COVID Blog Updates

COVID-19 Resiliency Update 3/30/20

This is a communication related to the Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation’s regional
COVID-19 Business Resiliency Program


 

Dear Neighbor:

I am writing today to reach Windham Region business owners and managers as well as leaders of nonprofits who need help responding to the economic calamity we now face as a result of the COVID-19 disease.  Businesses and organizations who look to survive the next several months must take swift action to assess and understand their current financial situation.

Following Vermont’s Emergency Declaration by Governor Phil Scott, the BDCC Board of Trustees, SeVEDS Board of Directors and BDCC’s entire team has pivoted to respond to the effects of COVID-19 on our region’s economy.

Because we do not yet know the scope and duration of the economic obstacles that lie ahead, we have begun an initial phase of communication, connection, and triage. As of March 15th, we have been actively engaged in sharing what we do know to our tenants, the region’s businesses and our community and economic development partners and municipalities.

With disruption across every state and every town in our country, we know that our ability to provide the most assistance for our tenants, regional businesses, workers and economy will depend on two things: how well we connect with other regional community economic and community development focused organizations and how effectively we deploy our staff to connect  one-on-one with tenant and regional businesses who seek help.

The immediate objective is to help and support our businesses as they assess their current financial situation.  We would first like to ask if you would be willing to complete an impact statement through our survey portal https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/929SVMQ if you have not done so already.  Having baseline impacts updated over the next several months will allow us to understand the evolving scope and nature of the individual and collective economic injury occurring here in the Windham region. We know there will be needs that will go unmet from the resources in the current federal packages, it is only with your current information that we can continue to not only advocate for your needs, but ensure you have access to tools and resources coming online now.

Details of the tools and resources being made available to businesses, employers and non-profits as a result of the new federal legislation continue to become better known with each passing day.  BDCC has shifted staff to serve as liaisons to assist owners and managers as they pursue taking steps to obtain federal assistance.  After business owners and managers complete their current financial analysis, they can begin to make informed decisions about the best resources to pursue to help keep them solvent until the economic conditions are better understood. You are encouraged to gather documents detailed on our website in order to be prepared to apply for lending and payment relief programs as they materialize.

Owners and managers will find current resources we have identified and actions you can take right now. To connect with a BDCC business liaison, please email bdcc-covid19@brattleborodevelopment.com. We pledge to respond to all email inquiries with a direct email or voice communication from a BDCC staff member.  For those not ready to reach out directly, please be sure to sign up for our newsletter and join our weekly business resiliency webinar-  instructions to access are available at https://brattleborodevelopment.com/weekly-resiliency-webinars/.

BDCC will continue to be nimble and adapt as this situation evolves and as the specifics of state and federal responses become more evident. It will be through these direct partnerships that we will have an accurate understanding of our region’s economic needs, and it will be through these partnerships that we find ourselves positioned to respond with additional program development and financial assistance programs in the days ahead.

Do not hesitate to contact us with questions and concerns as we all work to help our region navigate this.

Adam Grinold

Executive Director 
Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation 
Connect on LinkedIn — call me: 802 257-7731 ext 224  —  email me


THREE THINGS TO DO RIGHT NOWLet us know how your business is impacted:
If haven’t completed an impact statement please do so here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/929SVMQ.
We need this information to understand what is happening for you, and to accurately advocate for disaster relief to businesses and employers in this region

Stress Test your business:
Find information on BDCC’s web site about how to complete a “Stress Test” to help you create a plan of action for your business to weather these uncertain times.

Participate in Weekly Business Webinars
Join us every Friday for a Zoom webinar – we try to bring you answers to questions and point you to resources as they become available.


Department of Labor FAQ for Employers and Employees
Is my business essential?

On Tuesday, March 24, 2020 Governor Scott issued a, “Stay Home, Stay Safe” order and directed the closure of in-person operations for all non-essential businesses.

Please be sure to read the full list of exempt businesses here. On 3/25 The Secretary of Commerce issued additional guidance on their Stay Home, Stay Safe Business FAQ page. The Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD) is directing businesses to use the FAQ and a NAICS Code Guidance List to self-determine if your sector and activities are essential. This form also indicates certain exemptions, please review to see if you fall under these exemptions. If you are uncertain if your activities are exempt, you may request a review here.

All business activities and workers identified in The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Memorandum on Identification of Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers During COVID-19 Response dated March 19, 2020 are deemed critical to public health, safety, or economic and national security in Vermont. Businesses, organizations, or entities with workers identified in the CISA memorandum may remain operational during the COVID-19 response. However, these businesses must comply to the fullest extent possible to the Governor’s executive order concerning telework and remote work, and follow CDC and VDH guidelines.

