City Using COVID-19 Relief Funds to Market Local Businesses and City

The city of New Britain has announced that it is implementing a marketing campaign with pandemic information and promoting local businesses and the city.

The city says that marketing campaign is funded using federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) relief money provided to the city. The campaign is, “created to educate the public on the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and the relevant areas where it is impacting the City of New Britain,” Republican Mayor Erin Stewart’s office says.

Stewart’s office adds that the campaign will, “be used to market the City of New Britain and select highlighted businesses to encourage local, expanded, and safe economic activity.”

“Businesses throughout New Britain have been working hard to implement the necessary precautions required to re-open during COVID-19, and are excited to welcome people back into their stores and restaurants,’ said Stewart. “We want to educate the public on the safety measures that can be found throughout the city, and encourage residents as well as those from outside our city limits to come experience all our vibrant community still has to offer.”

Five hundred businesses are to receive, “Re-Open, Safely kits,” that include, “City of New Britain safety guidelines, best safety practices for business owners, and a variety of safety tools including sanitizer, a mask and a contactless instrument.”

In addition, every New Britain home will be mailed a, “City Directory,” with, “with crucial COVID-19 information, contact information for all city departments, as well as a variety of other useful city related information.”

Stewart’s office says that CARES Act money has, “also been allocated to establish a long-term city recovery program, stock food pantries, upgrade sanitation measures at city-owned facilities, support COVID responses and public services, provide help with eviction mediation, and purchase necessary equipment for first responders.”

Stewart has been criticized for her response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the city. “In the first two weeks of 2021 New Britain leads all cities in Connecticut in the number Coronavirus infections,” Ald. Aram Ayalon (D-3) commented Friday. “Why is it? It’s clear that the city has not taken steps other cities in Connecticut has taken to reduce exposure. It still requires city workers to come in person to work instead of working online for those who can and doesn’t actively enforce social distance and mask wearing.”