Flood Relief Update: July 18, 2023
Dear Central Vermont Business Community,
Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration are available to businesses and residents in Vermont following the announcement of a Presidential disaster declaration due to damages from severe storms and flooding that began on July 7.
The online application is available here.
SBA Business Recovery Centers (BRCs) will open on Tuesday, July 18 at 8 a.m., at the Vermont Chamber of Commerce in Berlin. SBA Customer Service Representatives at the Center will assist business owners and residents in filling out a disaster loan application, accept documents for existing applications, and provide updates on an application's status. The center will operate as indicated below until further notice:
Business Recovery Center Washington County
Vermont Chamber of Commerce
751 Granger Road
Berlin, VT 05641
Opening: Tuesday, July 18, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Hours: Monday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Closed: Sunday |
Need free legal, CPA, or other advice? Join us at our temporary Berlin office.
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Flood Relief Update: July 24, 2023
Dear Central Vermont Business Community,
A few updates below on funding for those working in the arts, as well as our newly-opened Business Support Center in Berlin. |
Business Support Center
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CVEDC has temporarily moved to the Central Vermont Chamber of Commerce at 33 Stewart Road in Berlin, VT where we are running a Business Support Center with many different resources available.
Join us 9-5 M-F with the potential to extend these hours at your request. Here are some of the free services available:
- Printing
- Meet with a business counselor and discuss next steps for reopening, rebuilding, or other options for your business
- Apply for grants and receive grant-writing assistance
- Work in an air conditioned space and use wifi (sign up is required)
- Sign up for free sessions with CPAs, mental health professionals, or lawyers to support you during this time
Throughout the week, we have additional services provided by our partners: Department of Labor will be here throughout the week to answer questions about Unemployment Insurance and the Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) which is available to business owners and the self-employed. Tomorrow, we will have a Civil Engineer offering free services to impacted owners of Historical Buildings. |
Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility & Vermont Outdoor Business Alliance Offering Webinar Tonight
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VBSR and VOBA have linked up to offer a webinar this evening entitled Navigating Flood Recovery Financial Assistance for Vermont Businesses, tonight at 6:30 PM. join this webinar tonight at the link!
Topics will include:
- What grant funding is available for nonprofit organizations?
- Are there grants for restaurants and property owners?
- How can we invest in more sustainable city-wide planning while rebuilding in a flood-prone downtown?
- Are there limits to applying for multiple funding sources?
- What is available for businesses impacted via interruption of services from the flood, but not permanent structural damage?
- How do we serve all types of businesses equally, and different towns equally? Especially Barre.
- Are there resources for businesses that want to relocate?
- Where can we get educated on the options for flood insurance?
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Flood Relief Funding for Artists
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With the recent flood disaster in Vermont and due to the generosity of an anonymous donor, the Vermont Arts Council is pleased to be able to offer new flood relief funding as a part of their Artist Development Grant program.
Artist Development Grants support artists at all stages of their careers. Grants can fund activities that enhance mastery of an artist's craft or skills or that increase the viability of an artist's business. Funding may also support aspects of the creation of new work when the activity allows the grantee to accept a rare and important opportunity.
New Flood Relief Funding: If recent flooding has significantly and adversely affected your ability to produce, perform, and/or market your work and created a need for immediate relief funds and/or assistance, please see below for eligible expenses. The maximum grant award for flood relief is $3,000
Artists may apply for both Artist Development Grant and Flood Relief funding using separate applications for each.
Grant Amounts
For Artist Development Grants, you may apply for any amount up to $2,000, and for flood relief, you may apply for any amount up to $3,000. We strongly encourage applicants to apply for the LEAST amount of funding necessary for their request. Money is limited, and we want to be able to support as many artists as possible. While we will do all that we can to fully fund as many projects as possible, some proposals may be partially funded. Grant amounts are dependent upon federal, state, and private funding and are subject to change.
Eligible expenses for such activities include, but are not limited to:
- advanced study of technique or practice with a mentor
- attending a professional conference to build business or artistic skills or knowledge
- contracting professional services including photographic documentation of work, contract preparation or business incorporation, creation of accounting systems, developing e-commerce on a website, creation of marketing materials, etc.
- marketing, planning, purchasing some materials, or renting studio space (outside of your home) to create new exhibitions or performances
- travel within the United States
- New! Flood relief for:
- Damaged tools, materials, and/or equipment related to your art practice or artistic business
- Lost revenue due to canceled shows, events, exhibitions, road closures, or vehicle damage
- Damage to studio space requiring repair
Application Deadlines
?Sept. 26, 2023 and Jan. 30, 2024 at 1 p.m.
Flood Relief Deadlines and Notification
Application deadline is rolling until available funds are exhausted. Award notifications will be made as quickly as possible within three weeks of submission.
Apply
For questions, please contact grant manager Dominique Gustin at dgustin@vermontartscouncil.org or 802-402-4602. |
Sincerely,
Melissa Bounty, Executive Director |
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This newsletter, and the work of Central Vermont Economic Development Corporation is made possible in part by a grant from the State of Vermont through the Agency of Commerce and Community Development.
CVEDC Board of Directors:
Jim Tringe | Chair | Cabot Creamery Co-op/Agrimark, Inc. Peter Hood | Treasurer | Town of Middlesex Maureen Hebert | Secretary | University of Vermont Rob Boulanger | Rock of Ages Steven Dellinger-Pate | U-32 High School Jody Emerson | Central Vermont Career Center Kevin Eschelbach | Central Vermont Chamber of Commerce Al Flory| Northfield Savings Bank Lorraine Keener | Waitsfield and Champlain Valley Telecom Ed Larson | Larson Forestry Consulting Kevin Lord | E.F. Wall & Associates Gunner McCain | McCain Consulting Mark Nicholson | Nicom Coatings Corp. Danielle Pelczarski | Norwich University Bob Pope | Swenson Granite Peter Ricker | Denis, Ricker & Brown Insurance Dave Rubel | Community National Bank Reuben Stone | Stone & Browning Property Management Annemarie Todd | Sugarbush Christian Meyer | Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission, Ex-Officio |
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