Can your business help Vermont’s healthcare workers?
BDCC, as one of twelve Vermont Regional Development Corporations (RDCs of VT)   These organizations serve as “satellites” of the Vermont Department of Economic Development within the Agency of Commerce and Community Development, providing local knowledge and facilitating assistance in each of their 12 regions.The RDCs of Vermont, Associated Industries of Vermont and Vermont Manufacturing Extension Centers and other partners are working together and with the state to identify Vermont manufacturers and other businesses who can currently supply, or could convert operations to supply, products and services needed by Vermont authorities and other response leaders in the COVID-19 crisis.  Donations and referrals to suppliers are also encouraged.

The current priority list for the state is listed below.

  • N95 Masks or Equivalent
  • Face Shields
  • Surgical Masks
  • Goggles
  • Impermeable Aprons
  • Impermeable Gowns
  • Isolation Gowns
  • Tyvek Boot Covers
  • Hand Sanitizer

Business Owners and managers are asked to please be sure to take this survey found here:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/AIVCRITICALNEEDSCOVID19

How Vermont businesses are creating new product lines to aid fight against the coronavirus


Vermont Governor Phil Scott Executive Orders

Number 01-20 declaring a State of Emergency in Vermont & National Guard Call Out
ADDENDUM 1 to 01-20 prohibits all non-essential mass gatherings to the lesser of fifty (50) people or fifty percent (50%) of the occupancy of a facility
ADDENDUM 2 to 01-20 Prohibits on-premises consumption of food or drink
ADDENDUM 3 to 01-20 Suspension of all Non-Essential Adult Elective Surgery and Medical and Surgical Procedures
ADDENDUM 4 to 01-20 Closure of Close-Contact Businesses and Further Restrictions of the Size of Mass Gatherings
ADDENDUM 5 to 01-20 Work from Home Order
ADDENDUM 6 to 01-20 Stay Home to Stay Safe Order
ADDENDUM 7 to 01-20 Requirement to quarantine

Directives
Directive 1 – Continuity of Education Planning.pdf
Directive 2 – Childcare For Essential Service Providers.pdf
Directive 3 – Department of Motor Vehicles Suspension of In-Person Transactions.pdf
Directive 4 – Department of Liquor and Lottery – Delivery and Take-Out of Beverage Alcohol – Amended March 20, 2020.pdfDirective 5 – Continuity of Learning Planning .pdf

GOVERNOR PHIL SCOTT ISSUES A “STAY HOME, STAY SAFE” ORDER, DIRECTS ADDITIONAL CLOSURES 
Orders Vermonters to restrict and minimize activities outside of the home
Directs non-essential businesses and non-profits to cease in-person operations The Stay Home, Stay Safe order will be in effect until April 15, 2020, though may be extended or shortened as needed. For full details, please click here to read the full addendum.
Commercial entities, non-profits, employers and others with questions about acceptable continuation of business operations should contact the Agency of Commerce and Community Development via this online form: https://bit.ly/covid-vt-business-operations.

For the latest information and guidance relating to Vermont’s COVID-19 response, visit http://www.healthvermont.gov/covid19.


Federal Provisions
Small Business Owner’s Guide to the CARES Act

The programs and initiatives in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act that was just passed by Congress are intended to assist business owners with whatever needs they have right now.

  • Capital to cover the cost of retaining employees? Then the Paycheck
    Protection Program might be right for you.
  • A quick infusion of a smaller amount of cash to cover you right now? You
    might want to look into an Emergency Economic Injury Grant.
  • To ease your fears about keeping up with payments on your current or
    potential SBA loan? The Small Business Debt Relief Program could help.
  • Just some quality, free counseling to help you navigate this uncertain
    economic time? The resource partners might be your best bet.
PAID LEAVE ENTITLEMENTS
Generally, employers covered under the Act must provide employees:

  • Up to two weeks (80 hours, or a part-time employee’s two-week equivalent) of paid sick leave based on the higher of their regular rate of pay, or the applicable state or Federal minimum wage, paid at:
    • 100% for qualifying reasons #1-3 below, up to $511 daily and $5,110 total;
    • 2/3 for qualifying reasons #4 and 6 below, up to $200 daily and $2,000 total; and
    • Up to 12 weeks of paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave paid at 2/3 for qualifying reason #5 below for up to $200 daily and $12,000 total.A part-time employee is eligible for leave for the number of hours that the employee is normally scheduled to work over that period.

►ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES In general, employees of private sector employers with fewer than 500 employees, and certain public sector employers, are eligible for up to two weeks of fully or partially paid sick leave for COVID-19 related reasons (see below). Employees who have been employed for at least 30 days prior to their leave request may be eligible for up to an additional 10 weeks of partially paid expanded family and medical leave for reason #5 below

Comprehensive Health Information on the Vermont Department of Health Website

  State of Vermont Business Impacts Hotline
BDCC is working with local, regional, state and federal partners to identify resources to help ensure the availability of multiple low interest emergency loan programs.ACCD 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. ACCD and the Department of Labor are working to keep you updated whenever new information becomes available.  We encourage you to sign-up for ACCD’s Business and Economic Response to COVID-19 Newsletter