Buy Local Vermont program Webinar for businesses, Wednesday 3:30 pm

Vermont Business Magazine The Agency of Commerce & Community Development will be hosting an overview webinar for businesses interested in participating in the new Buy Local Vermont Gift Card Program on Wednesday, August 26th at 3:30pm. The program is intended to bring needed foot traffic and increase sales for local restaurants, retail stores, entertainment and performing arts venues, lodging and tourism-related businesses. Businesses can enroll to take part in the program starting today. The Buy Local Vermont Gift Card Program will launch to consumers on September 8th.

DMV to Reopen Some Physical Locations

Governor Phil Scott along with Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner Wanda Minoli announced today that DMV branches in South Burlington, Montpelier, and Rutland will reopen on Monday, August 31st. Visiting these locations will be by appointment only. The DMV expects scheduling to be available by the afternoon of Thursday, August 27th. For full details on the reopening, the services offered, and the latest online tools, visit the DMV website.

Restart Vermont Regional Marketing and Stimulus Grants

ACCD recently launched the Restart Vermont Regional Marketing and Stimulus Grant Program, and is offering grants to organizations for efforts and activities related to economic recovery, consumer stimulus, marketing, or tourism projects to support businesses that have suffered economic harm due to COVID-19. Applications are due August 31, 2020. Learn more at the program’s website and via the previously-recorded informational webinar.

Agriculture and Working Lands Assistance Grants

The application is now open for the $8.5 million in relief funding made available for farmers, sugar makers, meat and poultry processors, slaughterhouses, farmers markets, agricultural food products businesses, forest products businesses, and producer associations to cover losses and expenses caused by the COVID-19 public health emergency. Apply now through the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets.

Tourism and Hospitality Survey

A reminder that the Department of Tourism and Marketing (VDTM) is looking for businesses to help quantify the impact of COVID-19 across the tourism industry — from lodging to retail and restaurants to the arts — through your participation in a survey. VDTM hopes you will take a moment to help us understand the economic loss and seasonal trends by filling out the survey and sharing it with industry partners or businesses to fill out as well. Responses are requested by Friday, September 4th.

Department of Labor FFCRA Regulations Webinar

Join the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce and Primmer Piper Eggleston & Cramer PC for a conversation about recent decisions and FAQs surrounding the U.S. Department of Labor’s Final Rule on the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York vacated multiple provisions of FFCRA and this webinar will help you understand those changes. Register for the webinar, and find more information on FFCRA coverage and the court decision.

Business Impact

ACCD wants to hear from all Vermont businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Please use the ACCD Business Impact Form to help us continue to assess the full impact as we work toward additional solutions.

Source: ACCD 8.25.2020