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VOBA: Economic summit Nov 11, BEGAP returns for flood victims, fall events

Submitted by tim on

The Village Sports Shop in Lyndonville will not reopen after flooding damaged inventory including the ski rental fleet utilized by schools. The Hub Trailside location at Kingdom Trails remains open.

BUSINESS FLOOD RECOVERY FUNDING

 

Vermont Outdoor Business Alliance The Business Emergency Gap Assistance Program (BEGAP) application portal is now open to businesses and nonprofits that suffered physical damage from flooding and severe storms in 2023 and/or 2024. $7 million is available to provide rapid relief for physical damage from the 2024 events. An additional $5 million will be available for ongoing recovery from the 2023 floods.

Businesses may be eligible for both 2023 and 2024 BEGAP funding. Up to three separate grant applications can be submitted for each year's funding, for each physical location. Businesses have until November 15 to apply to cover 30% of net uncovered damages up to $100,000 per business location. 10% of funds are for Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color applicants. Submissions will be considered on a rolling basis until all funds are expended.

Find information on the Agency of Commerce and Community Development's webpage. Sign up for ACCD's Severe Storm Recovery Newsletter and find support in the Storm Recovery Resource Center. Assistance can be requested from the Central Vermont Economic Development Corporation or other Regional Development Corporations at the following walk in clinics:

  • 9/5: Northeastern Vermont Development Association Offices 36 Eastern Avenue, Suite 1, St. Johnsbury
  • 9/9: Do North Coworking - 3rd Floor Classroom, 930 Broad Street, Lyndonville
  • 9/17: Mad River Valley Planning District Offices, 4061 Main Street, Waitsfield
  • 9/18: Green Mountain Career and Technology Center, 738 VT-15, Hyde Park

The federal approval of Vermont's major disaster declaration for Addison, Orleans, Washington, Caledonia, Chittenden, Lamoille, Orange, and Essex counties allows businesses and individuals affected by Tropical Storm Beryl on July 9-11 to apply for assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). FEMA opened disaster recovery centers in Barre, Plainfield, Waterbury, and Lyndonville.

A pending request for a federal disaster declaration would cover the July 29-31 storm from Hurricane Debby for Caledonia, Essex and Orleans counties, where an initial assessment found that 85 homes were damaged and public infrastructure sustained more than $3.7 million in damages. A separate pending request is for Lamoille and Caledonia counties for flooding that began June 22. 

  • The US Small Business Administration is offering two low-interest disaster loan programs to businesses with deadlines of October 21 for physical damages and May 20, 2025 for economic injury.
  • The Vermont Department of Labor announced that Vermonters whose employment was impacted by flooding on July 9-11 may be eligible for federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance. Benefits would extend to those who lived, worked or were scheduled to work in Addison, Caledonia, Chittenden, Essex, Lamoille, Orleans or Washington Counties. Vermonters who are self-employed, contractors, or agricultural workers may also qualify.
  • The Internal Revenue Service announced that individuals and businesses affected by Hurricane Debby in all 14 Vermont counties have until February 3, 2025 to file federal individual and business tax returns and make tax payments.

Opportunities to support local organizations:

VOBA continues to assist outdoor businesses in navigating resources and advocating needs to government and service providers. Take the 2024 Outdoor Sector Flood Impact survey for support and communications.

VOBA Sixth Annual Outdoor Economy Summit - 11/14

Save the date for VOBA's Sixth Annual Outdoor Economy Summit and Membership Meeting on Thursday, November 14. Join industry colleagues for networking, education, and business development centered in climate resilience, equity, innovation and sustainability, and career pathways. Location and registration information coming soon.

Nominations for the Patrick Leahy Trailblazer Legacy Award are being accepted. In 2021, the inaugural award honored the U.S. Senator for his career contributions to Vermont's conservation, recreation, outdoor businesses and organizations, and communities. VOBA recognized Marc Sherman and Mike Donohue from Outdoor Gear Exchange in 2022 and Johannes von Trapp from the Trapp Family Lodge in 2023 for their historical and long-lasting contributions. Nominate an industry leader for the 11/14 ceremony by 5:00 pm on September 24.
 

 


OUTDOOR ECONOMY POLICY

NEK Candidate Forum
VOBA, Kingdom Trail Association, Vermont Trails & Greenways Council, and the Vermont Ski Areas Association will host a community conversation for legislative candidates and their constituents from Caledonia, Essex and Orleans counties on Friday, September 13 from 4:00 - 5:30 pm at the Hub Trailside in Lyndonville. RSVP by 9/8.

2025 Outdoor Recreation Day at the State House - 2/12
During the 2024 legislative session, VOBA supported outdoor businesses in advocating with policymakers to advance priorities such as flood recovery and BEGAP funding, passage of the PFAS bill, and investments in recreation, conservation, and community infrastructure. Mark your calendars for the Second Annual Outdoor Recreation Day at the State House on February 12, 2025.

