The North Haven Citizen | northhavencitizen.com
Friday, March 10, 2023
A7
$125M in state loans available for companies By Lau Guzmán Record-Journal staff
The Connecticut Small Business Boost Fund still has $125 million in loans available, especially for businesses owned by minorities and women. The fund was launched in July as a public-private partnership that provides low-interest loans to small businesses and nonprofits in Connecticut. The program was designed to lend over $75 million-$150 million from a foundational investment from the state. So far, the fund has loaned $23 million to more than 190 businesses, according to fund statistics sent to the Record-Journal via email. The program is aimed at helping small businesses and nonprofits —particularly those owned by women and minorities — with access to flexible working capital. This was a policy decision by senior management, said Sheila Hummel, business development program manager for the state Department of Economic and Community Development.
Historical disparity in business lending
“Knowing some business owners face systemic barriers to accessing financing and business resources, 50% of financial assistance [is] directed to minority-, woman-, disabled- and veteran-owned businesses, and businesses located in distressed munici-
In the U.S., women have only been able to get a loan in their own name, without a male co-signer, since the Women's Business Ownership Act of 1988. The federal law overturned state laws that required women to have male relatives sign for business loans, in addition to establishing women’s business centers. Thirty-five years later, there is still a large gap in business ownership, particularly among women and miGraphic by Lau Guzmán, Record-Journal norities. In Connecticut, minorities made up 22% of palities,” she said in an email nesses. Boost fund loans workers, but only 13% of have a fixed 4.5% interest statement. “We value business owners, according these businesses and their rate. The intent was to make to the Small Business Admincontribution to the economy the cost of capital affordable in Connecticut.” to small businesses and aid in istration. Similarly, women made up 48% of workers, but the recovery and growth of So far, 58% of boost fund 41% of business owners in existing small businesses loans have gone to minority- during the next five years, 2022. and women-owned busiHummel said.
See Loans, A9
NORTH HAVEN GARDEN CLUB / JUNIOR GARDEN CLUB
Have you heard of a pizza garden? Contributed
North Haven Garden Club's Junior Garden Club would like to share an idea with families looking for something fun to do with your kids this spring. You might just be starting to plan out a garden, so we have a great suggestion for you: How about planting a pizza garden! What's a pizza garden, you ask? It's a garden that provides all the topping for that fun pizza and movie night with your family. Wouldn’t it be fun to walk out to your yard and gather all the fresh ingredients to make a pizza
(except for the dough), then chop and prepare them for the evening meal?
a round garden in the shape of a pizza. Next, get the soil ready. We all know kids love to get their hands dirty, so have them break up clumps of soil and pick out weeds and rocks.
Design and plant the garden with herbs like basil and oregano, tomatoes for sauce, peppers, spinach, broccoli, onions and any other topping you can want on a fresh pizza. Gets the kids involved to help them understand where their food comes from, the growth cycles of plants, and harvesting – which is the fun part.
When you are done, add a good top soil for vegetables; about six inches. Then, follow the directions on the seed packet or plant container.
Make sure to choose a sunny location for your pizza garden that offers at least six hours of full sun. Your garden can be any size or shape, but we suggest doing
Here's a planting guide to help you with spacing: Tomatoes need at least two feet; bell peppers, space 12 to 15 inches; onions, 4 to 6 inches; basil/rosemary 15 to
An example of a pizza garden.
18 inches; and thyme / oregano, 10 to 12 inches. Tomatoes will need support, so either cage or stake them.
From there, remember to feed and water your pizza garden. And most of all, have fun with your family!