WestCOG’s February newsletter is out now. Learn about WestCOG’s legislative agenda, and some new webpages on housing, demographics, and economic development.
February 2021 Newsletter
WestCOG is selected for UConn’s CBI program
WestCOG is selected for UConn’s CBI program. This year WestCOG hopes to begin developing an inventory of brownfield properties within its region.
January 2021 News Letter
January 2021 Newsletter 🎊
Happy 2021, WestCOG has some fresh new year goals, from sharing insights on the federal COVID Stimulus Funds to Winter Maintenance Training. See more in the newsletter today! https://mailchi.mp/8f1db70442c4/westcog-news-january-2021
COVID Relief Update
Congressman Himes met with Western Connecticut Council of Governments on 12/23/2020 to provide an update on the anticipated COVID Relief Funds coming through US Congress. The meeting has been recorded and shared on WestCOG’s youtube channel.
Winter Maintenance Virtual Training
A run down on environmentally-friendly and cost-effective winter maintenance techniques. The training session includes the following topics:
- Training on the environmental impacts of chlorides
- Effects of weather
- Anti-icing materials (chemicals & science)
- De-icing/plowing (chemicals)
- Pavement temperature and application rates
- Record keeping
- equipment calibration demonstration
This training session is recommended for public works directors, as well as plow drivers.
Housing Trends in the Region and State
Housing productions varies substantially by region in Connecticut. WestCOG has produced maps and charts of recent trends in housing, including home building (total and multi-family) in the state’s regions, sizes and sales prices nationwide; and housing, household, and population statistics.
Relative Population Growth in Connecticut
Over the last fifty years, Connecticut has increased in population. However, this macro-level trend conceals substantial variation across time and space, with some regions and municipalities gaining people, some losing people, and some doing both (albeit in different decades). Population trends have an impact on housing: in areas that are growing, home values tend to rise, and new homes are built; in areas that are shrinking, home values tend to fall, and properties may deteriorate.
To highlight these patterns, WestCOG has produced maps comparing growth in the state’s municipalities to the overall rate of growth at the state level (relative growth).
Federal Register Notice for County Equivalency
At the request of the State of Connecticut, the Census Bureau has published a notice in the Federal Register regarding the treatment of Connecticut’s Planning Regions, which correspond to the state’s Councils of Governments (COGs), as geographic units equivalent to counties for Census statistical purposes. This change, which as also supported by all nine COGs and the Connecticut Data Collaborative would result in:
- The Census Bureau tabulating data by Planning Region from the year 2023, and
- COGs becoming eligible to participate in federal programs (such as grants) that are open to counties and county equivalents.
It is important to note that county equivalency is a statistical term of art and that application of this term to Planning Regions in Connecticut is not intended to and will not change government structure or authority in Connecticut. More information on county equivalency can be found in:
- Press release from the Connecticut Office of Policy and Management announcing the proposal (ct.gov)
- Frequently Asked Questions: Census Bureau County Equivalency Status for Connecticut’s Planning Regions (ct.gov)
Detail on the proposal, including how to submit comments during the 60-day comment period (which begins December 14, 2020) can be found in the Federal Register notice.