State Looks to Local Expertise, Nonprofits, Philanthropy to Advance Economic Recovery

Reopening Connecticut and getting the state back on its economic feed is taking a village of local volunteers. 

In addition to the committee of business and science leaders announced by Governor Ned Lamont earlier this month and currently targeting a May 20 reporting date, the state has now also announced plans to develop a statewide effort rooted in the state’s 169 communities.

The newest initiative, to include municipal officials, community-based organizations, nonprofit providers, and philanthropic partners – establishes local long-term recovery committees that will help meet urgent needs, accelerate recovery, and expedite coordination with the state’s emergency management structure, according to state officials.

“Responding to a disaster is a shared responsibility that calls for the involvement of everyone – state government, local government, and a wide range of community partners,” Governor Lamont said in a Wednesday news release. “By working together, we can continue to improve the way we support our residents and our communities as they meet urgent needs and bounce back from the COVID-19 crisis.”

The local long-term recovery committees are needed to ensure the needs of Connecticut’s residents of every background are met, not just during the height of this crisis, but for the long term, officials noted.  The intention is for local long-term recovery committees to be comprised of nonprofit, government, and private-sector partners that have an in-depth knowledge of the communities they serve. Community stakeholders are urged to work through their regional planning emergency teams on the development of these committees.

The Office of the Governor, the Connecticut Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (DEMHS), and the Connecticut Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (CT VOAD) are in the process of reaching out to stakeholders in support of the development of local coordination structures.

Some communities have already coordinated much of these efforts, according to officials, and others are urged to strengthen their work so that the state and its communities can have one coordinated approach. Information about the effort, as it unfolds, is to be included on the ctrecovers.ct.gov website.

“Local coordination committees will be an important partner in the efforts to reopen Connecticut, as a source of information regarding community needs and as a channel for communication with the emergency management and Reopen Connecticut effort, pointed out Paul Mounds, Chief of Staff in the Governor’s Office.  “We look forward to working closely with our communities through these important local teams.”

Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz, who the Governor indicated would be taking a leading role in the organizational meetings, said “These local long-term recovery committees are critical as they work to ensure local and state resources are utilized effectively, so that every ounce of energy and every dollar spent in each community has the highest impact for our residents. Coordinating these efforts from the ground up at the local level is an important way to ensure inclusion of all community voices in the recovery process.”

Among the organizational leaders across the state involved organizing the initiative are Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection Commissioner James C. Rovella; Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner David Lehman; Michael Corey, chair of CT Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD); Joe DeLong, executive director and CEO of the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities; Elizabeth Gara, executive director of the Connecticut Council of Small Towns; Gian-Carl Casa, president and CEO of the Connecticut Community Nonprofit Alliance; Karla Fortunato, CEO of the Connecticut Council on Philanthropy; and Sam Gold, chair of the Connecticut Association of Councils of Government.

“The Connecticut Conference of Municipalities looks forward to working with the governor, the emergency management team, and our community partners to strengthen this coordination where it is underway, and to build new structures where they are not already in in place,” said DeLong, of the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities.

Added Karla Fortunato, of the Connecticut Council on Philanthropy: “Connecticut’s philanthropic organizations are eager to support the work of our communities and our partners on the ground. We are ready to stand with them, and help build the most effective possible recovery efforts for our communities.”