Act 250 & Housing
Act 181 became law in June, beginning the process of modernizing Act 250, the state's land use and development law, over the next five years. The Natural Resources Board and the Department of Housing and Community Development have recently released the Act 250 Interim Exemption Map for developers and investors to create and improve affordable housing. The interactive tool shows potential areas where housing may be built today without triggering Act 250 review in designated downtowns, villages, and other desirable areas that already have sufficient infrastructure as well as nearby jobs, amenities, schools, and transportation options. 

John Bauer from Umiak Outfitters and Alex Showerman from the Waterbury Area Trail Alliance spoke to policymakers about the outdoor recreation flood impact on local waterways and trails during a Capital for a Day visit on August 7.

OUTDOOR CAREERS AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

VOBA has hired Brian Lamoureux of Green Mountain Sustainability Consulting LLC to manage VOBA's workforce education and training programs, career pathways marketing, and business development programming for the outdoor sector. Brian will expand VOBA’s collaborations with manufacturers, retailers, and trail builders to support their skilled workforce and market access. VOBA's workforce initiative is funded by the Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economic Collaborative community grant program.

Brian comes to VOBA with a B.S. in Outdoor Recreation, Leadership, and Tourism from Vermont State University-Lyndon and is a recent graduate of the Sustainable Innovation MBA program at the University of Vermont. His experiences include work in the adventure guiding, conservation, agriculture, aquaculture, textile, cheese, and ski industries. In founding Green Mountain Sustainability Consulting, he aims to help businesses leverage their economic resources to nurture inclusive, resilient, and prosperous communities.

MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER VERMONT

Close to 40 outdoor industry leaders gathered at the Grafton Inn on July 31 for VOBA's industry retreat, Path Ahead for the Vermont Outdoor Industry. Discussions refined statewide priorities for the future sector in the areas of Stewardship, Wellness, and Economic Development. Actions and partnership mapping formed the basis for VOBA's business development work plan centered in equity, climate resilience, innovation and sustainability and career pathways.

Kelly Ault from VOBA, Angela Comstock from the Grafton Inn, Drew Simmons from Pale Morning Media, Zac Freeman from Apex Trailworks gave opening remarks. Drew Pollak-Bruce from CRO Planning & Design presented industry data from 67 outdoor businesses that took the 2024 Vermont Outdoor Business Survey. Look for the final survey report as well as VOBA's final Move Together Forward Vermont work plan.

Thanks goes to the Grafton Inn for support of the fourth VOBA focus group garnering industry input into MFTV, a planning process led by the Department of Forest, Parks and Recreation and the Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economic Collaborative with funding from the Northern Border Regional Commission. Northbound Ventures Consulting LLC and Park Street Community Solutions provided facilitation and photos are courtesy of Red Vault Productions, LLC.
 


Survey respondents were asked what success/collective impact would look like for VT’s outdoor industry in the next five years.

PARTNER EVENTS THIS FALL

Kelly Brush Ride - 9/7, Middlebury College 
Pedal for a cause on 10-, 20-, 50-, and 100-mile road routes, or a 30-mile gravel ride. The event supports the Kelly Brush Foundation's mission to inspire and empower people with spinal cord injuries to lead active, engaged lives using sports and recreation as a catalyst. The foundation supported several Paralympics athletes. Ride, donate or volunteer. 

Building Climate Resilience for Vermont's Economy - 9/17, Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility
Join Rebuild by Design and Vermont leaders (including Vermont's Chief Recovery Officer) for this virtual policy forum exploring the history of Vermont’s federal disaster declarations and recovery funding, the economic impact of climate disasters and recovery, and actions Vermont business and policy leaders can take toward a climate resilient economy. Learn more.

Vermont Conference on Recreation and Trails Symposium - 9/25-9/26, Vermont Recreation and Parks Association & Vermont Trails and Greenways Council, Killington Grand Hotel
Join 150 recreation and trail organizations for the 81st annual conference featuring Kelly Brush as the keynote speaker and workshops including "Enhancing Trail Accessibility: Hands-On Adaptive Assessment" and "Trail Accessibility Hub". Scholarships are available. Learn more.

Sewing Seeds: 2024 VT Conservation Conference - 10/7, Vermont State University, Randolph
VOBA is hosting the session "Financing Conservation through a Climate-Ready Outdoor Sector" on how outdoor recreation can spur innovative partnerships and private investments in conservation. Panelists including Sam von Trapp from the Trapp Family Lodge, Shaun O'Rourke from Quantified Ventures, and Jim Shallow from the The Nature Conservancy’s Vermont Chapter will share approaches within the outdoor sector and finance communities to fund conservation and climate resiliency measures. Learn more.

Eastern Regional Summit: Snowsports Industries America - 10/22, Burlington
Join snow sports colleagues for networking, tools, and insights for addressing pressing industry challenges while defining new and critical opportunities for the future. Learn more and contact VOBA for a complimentary registration.