Vermont Business Magazine The Federal Emergency Management Agency will be sending almost $1.2 million to the State of Vermont to reimburse the costs of providing emergency meals for residents in need during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The $1,193,662 Public Assistance grant will go to Vermont’s Agency of Commerce and Community Development for operating the state’s emergency feeding program “Vermont Everyone Eats” during the coronavirus pandemic between July and August 2021.
During that time the agency entered into an agreement with Southeastern Vermont Community Action, Inc. (SEVCA), which established and coordinated with state-wide subcontractors (Hubs) that oversaw restaurant engagement, meal production, and meal distribution to Vermonters experiencing food insecurity.
The program launched in August 2020 with $5 million from the state’s Coronavirus Relief Fund and has continued with additional funding through FEMA.
“We are very pleased to be able to assist Vermont with this innovative program to alleviate food insecurity during this pandemic,” said FEMA Region I Acting Regional Administrator Paul Ford. “Not only are Vermonters in need helped but restaurants in the private sector benefit as well.”
FEMA’s Public Assistance program is an essential source of funding for states and communities recovering from a federally declared disaster or emergency.
This nearly $1.2 million grant brings the total awarded by FEMA to the State of Vermont for the “Vermont Everyone Eats” program to just over $13.9 million. So far, FEMA has provided almost $282 million in grants to Vermont to reimburse the state for pandemic-related expenses.
Additional information about FEMA’s Public Assistance program is available at https://www.fema.gov/public-assistance-local-state-tribal-and-non-profit. To learn more about the COVID-19 response in Vermont, please visit https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4532.
Source: BOSTON – FEMA 9.30.2021