UPDATED – 3/21/20
To stay informed whenever new information becomes available, we encourage you to sign-up for our COVID-19 Economic and Community Response Newsletter. The most current information on the full response to COVID-19 in Vermont can be found on the Department of Health website at: healthvermont.gov/COVID-19.
Current News
The latest amendments to Governor Scott’s emergency declaration include:
- All close-contact businesses are required to close by 8:00pm on Monday, March 23, including gymnasiums, fitness centers and similar exercise facilities, hair salons and barbers, nail salons, spas and tattoo parlors.
- Updated community mitigation measures further restrict the size of mass gatherings to 10 or less.
- All non-essential adult elective surgery and medical and surgical procedures, including all dental procedures, are ordered to be postponed in the safest but most expedient way possible.
- Sales of “to-go” beverage alcohol is permitted with the purchase of a meal, as well as the delivery of alcohol product by licensed retail stores.
- The Department of Motor Vehicles has suspended all in-person transactions, effective 4:30pm on Thursday, March 19. The DMV will continue to process registration and license renewals and various other services online, by mail, or via telephone.
- Childcare centers across the state are closed for normal operations, except those serving essential workers. The Agency of Education will continue to provide additional details on guidance for schools and childcare facilities.
- All bars and restaurants statewide have been ordered to close, effective beginning 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 17 through April 6, although this could be extended. Food service establishments can continue to offer takeout and delivery service.
- Gatherings of more than 50 people or 50% of a location's capacity are prohibited, whichever number is lower.
SBA Emergency Loans Available to All Vermont Small Businesses
The Small Business Administration has approved Governor Scott’s request for a disaster declaration. Disaster assistance is available to businesses and non-profit organizations in all Vermont counties.
SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) offer up to $2 million in assistance per business, providing economic support to overcome temporary loss of revenue. EIDLs may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can’t be paid because of the disaster’s impact. The interest rate is 3.75% for small businesses and 2.75% for private non-profit organizations, which are also eligible for EIDLs.
For small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations, the SBA offers EIDLs to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. EIDL assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any physical property damage.
SBA offers loans with long-term repayments in order to keep payments affordable, up to a maximum of 30 years. Terms are determined on a case-by-case basis, based upon each borrower’s ability to repay. Small businesses with credit available elsewhere may not be eligible.
To apply online, visit https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/. Documents that may be requested when applying include recent federal tax return, profit-and-loss statement and balance sheet.
For more information, call the SBA disaster assistance customer service center at 1-800-659-2955 (TTY: 1-800-877-8339) or e-mail [email protected]. For local SBA information, call 802-828-4422.
ACCD encourages businesses to seek professional business counseling and technical assistance before taking on additional debt. Vermont has a robust business technical assistance provider network. More information about these resources can be found online at https://accd.vermont.gov/economic-development/resources.
Guidance on Childcare for Essential Persons
Vermont Emergency Management has published a new list of who is considered an Essential Person in regards to the Executive Order regarding Childcare for Essential Service Providers. Families with Essential Persons who need help finding childcare can now submit a webform for assistance in connecting them with options for childcare for their children (up to grade 8). Families can also call 2-1-1 ext. 6.
Business Impact
We are still interested in hearing from all Vermont businesses impacted by the response to the COVID-19 virus. Please continue to share these impacts via the Agency Business Impact Form, which will help us assess the full impact as we work toward solutions.
If you have other inquiries, please contact us through our dedicated email address: [email protected].
The Agency has also established a hotline so that businesses may call to report impacts and be directed to resources: (802) 461-5143. The hotline will be staffed Monday through Friday, 7:45 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Guidance from the Department of Labor
The Department of Labor does not intend to enforce the provisions of Vermont’s Notice of Potential Layoffs Act against businesses who are forced to lay off employees due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Employers closing facilities or engaging in mass layoffs of 50 or more are generally required to provide 45 days’ notice to the Commissioner of Labor and the Secretary of Commerce, and 30 days’ notice to the employees and to the chief elected or administrative official of the municipality where the layoff or closing occurs. However, the Act provides exceptions to that rule in the event that the business closing or mass layoff is caused by business circumstances that were not reasonably foreseeable at the time the 45-day notice would have been required; and/or the business closing or mass layoff is due to a disaster beyond the control of the employer. Affected employers are still encouraged to reach out to the Department of Labor and Agency of Commerce and Community Development for assistance when they are contemplating a layoff.
The Department of Labor has launched an online portal for employees who may be eligible for Unemployment Insurance benefits as a result of COVID-19. This new process means initial unemployment insurance claims can now be filed online.
A set of COVID-19 FAQs for Employers and Employees is also available online. If you have specific questions, you may wish to contact the Vermont Department of Labor Employer Services line at 802 828-4344. Please understand that they are experiencing high call volume.
Department of Financial Regulation Updates
The Department of Financial Regulation has also posted guidance regarding telemedicine services and prescription drug refills. If you have questions regarding your insurance coverage, Business Income Insurance Guidance is available for review, or contact your insurance agent for details on your specific policy.
Guidance from the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets
In an effort to keep agricultural producers, businesses and service providers as up-to-date as possible on health and safety issues with the ongoing COVID-19 situation, the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets has developed a new set of resources, including guidance on Food Safety, Food Industry Resources (from Cornell University), and FAQs for Veterinarians and Veterinary Clinics.
Small Business Assistance
If your business is looking for technical assistance, the Vermont Small Business Development Center (VtSBDC) is providing various resources to help support small business during the COVID-19 outbreak. VtSBDC’s team of advisors is actively working remotely to help you navigate this crisis. Click here to learn more and to request assistance.
In the wake of Tropical Storm Irene, the VtSBDC created a Disaster Recovery Guide for Businesses, available on their website. This document may also help you begin your recovery.
Translated Guidance for Vermonters
New fact sheet, translated into nine languages, has been added to Department of Health website under “Translated Materials.” The U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants in Vermont has also posted a new series of COVID-19 videos in several languages.
CDC Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers
For the full list of employer and business guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), please visit: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/specific-groups/guidance-business-response.html
We know these are difficult times for many Vermont businesses. If you have specific suggestions on what kind of targeted assistance might be most impactful to the continuity of your operations in the next 30 days, please use the Agency Business Impact Form so your ideas can be shared with the leadership of the Agency and with Governor Scott.
SOURCE: STATE OF VERMONT 3.21.2020