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COVID-19 Updates
NVDA employees have returned to their offices on a limited basis. Our building remains closed to the general public, but we are accepting meetings by appointment. Please call or email NVDA staff and we will respond as soon as possible.
Canadian Travel Ban Extended...
Despite increasing pressure to lift travel restrictions, the U.S. is keeping the ban on nonessential border crossings in place to at least September 21st to minimize the spread of Covid-19 and the Delta variant.
NEK Towns Make Plans for Federal ARPA Stimulus Money
On August 9th, the state disbursed the first payment of $29 million in American Rescue Plan Act Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (ARPS-LFRF) to 274 local governments. Municipalities in Essex, Orleans and Caledonia Counties are making decisions on how to spend the funds, which must fit into 66 Expenditure Categories established in the Treasury's Compliance and Reporting Guidance. Vermont received an additional $60 million which will be distributed to the same municipalities by Labor Day Weekend! This amount represents a portion of the county funds due to a special ARPA rule that redirects county funds to units of local government that have limited government purposes. Payments will be processed over the next several weeks and no additional action is required from Northeast Kingdom municipalities. More information can be found on VLCT's ARPA webpage. Please contact NVDA with questions or requests for assistance. Annie McLean [email protected], David Snedeker [email protected].
Vermont Vaccination Rate Continues to Climb
As of August 29th, Vermont continues to lead the U.S. with 68% of the population fully vaccinated and 86.1% percent of the eligible population age 12 and over have received at least one dose of the vaccine. Vermont health professionals will keep urging people to get vaccinated because of the dramatic increase nationwide in the number of new Covid-19 cases. Vaccinations are critical to ending the pandemic.
PPP Borrowers Are Reminded to File for Forgiveness
PPP borrowers need to apply for forgiveness within 10 months after the last day of the covered period. After that, loan payments are no longer deferred and borrowers will begin loan payments to their PPP lender. If your loan is $150,000 or less, you may be eligible to apply for direct forgiveness through SBA by using the new streamlined portal. Click Here to access the portal with a link to the Platform User Guide.
All EIDLs Deferred Until 2022
The SBA is extending deferment for all disaster loans including COVID-19 EIDLs, until 2022. Interest continues to accrue during the deferment period. Loans made in calendar year 2020 will have a first payment due date extended from 12-months to 24-months from the date of the note. Loans made in calendar year 2021 will have a first payment due date extended from 12-months to 18-months from the date of the note. The SBA continues to accept EIDL applications with affordable terms to help hard-hit small businesses and nonprofits recover from the economic impacts of the pandemic. Questions? email [email protected] or call 1-800-659-2955 (TTY: 1-800-877-8339).
Economic Recovery Bridge Program
The program will deliver $30 million in financial relief to businesses that have not received state and federal funding due to eligibility constraints - and to businesses that can show continued loss of revenue after receiving state or federal aid. For more information about the Economic Recovery Bridge Program visit the ACCD website here.
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NEK Community Announcements
Public Hearings in St. Johnsbury for the Armory Redevelopment Project
Registered voters in St. Johnsbury have the opportunity to vote on September 14th to approve a general obligation bond to fund the Armory Redevelopment Project. The town plans to remediate and redevelop the former Armory building on Main Street into a new police station and regional dispatch center. To provide information to residents prior to the bond vote, a public hearing was held in August and another will be held on Sept. 7th at 6:00 pm in the Welcome Center at 51 Depot Square.
LVRT Extension Project Receives Funding for Phase 2
The Town of St. Johnsbury has recently secured sizeable funding from two sources for extension of the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail. A Northern Borders Regional Commission grant, and funding from federal earmarks approved by Senator Leahy will go a long way to complete the second phase of the town's bike path that extends the trail along the river, connecting downtown to the trailhead on South Main Street. The project also includes lighting, parking, wayfinding and other enhancements making St. Johnsbury an attractive LVRT destination.
NEK Broadband Receives Funding From the American Rescue Plan Act
NEK Broadband, the communications union district that serves nearly 50 towns across the region, received funding to move forward in its plan to build 2,800 miles of fiber optic cable for internet service. While primarily a volunteer organization, the funding will partially support the positions of a professional administrator and project manager to create a detailed, step-by-step Project Plan - a critical document for building a broadband network across the entire service area. Money has also been allocated for completing the necessary utility pole inventory as 5,200 utility poles must be inspected to be certain they have space for additional cable. Multiple power companies and electric utility territories make up the region and a critical step for NEK Broadband is to outline the full scope of the proposed network construction. NEK Community Broadband
Brewery Trail Challenge: Explore the NEK August 16 - September 12
Vermont Brewers Association is running another brewery passport challenge to guide beer lovers to breweries across the state. Between Aug 16 and Sept 12, visit each brewery in the NEK! The idea is simple, pick up a passport at any stop, ask for a stamp after visiting, continue on to your next brewery and turn the passport in for prizes in the end. To learn more and see the full list of brewers in the region visit www.vermontbrewers.com/brewery-trails-challenge/
BTW: Did you know that Vermont has more breweries per capita than any other state - and produces 335,199 barrels per year? The Vermont craft beer industry supports 2,891 jobs with an overall economic impact of nearly $362 million!
