Vermont Business Magazine The US Small Business Administration's RRF program has received more than 147,000 applications from women, veterans, and socially- and economically-disadvantaged business owners requesting a total of $29 billion in relief funds, and more than 266,000 applications overall representing over $65 billion in requested funds nationwide. Though the program is oversubscribed, money remains in the $500 million carve out for the smallest restaurants with revenues up to $50,000. The application portal remains open for these businesses.

Beer garden will be open seven days a week, offering fresh brews and an expanded food menu 

Vermont Business Magazine Craft beer fans across the Northeast region can now make reservations at Lawson’s Finest Liquids outdoor beer garden, the brewery announced Thursday. Beginning May 15, Lawson’s Finest Liquids will be pouring fresh brews and serving up an expanded food menu seven days a week at its destination taproom and brewery located at 155 Carroll Road in Waitsfield, Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine On a perfect day for its first outdoors Commencement since 1979, Saint Michael’s College welcomed several hundred vaccinated and distanced guests as nearly 300 members of the still-larger 437-member Class of 2021 graduated during separate morning and afternoon ceremonies to meet state COVID safety guidelines.

Vermont Business Magazine In partnership with the Vermont Chamber of Commerce and the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing, the Vermont Department of Health will host walk-in COVID-19 vaccine clinics for restaurant, hospitality, and tourism workers over the coming weeks. The initial wave of clinics will take place at seven locations, with each site offering Johnson & Johnson vaccines for tourism and hospitality workers on a walk-in basis. Clinics will be staged at restaurants, lodging properties, ski resorts, and other tourism attractions in an effort to bring the vaccine directly to the workers of this sector.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that two grantees in the state of Vermont have been selected to receive $1.1 million to assess and clean up contaminated properties under the agency’s Brownfields Program. These funds will support under-served and economically disadvantaged communities in assessing and cleaning up abandoned industrial and commercial properties. Northeastern Vermont Development Association (NVDA), in Lyndon, St Johnsbury, and Newport, will be awarded a $600,000 Assessment Coalition Grant. The town of St Johnsbury, will be awarded a $500,000 Cleanup Grant.