Klarides-Ditria: Grants available for small businesses, nonprofits hit by flooding

The Women's Business Development Council announced they have partnered with the state to administer $5M in funding for a micro-grant program to help small businesses in western Connecticut rebuild and recover from the record rainfall and flooding impacting the state in August 2024. Grants of up to $25,000 are available for small businesses and nonprofit organizations in Fairfield, Litchfield, and New Haven Counties that experienced damage from the floods. Grants can be used to cover various expenses to help in the recovery, including those associated with cleanup efforts, replenishing lost inventory, and replacing equipment. Applications open on Tuesday, September 3 and will be reviewed on a rolling basis until funds are exhausted. Learn more about the program by clicking HERE. Sincerely,

Sharing Valley Indy's interview lineup for The Great Give 2024 online giving event

Wednesday, May 1

Valley Indy Great Give Livestream Part I

Click here to watch on Facebook.

7 a.m.
Live from 115 Main St. in Seymour!

8 a.m.
Great Give starts!
Donate.ValleyIndy.org if you can!

9 a.m.
Tom Simonetti, Valley Shakespeare Festival

10 a.m.
Seymour First Selectwoman Annmarie Drugonis

11 a.m.
David Morgan of Team Inc.

12 p.m.
Sara Pereiras of Bunlandia Rescue in Seymour

1 p.m.
Lunch

Valley Indy Great Give Livestream Part II

Click here to watch on Facebook.

2 p.m.
Jenn Moffat & Friends, Derby Public Schools

3 p.m.
Shannon Bullard, Seymour Food 2 Kids

4 p.m.
Lori Nespoli from the Love Mom XOXO Foundation

5 p.m.
Kristina Walton, Seymour Oxford Food Bank

6 p.m.
Dinner & drinks!

Valley Indy Great Give Livestream Part III

Click here to watch on Facebook.

Valley Indy Prize Alert! The Valley Indy is giving away gift cards to a few local restaurants during The Valley Indy Great Give Livestream.
To enter the contest, one must ask a question during our livestream or make a donation to The Valley Indy between 7 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. on May 1.
You do not have to donate to enter.

7 p.m.
Ansonia Mayor David Cassetti & friends!

8 p.m.
David Lenart, Derby Storms

9 p.m.
Rick Dunne Valley Council of Governments

10 p.m.
Rich DiCarlo, Valley Arts Council

11 p.m.
Tears

Thursday, May 2

Valley Indy Great Give Livestream Part IV

Click here to watch on Facebook.

9 a.m.
Melissa Mongillo of Derby Pop Warner

9:45 a.m.
State Rep. Kara Rochelle

10 a.m.
Susan Agamy of Spooner House

11 a.m.
Dino Verrelli & friends of Project Purple

12 p.m.
Derby Mayor Joseph DiMartino!

1 p.m.
Grace Torres, St. Mary — St. Michael School

2 p.m.
Lunch!

Valley Indy Great Give Livestream Part V

Click here to watch on Facebook.

3 p.m.
Jim Gildea, Derby Historical Society

4 p.m.
Tanaya Henry, Traveler On A Mission

5 p.m.
W. Kurt Miller, Ansonia budget talk!

6 p.m.
DINNER!

7 p.m.
Jason Carlucci, Dew Drop Inn

8 p.m.
Great Give ends!

8:15 p.m.
Seymour budget vote results!

All in for Seymour to meet Tuesday at Town Hall

SEYMOUR - Join us at 6 p.m. Tuesday (Jan. 2) in the Flaherty Room at Town Hall to share your ideas on how we can improve our community!

All In for Seymour is an ALLIANCE of local nonprofits and residents working to ensure that everyone has a safe and affordable place to live, food to eat, and a voice in the decisions that affect their lives.

This is shared from a Facebook event page.

Leadership Greater Valley program applications available now

Leadership Greater Valley provides the participants exposure to the many dimensions of our #ValleyCT. 

Learn more about our history, government, nonprofits and more. As an added bonus, you will grow your skills as a leader through hands-on skills training.

Who should apply?

Open to all 18+ living and/or working in our Valley communities (Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Derby, Oxford, Seymour & Shelton).

 Anyone looking to enhance their leadership and networking skills. Individuals interested in learning about the Valley CT region: its history, its organizations, its people, and more. Applications now available, email us today.

