State Representative Joe Gresko, (D)
121st Connecticut House District
Dear Neighbor,
Earlier this week, Governor Lamont announced that the United States Census Bureau will recognize the state’s nine regional planning regions as county equivalents. This is something I have advocated for many years for, and I am happy to finally see it happen.
This change will help towns coordinate goods and services, as well as allow the Census Bureau to tabulate and disseminate census data.
Each planning region (Stratford is part of the MetroCOG, Greater Bridgeport) is represented by a council of government (COG), comprising the mayors and first selectmen of the member municipalities, which meet regularly to plan, coordinate, and act on matters of mutual interest.
According to the Governor’s Office: “There will be no significant impact on how state or local governments are run because of this change, however by ensuring that future census data and products are published along planning region boundaries, town leaders will be in a stronger position to coordinate regionally on matters such as procurement of goods and services, public safety, education, health, transportation, tourism, and other shared issues.”
The Census Bureau will implement this change internally in 2022, with public data and geospatial products reflecting the change beginning near the end of the year.
For further information go to:
As always, please feel free to reach out to me at the Capitol at 800-842-8267 or email me at Joseph.Gresko@cga.ct.gov.
Joseph P. Gresko
