CRMA plans underway for virtual annual gathering
A preview of state legislative races
CRMA joins a coalition urging state assistance to small business
News from around the state
- As we go to print with today’s FF, CRMA has begun work on our annual Awards Luncheon. Obviously, this year we cannot have our normal in person event, and due to COVID it’s been challenging for us to identify retailers for our annual Retailer of the Year award.
- But, the CRMA leadership team believe it is still critical that as an association we do all that we can to pull together as many retailers, and friends of retail, together to talk about what is taking place in the retail world today.
- So, this year, in keeping with the COVID safety requirements, we will hosting a virtual annual awards luncheon, minus the awards and the lunch.
- But, we promise you that we are working hard on an agenda that will provide plenty of valuable and relevant information for participants.
- We will keep you posted on our progress and hope that when all the final details are worked out that you will be able to join us.
Do not forget state legislative races this year.
- So much of our attention this election season has been dominated by the Presidential election between President Trump and former VP Joe Biden. And rightfully so, presidential elections are a big deal.
- But in all honesty, what will affect CT retailers more than the race for the White House are the local State Senate and State Representative races.
- It’s in the State Capitol in Hartford and the Legislative Office Building where the action is for CRMA, and where the decisions made by the General Assembly will have a direct impact on retailers.
- As much as the national race captures our attention, state legislative races can and will impact your business. So, that’s why we keep a close eye on what’s happening with those races as well.
- Going into the election, Democrats hold a 22-14 majority in the State Senate and a 91-60 edge in the State House of Representatives. The Hartford Courant’s Chris Keating takes a look at what may happen in key races on Nov. 3 in this story.
CRMA joins business coalition seeking grant program.
- Joining our friends in other business groups and Chambers of Commerce, CRMA signed on to a letter to Gov. Ned Lamont and legislative leaders to establish a $70-million grant program to help small businesses hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.
- We know that COVID has hit the general retail industry hard – and still is – so we will not hesitate to look for ways that we can help our members. We urge the Governor and Legislative Leaders to take our request seriously.
- New Haven BIZ has the story here.
Other news and notes from around the state.
- Connecticut’s labor commissioner announced his department has now received a million applications for jobless aid since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic – the Department has now paid out $5.2 billion in unemployment compensation. CT Post has the details here.
- Eleven Connecticut municipalities were designated as COVID-19 hot spots by Gov. Ned Lamont late this week: Hartford, Danbury, Norwich, New London, Canterbury, East Lyme, Griswold, Montville, Preston, Sprague, Windham. Hartford Courant reports the story here.
- Connecticut’s Rainy Day Fund has put the state in a better fiscal condition, as it deals with the budget ramifications of COVID-19, than many other states, according to an analysis by Pew Charitable Trust. Fairfield County Business Journal has details here.
- What happens when a COVID-19 vaccine becomes available? The state’s new vaccine advisory group met for the first time Thursday to begin to address that question. CT Post reports on their meeting, here.
- Joe Polletta (R-Watertown) is the third member of the state legislature to test positive for coronavirus. NBC Connecticut’s Christine Stuart has details here.
- Connecticut received mixed reviews in a national workplace safety study that found the state has a relatively low rate of workplace deaths but a higher-than-average number of occupational injuries and illnesses. Journal Inquirer reports the story here.