What is Leadership Greater Valley?

Leadership Greater Valley combines leadership skill building with community education. 

It is an eight-week program where participants get a bird’s-eye view of the issues facing the community, begin developing the leadership skills necessary to assume leadership roles, and are exposed to involvement opportunities in the community. This program has helped professionals to improve their leadership skills and form a deeper connection within their community. 

Currently, over 300 alumni have taken on a variety of active roles in our region, from joining non-profit Board of Directors to running for (and winning) elected offices.

How Does Leadership Greater Valley Benefit Business?

Benefits For Your Company

Grooms leaders that contribute to their organizations
Provides professional networking opportunities
Helps employees develop greater personal vision
Offers exposure for companies
Reinforces skills and imparts knowledge to participants
Improves employees’ vision for “big picture” thinking
Provides a return on investment
Enhances problem-solving skills
Benefits For Your Employees

A far greater understanding and perspective of the community
Improved leadership skills
Improved decision making skills
A new network of professionals
Enhanced confidence
Unparalleled learning opportunities
A passion to improve our community
Instills community trusteeship understanding

This is shared from a Facebook event page.

Valley nonprofits sign up for annual 36-hour Great Give event

DERBY - A record number of Valley nonprofits -- 54 -- have signed up to participate in the annual 2023 Great Give on May 3-4, and more are expected to join in before the April 24 registration deadline.

The 36-hour online-giving event was started in 2010 by The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven to promote local philanthropy and support area nonprofits. In the last 13 years, The Great Give has raised more than $21 million for nonprofits throughout the region.

Last year, the Great Give raised more than $3.4 million for a record number 510 nonprofits in the Valley and Greater New Haven area. In the Valley, 47 nonprofits raised nearly $433,000.

“I’m always moved by how generous our fund holders and Valley residents are when it comes to supporting our much-needed area nonprofits,” said Sharon Closius, VCF’s President and CEO. “The extraordinary participation by nonprofits and their supporters during the Great Give just shows how much people really love our Valley.”

For the 2023 Great Give, VCF has once again donated $20,000 in matching gifts and $5,000 in special prizes.

TCF provides a $100,000 pool for a pro-rated match for every donation received.

To participate as a nonprofit or donate during May 3-4 Great Give, go to: https://www.thegreatgive.org/

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Adam's House

Advancing Heroes Fund- In Memory of Jeffrey Vrlik

Afrique Prospere Education

Area Congregations Together

Assumption School

BHcare

Boys & Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley

Bunlandia Rabbit Rescue and Rehab

cARTie

Center Stage Theatre

Christ Episcopal Church, Ansonia

Coco's Animal Rescue Efforts of Seymour

Cornell Scott Hill Health Center

Derby Historical Society

Derby Neck Library Association

Derby Running Club

Echo Hose Hook & Ladder Co. and Ambulance Corps., Inc.

Friends of the Ansonia Nature Center

Griffin Hospital

Haven's Harvest

Housatonic Council, Boy Scouts of America

Julia Day Nursery & Kindergarten

Junior Achievement of Greater Fairfield County

Life Health and Wellness Center

Literacy Volunteers of Greater New Haven

Massaro Community Farm of Woodbridge, CT

Master's Table Community Meals Inc

Oxford High School Booster Club, Inc.

Oxford Historical Society, Inc.

Oxford Land Trust

Oxford Main Street Project

Pop Warner Football of Derby, Inc. aka Derby Pop Warner Football and Cheer

Project Purple

Recreation Camp

Seymour Ambulance Association

Seymour Oxford Food Bank, Inc.

Seymour Pink, Inc.

Shelton Economic Development Corporation

Shelton Historical Society

Shelton Land Conservation Trust

ST. MARY-ST. MICHAEL SCHOOL, DERBY, CT

St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Shop and Food Bank of Derby CT

Storm Engine Ambulance Corp

TEAM, Inc.

Traveler On A Mission

The Valley Arts Council

Valley Community Foundation

Valley Independent Sentinelinel (Online Journalism Project)

Valley Shakespeare Festival

Valley United Way

Valley YMCA

Women In Networking (WIN) Entrepreneurial Grant Fund

This is shared from the Valley Community Foundation Facebook page.