Thursday, October 31, 2019
HARTFORD, CT -- The administration of Gov. Ned Lamont pledged $500,000 Thursday in discretionary state funds for community outreach in the 2020 census, answering a challenge from philanthropic foundations ready to provide a matching amount. The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving already has committed to give more than $400,000 to local groups. With the state funds and charitable match, the available resources for outreach in the hard-to-count tracts will be at least $1.4 million. Jay Williams, the president of the foundation, said the announcement Thursday was “absolutely a step in the right direction.” He said community foundations from New Haven, Waterbury, New Britain, Fairfield County and eastern Connecticut were contributing.