FEMA Webinars - Building Resilient Infrastructure & Communities Program (BRIC)
The 2021 BRIC and Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) webinar series will bring subject-matter experts and partners together to provide technical information, tools and resources, and best practices regarding the grant programs. The webinars are designed for state leaders, local communities, private sector entities and individuals interested in learning about the BRIC and FMA grant programs. Visit the website for a full list of the virtual sessions Flood Mitigation Webinar Series.
Webinar: Building the New Forest Future
The Northern Forest Center is offering a webinar series that amplifies stories, practices and lessons from rural community development in the Northern Forest region. The series is intended for community leaders, funders, and policymakers, and will provide inspiration and practical guidance for rural communities. Future webinars will focus on widely relevant topics - recreation, broadband, housing, and more. Register for the first in the series: Sept. 21, 12:00-1:30 pm
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Business Announcements
Relocation Incentive!
The VT Worker Relocation Grant Application Portal is open. The purpose of the new grant, with a maximum award of $7,500, is to encourage workers to move to Vermont to work for Vermont employers who are struggling to fill vacancies. The state unemployment rate dropped to 3.1% in June, well below the national average. The program offers reimbursement grants for eligible expenses. Learn more about the opportunity, find eligibility information in specific occupations and apply at Think Vermont .
Efficiency Vermont - Enhanced Incentive Program
Efficiency Vermont, in partnership with Vermont's Regional Development Corporations, is offering enhanced financial incentives for qualified energy efficiency projects. If your business has been negatively impacted by Covid-19 or other market issues and you have energy efficiency projects that you needed to put on hold, Efficiency Vermont could pay up to 90% of project costs up to $40,000. The enhanced incentives are only available for projects that can be completed in 2021. Find the application Here and submit it to [email protected]. This offer is available on a first come, first served basis.
National Small Business Week, Virtual Summit - Sept 13-15, 2021
Join the U.S. Small Business Administration for this free online event that includes updates on resources for small businesses, and a networking chat room for business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs. Register Here
Women's Economic Opportunity Conference - October 23rd
The 2021 WEOC virtual event on October 23rd and will run from 9:00-11:00 am. Topics include: women-owned businesses that made it through the pandemic; balancing work and personal life; and accessing federal recovery support that helped keep businesses afloat. For more information about the 24th annual conference, click Here
Working Lands Enterprise Board Releases RFP for Service Contracts
The Request for Proposal allows non-profit organizations or for-profit organizations to apply for contracts in specific service areas identified by the Working Lands Enterprise Board. Contracts shall provide services for the benefit of farm, food, and forest enterprises. Primary service areas are Building Executive Business Skills, and Increasing Marketing Skills. Proposals are due Sept. 29th. FY22 WLEF Request For Proposal
Post Job Openings to the Consortium Talent Network
Castleton University, Community College of VT, Northern VT University, and VT Technical College are participants of the VT State Colleges System consortium website https://www.collegecentral.com/vsc.
Post any number of jobs at no cost to reach job seekers who are registered with the consortium member schools. Visit the website for contact information and to obtain an ID and/or password.
Assistance for Timber Harvesters & Haulers
If your business harvests or hauls timber and you were negatively impacted by the pandemic, you may be eligible to receive relief from a newly established program from USDA. Find out more about the PATHH Program. Applications are being accepted through October 15, 2021. Pandemic Assistance for Timber Harvesters & Haulers
Leadership Workshop Series - St. Johnsbury Academy Adult Education
Dr. Martha Dubuque will offer nine leadership workshops in a series that covers topics relevant to today's workplace. To view the courses being offered, visit www.stjacademy.org/adult-education and click on "current course information" Questions? Sandra Mings Lamar, Director of Adult Education [email protected] (802) 748-7738
Business Resources:
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Grant Funding
Two RECREATION GRANTS (Open applications)
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Source: 9.1.2021. Northeastern Vermont Development Association www.nvda.net