Coronavirus Relief In CT: What's In It For You, And When?

CONNECTICUT — With President Donald Trump's signature at last in place on a $2.3 trillion coronavirus relief program, Connecticut residents want to know: "What's in it for me?"

During a news conference Monday, Gov. Ned Lamont broke down the relief package into funds business and residents would automatically receive, and those for which at an application would be necessary.

The governor said that the federal government was ponying up over $695 million in unemployment assistance for Connecticut residents, to "start either this week or next week." For those eligible, that relief will be in the form of $600 a month, through mid-March, Lamont said.

Connecticut households will also be collecting another $1.6 billion in stimulus checks: $600 per adult earning less than $75,000 annually, plus another $600 per child. Lamont expected those payments "to go out in the next week or so."

The state has not yet received any guidance from the federal government regarding $237 million in rental assistance.

"I think the Feds were pretty generous when it came to education," Lamont said about the $745.5 million earmarked for the state's classrooms. About $225 million of that will be sent directly to colleges and universities in the state.

Connecticut is being given a little under $312 million to assist with the coronavirus vaccine rollout as well as testing and contact tracing. Another $67 million will go toward childcare.

Ridership on buses and other forms of urban transit is way down, Lamont said, and $210 million in federal aid is meant to take away some of the sting from that. The state Department of Transportation will receive around $125 million for highways, and airports will get another $9 million.

The grimmest line item in the new relief package is easily the $41.4 million the state will be receiving for funeral services.

"Sadly, with a lot of fatalities in this state and around the country, a fair number of folks cannot afford a decent funeral," Lamont said.

All those funds are a drop in the bucket when seen alongside the more than $350 billion the federal government is giving the state for a new paycheck protection program; support for live venues and the arts community; increased SNAP benefits; and substance abuse/mental health programs, among others. Those checks won't just appear in your mailbox, however. In most cases, businesses will need to apply for the relief.

On Dec. 30 at noon and Jan. 5 at 9:00 a.m., the Connecticut Small Business Development Administration will hold informational webinars about the business relief programs. Registration information is online.