VBSR: Front-line employees hazard pay and expanded Economic Recovery Grant programs info

VBSR As COVID-19 continues to impact our families, communities, and economy, we here at VBSR remain committed to providing our members with the resources needed to endure through this crisis. Please read on for key updates on a pair of relief programs that may be available to your and your employees.

As you may know, last month the Vermont legislature passed a $7.2 billion budget that allocated the last portion of the $1.25 billion in federal Coronavirus Relief Funds Vermont received via the CARES Act. This package included $76 million in additional emergency economic recovery grants for Vermont businesses and nonprofits as well as $22.5 million for an expanded hazard pay program for Vermont's frontline essential workers.

With both programs set to launch to in the coming weeks, we've outlined key information on the application process, award calculations, and upcoming webinars from ACCD and the Department of Taxes.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact VBSR's Public Policy Manager, Jordan Giaconia at [email protected].

Expanded Economic Recovery Grant Program

Front-Line Employees Hazard Pay Grant Program- Round 2

Governor Scott and the Legislature have authorized a second round of grants for the Front-Line Employees Hazard Pay Grant Program using $22.5 million in Coronavirus Relief Funds. The Department of Financial Regulation (DFR) is partnering with the Agency of Human Services (AHS) to administer this next round.

Eligibility for the program has been expanded to include additional types of employers whose employees were engaged in activities substantially dedicated to mitigating or responding to the COVID-19 public health emergency or were providing essential services to Vermonters during the eligible period, March 13, 2020 through May 15, 2020.

Former employees (that were previously employed by either an employer that applied for grant funding in round one of the program or an employer applying for funding in round two of the program) are eligible for hazard pay in round two. The grant review team will contact employers that applied for funding in round one of the program to identify eligible former employees.

In addition, employees who received one week or less of unemployment benefits during the eligible period are eligible for hazard pay in round two of the program.

Round one of the program authorized hazard pay grants primarily for healthcare related employers, morgues and homeless shelters, whose frontline workers performed jobs with an elevated risk of exposure to COVID-19. Round two expands the program to include the following additional types of potentially eligible employers:

• Lodging establishments that housed homeless individuals during the eligible period;
• Traveling nurse and nurse contracting agencies that provided services to healthcare or residential care facilities in Vermont;
• Cleaning or janitorial services that provided services to healthcare or residential care facilities in Vermont;
• Food service providers that provided services to healthcare or residential care facilities in Vermont;
• Grocery stores;
• Pharmacies;
• Hardware stores and retailers serving basic human needs (such as retail that sold food, beverage, animal feed and essential supplies) that were open to the public for in-person sales;
• Wholesale distributors making deliveries to certain essential retailers;
• Trash collection, waste management, and septic services;
• Privately owned wastewater pollution abatement and control facilities;
• Child care facilities that provided care for the children of essential workers pursuant to Directive 2 of Executive Order 01-20;
• Vocational rehabilitation service providers;
• Funeral and crematory establishments; and
• Security service agencies that provided security services to other covered employers.

The application period will open on Wednesday, October 28, 2020 at 9 a.m. EST. Grants will be awarded through an online application process and funds will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Please note that demand for grant funds is expected to exceed available funding. For more information, visit the Department of Vermont Health Access' website.

Webinar on the expanded Frontline Employees Hazard Pay Grant Program
What: DFR and AHS will give a brief overview of the program and answer questions from employers and employees about matters such as eligibility, application process, and timing of payments.
When: Monday, October 26, 2020 from 3:00 – 4:00 PM
Join online