ever-increasing special education costs.”

Speaker of the House Matt Ritter said, “Our budget showcases our priorities. We make critical investments in education and childcare while providing relief to thousands of working families with a $250 credit through the EITC framework. This budget was a team effort and I want to thank the chairs, Senate leaders, Governor and the staffs who worked so hard to ensure we crossed the finish line.”

Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff said, “Voting for a significant special education funding increase and prioritizing millions of dollars more in the classroom underscores our commitment to students, parents, teachers and school personnel across this state. I want to thank Senator Looney for fighting for a strong state budget, as well as Senators Osten and Fonfara, Speaker Ritter, Majority Leader Rojas, their fiscal chairs, and all our hardworking staff for negotiating a two-year budget that delivers on so many of our promises.”

House Majority Leader Jason Rojas said, “This budget represents a bold investment in Connecticut’s most vital asset: our people. It reflects our commitment to invest in our future – our youngest learners – through historic levels of funding for early childhood education and childcare as well as investments in special education and fully funding the state’s obligation to our traditional public schools. We know that when we invest in our children, we invest in the foundation of our communities. We continue to support our towns and cities by sustaining and increasing municipal aid to help relieve the pressure of property taxes and ensure that local governments can serve residents effectively. We’re also addressing some of the most urgent needs in our state, including affordable housing and transportation so people and our economy can keep moving forward.”

Senator Cathy Osten, co-chair of the Appropriations Committee, said, “This is a good budget that addresses the real issues for real people that we heard about in countless hours of public hearings – food, health care, nonprofits and education.”

State Representative Maria Horn, co-chair of the Finance, Revenue, and Bonding Committee, said, “This budget reflects the legislature’s commitment to responsible, people-first policymaking. We delivered a $250 refundable credit for working families, a $500 credit for home daycare providers, and new incentives to help families save for college – all targeted toward easing everyday costs. We also ensured small businesses can compete on a fairer playing field by modernizing our tax code and expanding support for local farms and rural economies. Even with a tough revenue forecast, we passed a balanced, forward-looking budget that supports families, strengthens our workforce, and creates a better environment for small businesses to thrive.”

The budget bill is Public Act 25-168. The 2026 fiscal year begins July 1, 2025.

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he has signed into law the biennial state budget bill for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, which makes historic investments to expand access to early childhood education, which is among the costliest item for families, all while holding the line on taxes.

Notable investments include:

• Early childhood education: The budget makes historic levels of investment to support Connecticut’s early childhood education system, including $417.5 million in fiscal year 2026 and $443 million in fiscal year 2027. General Fund appropriations for early childhood education are up $252.7 million between fiscal years 2018 and 2027 – a 133% increase. In addition to these investments, the budget establishes the Early Childhood Education Endowment by transferring up to $300 million of the unappropriated General Fund surplus at the close of fiscal year 2025. This endowment will be used to make more early childhood education slots available and enroll more children into the system.
• Special education: The budget makes historic levels of investments to support special education, growing by $44.9 million in fiscal year 2026 and an additional $49.9 million in fiscal year 2027, as well as capital investments of $10 million in each year. By 2027, state investments in special education will have grown by 95%.
• K-12 education: The budget fully funds Education Cost Sharing (ECS) grants for towns and cities, including a hold harmless provision that provides $8.7 million in fiscal year 2026 and $17.4 million in fiscal year 2027 to ensure that no municipality loses ECS funding over the biennium. Since Governor Lamont took office in 2019, ECS grants have grown by roughly $443 million – an 18% increases in support for K-12 public schools.
• Higher education: The budget increases funding for the Roberta B. Willis Scholarship Fund – Connecticut’s state-funded scholarship program for residents who attend in-state public and private higher education institutions – by $1.4 million in fiscal year 2026 and $16.4 million in fiscal year 2027. When combined with $15 million previously reserved for fiscal year 2026, both years of the biennium will be funded at $41 million – the highest level of state-appropriated scholarship funding in more than a decade. General Fund support for UConn is increased by an additional $49 million in fiscal year 2026 and $34 million in fiscal year 2027; UConn Health receives an additional $29 million in fiscal year 2026 and an additional $25 million in fiscal year 2027; and Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) receives a budget increase of an additional $32 million in fiscal year 2026 and $45 million in 2027.
• Health and human service providers: The budget supports $50 million in fiscal year 2026 to annualize fiscal year 2025 increases and $126 million in fiscal year 2027 to support a 3% increase for private providers, plus an additional $30 million specific to non-DDS providers. Plus, the budget provides an additional $100.1 million to support the group home settlement over the biennium, representing a 15% increase.
• Housing: The budget provides $3.5 million in fiscal year 2026 and $5 million in fiscal year 2027 to support eviction prevention, as well as support HUBs, which are the physical locations where individuals and families get appointments to gain access to homelessness resources. Plus $6.7 million is provided, beginning in fiscal year 2027, to increase elderly and disabled RAP vouchers, as well as HeadStart on Housing Vouchers, which is a system approach to combating homelessness with the support and collaboration of private providers, state agencies, and local communities across housing, childcare, and social services.

