COVID-19 Resiliency Update 4/1/20

Dear Neighbor:

We are sending a second newsletter to you this week because of the important Vermont Department of Labor (DOL) Town Hall referenced below. This event is being offered to provide information on unemployment.

We are also receiving a large number of questions regarding the federal CARES act. There are still many questions to be answered about assistance for small businesses and non-profits coming through Small Business Administration (SBA) lending, but also about the interplay between relief programs like the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and unemployment insurance (UI).

We are committed to helping you access timely, accurate information which is why we always urge you to join the Friday webinars which feature real-time updates from representatives of state and federal government. We are also keeping our website updated regularly. But we also want to share directly with you some materials providing some detail and clarification on federal programs.

• US Chamber of Commerce Guide to Coronavirus Emergency Loans for Small Businesses

• U.S. Treasury Fact Sheet on PPP

• The Application form for PPP

• Small Business Owners Guide to the CARES act

In the initial days of the SBA application being open, many businesses encountered technical difficulties or were rejected. Everyone is being urged to try again or reapply if you were rejected. The best way to begin that process is to reach out to your local SBA lenders.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to us at any time.

Adam Grinold

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

VIRTUAL TOWN HALL SERIES TO BEGIN ON THURSDAY April 2^nd at 2:00pm.

The Vermont Department of Labor has announced that it will hold the first in a series of Virtual Town Hall events on Thursday, April 2 at 2:00pm. This first event will focus on services for employers, focusing on issues around Unemployment Insurance, among other labor-related topics. Full event details are listed below:
Department of Labor Virtual Town Hall Series
·       DATE: Thursday, April 2, 2020
·       TIME: 2:00pm – 3:00 pm

PRESENTERS:
o   Michael Harrington, Interim Commissioner, VT Department of Labor
o   Cameron Wood, Director of Unemployment Insurance Division, VT Department of Labor
o   Dirk Anderson, General Counsel, VT Department of Labor

·    Link to join Virtual Town Hall event: bit.ly/VTlaborTownHall

The event is available for any employer in the State of Vermont looking for more information about labor related topics. A portion of the event will be held for Q&A with the presenters. If you are unable to view the event, a recording will be created and made available for viewing after the event.

Future dates and times for the Virtual Town Hall series have not yet been finalized, but further updates will be posted on the Department’s website at https://Labor.Vermont.gov.

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

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

• 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