Developing Views 2026 – Vol. 4

Submitted January 27 by Newtown ECD Director John Voket

Business support and information is a big part of what Newtown’s Economic and Community Development (ECD) Dept. is all about. So in this edition of Discovering Views, I want to hit on a handful of resources I hope can be helpful – whether you are part of a larger and more established commercial entity, you are a newcomer to business ownership, or are just in the early stages of charting your course.

After a couple of successful prior collaborations, I’m pleased to be working again with Janice Chrzescijanek, my fellow Economic Development Director next door in the Town of Bethel. 

Newtown’s ECD office and Economic Development Commission are collaborating on this National and Regional Economic Outlook event with new partners at Brookfield’s Economic and Community Development office, and Ridgefield’s Economic and Community Development Commission. The event is being sponsored by Newtown Savings Bank and is also being supported by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, and Focal Point Consulting.

The National and Regional Economic Outlook 2026 will be held Wednesday, February 25 at 4 PM at Greenwood Features, 269 Greenwood Avenue in Bethel. The event will be offering timely insight into economic trends shaping the year ahead — and is essential for business owners, community leaders, entrepreneurs, and policymakers.

The featured speaker is Kartik Athreya, Director of Research and Head of the Research and Statistics Group at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, who will present the latest national and regional economic trends and what they mean for local businesses and communities. 

It will include an interactive Q&A; representatives from the Bethel Chamber of Commerce, SBA, SBDC, SCORE, and WDBC will be available with resources and business support information; and one lucky attendee will be selected to receive a one-on-one Leadership Insight Session with a DISC Behavioral Profile from Focal Point Consulting ($500 value).

Free reservations are available now by clicking HERE — registration is required because space is limited.

Another question the Newtown ECD office receives pretty regularly is about funding to support new and established businesses. Two of our most viable “go-to” resources are Connecticut’s Women’s Business Development Council (WBDC), and the Connecticut Department of Economic & Community Development’s (DECD) Business Boost Fund.

The next round of WBDC’s Ignite Grant Program will open February 3 with a March 18 deadline to apply.

The Ignite Grant Program is designed to help women-owned businesses grow. The program offers grants of up to $10,000 to women-owned businesses in the state of Connecticut who have been in business for 2 or more years and have revenues between $25K and $2 million.  

Since the start of the program, we have distributed 469 grants of over $4.3 million to women-owned businesses in Connecticut.  For additional information and more details on the program, please visit the WBDC website.  

Starting February 3, WBDC will hold one-hour informational webinars each week throughout February and March to assist prospective applicants with their applications before submitting. There will be 6 sessions in English and 3 sessions in Spanish. 

Interested applicants can register for a live information session HERE.

Another funding option may be available through the Connecticut Small Business Boost Fund.

Supported by the Connecticut DECD, the Connecticut Small Business Boost Fund gives small business owners access to flexible funding for capital expenditures and working capital and connects them with support services. It’s a personal, equitable approach to lending, because business owners are more than just numbers on a spreadsheet.

Small businesses and nonprofits can borrow between $5,000 and $500,000 depending on eligibility and need, and can choose how they spend the money — on equipment, payroll, utilities & rent, supplies, marketing & advertising, eligible refinancing, building renovations and other expenses. 

Loans are not forgivable. Businesses will need to pay back the full amount of the loan with interest over a 60- or 72-month term. And BONUS, business owners who apply for loans through the Connecticut Small Business Boost Fund have the option of receiving free business guidance before, during and after the application process. 

Finally, if you are an established business wanting to develop vendor / supplier relationships with government offices and larger state companies, register now for the CT Business Matchmaker. This is a high-impact networking event designed to connect businesses with government buyers and prime contractors to strengthen our national/local supply chains and open opportunities of procurement for CT businesses.

Prospective business representatives will have an opportunity to meet one-on-one with buyers from federal, state and local agencies as well as prime contractors. 

The event will also include a dynamic networking Business Expo featuring key resource providers, lenders, prime contractors and government agencies, in addition to a full day of training sessions facilitated by SBA employees, resource partners and contracting experts.

Want to go there? Just click HERE to learn more and register!