New Haven, CT - As the final push to the August 10 primary begins, businessman and Democratic candidate for governor Ned Lamont today announced another component of his strategy to create jobs in Connecticut. As governor, Lamont would allow people who are collecting unemployment insurance to continue to do so while attempting to start their own business, stimulating entrepreneurship and job growth.
Presently, starting a new business does not meet the standard for "actively seeking" employment that Connecticut law requires in order to continue collecting unemployment benefits.
"At a time when there just aren't enough jobs in Connecticut to go around, we should be doing everything we can to encourage home-grown entrepreneurship in cities and towns across the state," said Lamont. "Right now there are people across our state who have the vision and the drive to make it in small business, but can't afford to risk their unemployment benefits while they try and get their idea off the ground.
"Instead of requiring unemployed workers to struggle for jobs that just aren't there, we can give entrepreneurs the confidence they need to take a chance and start up a business. That's a great way leverage an existing program to create jobs and improve our business environment at no additional cost to taxpayers."
Adopting Lamont's "Self Employment Assistance Program" (SEAP) would make Connecticut the 8th state in the country to allow people who can clearly demonstrate they're starting their own business to continue receiving unemployment assistance.
Lamont announced the program today during a tour of Constitution Biofuels, a Groton-based company that recycles restaurant cooking oil into biodiesel and home heating oil. Owners Doug and Renee Dickey started the company after Doug was laid off from Pfizer's Groton manufacturing plan two years ago. Their decision to found the company cost the Dickey's around $500 per week in unemployment benefits.
Today's announcement marked the beginning of Lamont's final push toward the August 10th Democratic primary. Lamont and his running mate Mary Glassman will be visiting cities and towns across the state talking about their plans to create jobs, improve education and fix the state's broken transportation system.
