Andy Cirioli – South Central Regional Council of Governments

South Central Region, CT Housing Survey is Live

The South Central Regional Council of Governments (SCRCOG), which brings together local governments to coordinate municipal services, transportation and land use planning programs for its 15 member municipalities is announcing the beginning of a housing survey for residents.

Why is SCRCOG doing the Survey?

This survey is part of SCRCOG’s efforts to help each municipality create housing plans in accordance with the State of Connecticut’s General Statutes Section 8-30j, which requires each municipality create and amend an affordable housing survey at least once every five years. This survey is intended to help identify the perceptions and realities of housing affordability, appropriateness, and challenges within each community.

“Housing plans need to consider the community’s vision for its future development” said Mr. Carl Amento, Executive Director of SCRCOG. “This is why the housing survey is so important, it offers all members of each SCRCOG community the chance to provide their input on how future residential development should be created.” The housing survey asks residents to provide feedback on important housing issues.

Housing Survey Flyer (English)

Housing Survey Flyer (Spanish)

How can I take the Survey?

The survey is being offered in two formats, online and as a paper version with options for English and Spanish. The survey will be open from September 14 to October 30, 2021. Please click an option below to access the survey.

Survey – Digital Version

Survey – Paper Version (English)

Survey – Paper Version (Spanish)

Those submitting a paper version of the survey may either drop off, fax, or mail their response to the SCRCOG Office.

South Central Regional Council of Governments (SCRCOG)
Attn: Eugene Livshits, Sr. Regional Planner
127 Washington Avenue
4th Floor West
North Haven, CT 06473

Fax: (203) 234-9850

Individual responses will be kept confidential and allow SCRCOG to create a housing plan that is sensitive to the needs and concerns of all residents. Paper versions are available upon request.

For more information or to request paper version of the housing survey, please contact:

Eugene Livshits, Sr. Regional Planner
Email: elivshits@scrcog.org | Phone: 203-466-8626

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) is the sixth federal COVID-19 relief bill passed in the last year, and is by far the largest infusion of resources to the State of Connecticut. Specifically, the State expects approximately $6Billion of ARPA funds to enter through various grants to the State and Local governments.

Municipal Resources

Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds The Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Will Deliver $350 Billion for State, Local, Territorial, and Tribal Governments to Respond to the COVID-19 Emergency and Bring Back Jobs.

The Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds provide eligible state, local, territorial, and Tribal governments with a substantial infusion of resources to meet pandemic response needs and rebuild a stronger, and more equitable economy as the country recovers.

Recipients may use these funds to:

Support Public Health Expenditures

For example, funding COVID-19 mitigation efforts, medical expenses, behavioral healthcare, and certain public health and safety staff.

Address Negative Economic Impacts Caused by the Public Health Emergency

Including economic harms to workers, households, small businesses, impacted industries, and the public sector.

Replace Lost Public Sector Revenue

For example, using this funding to provide government services to the extent of the reduction in revenue experienced due to the pandemic.

Provide Premium Pay for Essential Workers

For example, offering additional support to those who have and will bear the greatest health risks because of their service in critical infrastructure sectors.

Invest in Water, Sewer, and Broadband Infrastructure

For example, making necessary investments to improve access to clean drinking water, support vital wastewater and stormwater infrastructure, and to expand access to broadband internet.

Within these overall categories, recipients have broad flexibility to decide how best to use this funding to meet the needs of their communities.

Recipients may NOT use these funds to:

Offset a Reduction in Net Tax Revenue

Recipients may not use this funding to directly or indirectly offset a reduction in net tax revenue due to a change in law from March 3, 2021 through the last day of the fiscal year in which the funds provided have been spent. The American Rescue Plan ensures that funds needed to provide vital services and support public employees, small businesses, and families struggling to make it through the pandemic are not used to fund reductions in net tax revenue.

Treasury’s Interim Final Rule implements this requirement. If a state, locality, or territory cuts taxes, they must demonstrate how they paid for the tax cuts from sources other than Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Funds—by enacting policies to raise other sources of revenue, by cutting spending, or through higher revenue due to economic growth. If the funds provided have been used to offset tax cuts, the amount used for this purpose must be paid back to the Treasury.

Deposit into Pension Funds

No recipient may use this funding to make a deposit to a pension fund. Treasury’s Interim Final Rule defines a “deposit” as an extraordinary contribution to a pension fund for the purpose of reducing an accrued, unfunded liability. While pension deposits are prohibited, recipients may use funds for routine payroll contributions for employees whose wages and salaries are an eligible use of funds.

Allocations for Local Governments in Connecticut

Local Plans

Video Recording of ARPA Discussion at SCRCOG Board Meeting on August 25, 2021

New Haven, CT

Additional information will be made available soon.

Connecticut’s Plan

Governor Lamont developed five key areas for these investments:

(1) Defeating COVID-19
(2) Investing in our Future
(3) Creating a More Affordable Connecticut
(4) Economic Growth that Works for All
(5) Modernizing State Government

SCRCOG Memo on State Projects using American Rescue Plan Funds

Full Report – Connecticut’s Plan for the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021

Presentation Slides – Connecticut’s Plan for the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021

Office of Policy and Management’s American Rescue Plan Act 2021 Webpage

Office of Fiscal Analysis (OFA) Report on all State of CT ARPA programs and which agency is administering them. Updated 8/24/21.

Treasury Department Guidance

Request Fiscal Recovery Funds

Interim Final Rule

Compliance and Reporting Guidelines

Webpage – Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds

Fact Sheet- Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds

FAQ – Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds

FEMA Guidance and Resources

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic: Medical Care Eligible for Public Assistance (Interim) (Version 2)

Public Assistance Disaster-Specific Guidance – COVID-19 Declarations

Economic Development Administration (EDA) Programs

Under the American Rescue Plan, EDA was allocated $3 billion in supplemental funding to assist communities nationwide in their efforts to build back better by accelerating the economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic and building local economies that will be resilient to future economic shocks.

Build Back Better Regional Challenge

Good Jobs Challenge

Economic Adjustment Assistance

Indigenous Communities

Travel, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation

Statewide Planning, Research and Networks

Coal Communities Commitment