Gov. Ned Lamont”™s administration is using some of its Covid-19 federal funding to pay $250,000 for three months to a Hartford public relations firm.
Maura Fitzgerald, a senior vice president with McDowell Communications Group, will assist the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) with Covid-related communications, including promoting the new vaccines now being distributed.
Before joining McDowell, Fitzgerald served as DPH director of communications from 2016 to 2019. Prior to that she spent five years as deputy state director for U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal.
The pact with McDowell is part of the state”™s $5 million communications effort during the pandemic; it includes advertisements and videos. Connecticut received about $1.3 billion from the federal government.
The contract, which runs through Feb. 28, 2021, was signed by the firm”™s principal, Patience McDowell; DPH Deputy Commissioner Heather Aaron; and Connecticut Assistant Deputy Attorney General Joseph Rubin.
