BDCC COVID-19 Communications
COVID Blog Updates

COVID-19 Resiliency Update 4/1/20

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

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.

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

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 2nd 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.
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 on how to complete a Business Resiliency Assessment “Stress Test. This worksheet is designed 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 at 2:15 pm for a Zoom webinar – we try to bring you answers to questions and point you to resources as they become available.
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.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 ActThe 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.
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
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