Governor Lamont said, “This is a balanced, sensible budget that is under the spending cap, provides predictability and stability for residents, businesses, and municipalities, and holds the line on taxes while keeping us on a sound fiscal path. Importantly, it includes significant investments in our education system, beginning with historic levels of support for early childhood education, up through our K-12 public schools and our higher education institutions. It also protects our social services safety net, prioritizing our health and human services providers and increasing support for our most vulnerable residents, including seniors and those who have disabilities, who receive Medicaid. And while we are doing all of this, we are continuing to make historic and long-overdue payments into the pension system, preserving the strength of our fiscal guardrails, and making fiscally responsible investments into the rainy-day fund that will protect our state against any potential economic headwinds we may face in the future. I thank the legislature for their hard work and collaboration on this budget. While other states are increasing taxes and cutting services, economic analysts are pointing to Connecticut as an example of a state that has worked hard to maintain fiscal stability and is making the smart decisions that are critical for economic growth.”

Senate President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney said, “This budget includes several major initiatives, including a new trust fund for early childhood education that will be transformative in getting children ready for kindergarten, and a larger investment in special education to help towns deal with ever-increasing special education costs.”

Speaker of the House Matt Ritter said, “Our budget showcases our priorities. We make critical investments in education and childcare while providing relief to thousands of working families with a $250 credit through the EITC framework. This budget was a team effort and I want to thank the chairs, Senate leaders, Governor and the staffs who worked so hard to ensure we crossed the finish line.”

Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff said, “Voting for a significant special education funding increase and prioritizing millions of dollars more in the classroom underscores our commitment to students, parents, teachers and school personnel across this state. I want to thank Senator Looney for fighting for a strong state budget, as well as Senators Osten and Fonfara, Speaker Ritter, Majority Leader Rojas, their fiscal chairs, and all our hardworking staff for negotiating a two-year budget that delivers on so many of our promises.”

House Majority Leader Jason Rojas said, “This budget represents a bold investment in Connecticut’s most vital asset: our people. It reflects our commitment to invest in our future – our youngest learners – through historic levels of funding for early childhood education and childcare as well as investments in special education and fully funding the state’s obligation to our traditional public schools. We know that when we invest in our children, we invest in the foundation of our communities. We continue to support our towns and cities by sustaining and increasing municipal aid to help relieve the pressure of property taxes and ensure that local governments can serve residents effectively. We’re also addressing some of the most urgent needs in our state, including affordable housing and transportation so people and our economy can keep moving forward.”

Senator Cathy Osten, co-chair of the Appropriations Committee, said, “This is a good budget that addresses the real issues for real people that we heard about in countless hours of public hearings – food, health care, nonprofits and education.”

State Representative Maria Horn, co-chair of the Finance, Revenue, and Bonding Committee, said, “This budget reflects the legislature’s commitment to responsible, people-first policymaking. We delivered a $250 refundable credit for working families, a $500 credit for home daycare providers, and new incentives to help families save for college – all targeted toward easing everyday costs. We also ensured small businesses can compete on a fairer playing field by modernizing our tax code and expanding support for local farms and rural economies. Even with a tough revenue forecast, we passed a balanced, forward-looking budget that supports families, strengthens our workforce, and creates a better environment for small businesses to thrive.”

The budget bill is Public Act 25-168. The 2026 fiscal year begins July 1, 2025.

Renderings of the new transit-oriented, mixed-use community project at New Haven Union Station.

(NEW HAVEN, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont and Connecticut Transportation Deputy Commissioner Laoise King today announced that Gilbane Development Company and MURAL Real Estate Partners have been selected to lead a privately developed transit-oriented, mixed-use community at New Haven Union Station.

The $316.1 million project will convert underused state-owned land at Union Station into a vibrant, mixed-use development anchored by two 16-story towers, bringing new housing, retail, and jobs just steps from rail, bus, and bike connections.

The project will deliver 470 new apartments, including 118 affordable units, alongside more than 28,000 square feet of retail and commercial space, 26,000 square feet of residential amenities, and 294 parking spaces to serve both tenants and transit customers. Construction will be completed in two phases. The first phase is scheduled to begin in late 2026 and be completed by early 2028. The second phase will start in August 2029 and wrap up by November 2031.

“This is exactly the kind of forward-thinking development we need to see more of in Connecticut,” Governor Lamont said. “We’re creating new housing, including affordable units, while strengthening public transit and growing the local economy. It’s a win for New Haven and a model for the rest of the state.”

“The New Haven Union Station redevelopment is part of the Connecticut Department of Transportation’s larger strategy to reimagine underused state land at transit hubs across the state,” Deputy Commissioner King said. “In communities around the state, our goal is to turn these under-utilized parking lots into neighborhoods that encourage transit activity and long-term economic growth.”

“You can’t get more transit-oriented development than building nearly 500 new homes right next to one of the busiest train hubs in the northeast,” Ed Broderick, CEO of Gilbane Inc., said. “Gilbane is honored to partner with the State of Connecticut, the City of New Haven, and Mural Real Estate Partners on this transformative project. This is precisely the kind of visionary development that helps combat the housing crisis and reconnect communities.”

“Union Station is one of New Haven’s most iconic and important places of connection,” Robin Zeigler, founder and CEO of MURAL Real Estate Partners, said. “This project represents an opportunity to further weave it into the life of the city – with new mixed-income residences, an engaging mix of retailers and local businesses, and public spaces that welcome both residents and visitors. We’re honored to partner with the State of Connecticut and Gilbane on this transformational effort and look forward to delivering a place that reflects and serves the New Haven community.”

In addition to this transit-oriented development project underway in New Haven, the Connecticut Department of Transportation will issue a request for proposal this summer for another transit-oriented development project in Stamford.

The Connecticut Department of Transportation is also studying 18 state-owned parking lots for potential transit-oriented development projects in partnership with cities, towns, developers, and other stakeholders. Station locations being studied include Branford, Darien, Fairfield, Stratford, Wallingford, Waterbury, West Haven, and Wilton, among others