Seeking Feedback on Voluntary Paid Leave Program

Governor Phil Scott recently announced the Vermont Family and Medical Leave Insurance Plan (VT-FMLI), the state's first voluntary paid leave program that will give all working Vermonters access to affordable paid family and medical leave insurance by 2025. The program will be available to employers with two or more employees beginning July 1, 2024. Employers may choose from several plan options to best support the needs of their business and employees, including flexibility to create their own plan, or they can buy the base (6 weeks of pay at 60%) and provide more leave for employees if they so choose.

The Department of Economic Development is collecting feedback from employers about the business community's interest in participating. Please take a few minutes to complete this short survey.

Proposals Requested for BIPOC Business and Workforce Development Assistance

To bolster the state’s economic infrastructure, the Department of Economic Development (DED) is seeking proposals for assistance to serve Vermont’s BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) community by expanding and strengthening private sector businesses and workforce development of traditionally underserved communities. Proposals should demonstrate how they will leverage existing community resources, collaborate with community partners, and optimize funding and resources to bridge gaps in services. Proposals must be designed to have long term transformative impacts, focus on BIPOC communities, and prioritize counties experiencing the most job losses and declining income levels.

Questions are due January 16, 2023 and proposals are due February 6, 2023. Assistance reviewing bid proposals is available at no cost for Vermont businesses through the Vermont Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC). Find the full RFP for this and other bidding opportunities on the Agency of Commerce and Community Development website.

Registration Open for International Export Trainings

Vermont businesses may now register for a series of international trade trainings conducted by export expert Mike Allocca of Allocca Enterprises. Four separate training programs scheduled in 2023 will cover international documentation and export compliance. The trainings are all virtual and take place on Tuesdays from 10am-12pm. A separate registration is required for each training and costs $50 per session.

• International Documentation - January 24, 2023 - Register Here
• HTS/Schedule B Classification - February 7, 2023 - Register Here
• Export Compliance - April 18, 2023 - Register Here
• Export Compliance 201 - May 9, 2023 - Register Here

This training series is coordinated by the Department of Economic Development and the U.S. Commercial Service and funded in part through the State Trade Expansion Program (STEP), a grant with the U.S. Small Business Administration. For more information about the trainings or about STEP, contact [email protected].

Worker Relocation Incentive Update

The Worker Relocation Incentive Program has received a high volume of applications that total more than the amount of funding available. While applications continue to be processed in the order they are received, and the program will remain open and continue to accept applications until all available funding has been distributed, applicants should understand that funding is not guaranteed. Recipients of this and previous iterations of the program either work remotely for out-of-state employers or have filled job openings at Vermont employers. Get to know one family who utilized the program to start the next chapter of their lives in the Northeast Kingdom. Read the Olseson family’s relocation story.

Funding Opportunities

Community Recovery and Revitalization Program

For-profits, nonprofits, and municipalities may apply for up to $1,000,000 for capital projects that spur economic recovery and revitalization in communities across the state.

Application and guidance available at the Department of Economic Development website.

Short Term Forgivable Loan Program

The Short Term Forgivable Loan Program application is open to all business sectors. Businesses with fewer than 500 employees, operating since March 13, 2020, and suffering economic harm from COVID-19 may apply.

For application and guidelines visit the VEDA website.