• VBSR members can contact VBSR Membership & Development Manager, Madison Wood, at madisonw@vbsr.org or (802) 870-0868.  
• U.S. Small Business Administration SBA Business Recovery Centers are open to assist business owners and residents in filling out a disaster loan application, accept documents for existing applications, and provide updates on an application’s status. Additional locations are expected to open in the days ahead. Centers will operate as indicated below until further notice:
  • Business Recovery Center – Lamoille County
    The Lamoille County Agriculture Building
    29 Sunset Drive
    Morrisville, VT 05661
    Hours: Monday to Sunday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m
  • Business Recovery Center – Washington County
    Vermont Chamber of Commerce
    751 Granger Road
    Berlin, VT 05641
    Hours: Monday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Business Recovery Center – Windsor County
    Engel & Völkers Okemo Building
    126 Main Street
    Ludlow, VT 05149
    Hours: Monday to Sunday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• The Regional Development Corporations (RDC)s will continue to provide support to businesses in their areas. Find your RDC.
• Vermont Professionals of Color Network is offering technical assistance and resource location for BIPOC community members and businesses. Those interested in assistance should fill out their BIPOC Assistance Form.
• Center for Women & Enterprise is available to aid business owners, self-employed folks, and entrepreneurs as they navigate the effects of the disaster on their businesses. Experienced staff and business advisors are available to support you 1:1 to pause, prepare, and evaluate your current and future business needs, as well as available disaster loan and grant programs. Contact Faye Longo at flongo@cweonline.org or (802) 391-4873. Schedule time with Faye here.
•  The Central Vermont Economic Development Corporation (CVEDC) has set up a CVEDC Business Support Clinic at the Central Vermont Chamber of Commerce at 33 Stewart Road in Berlin. More information available at info@cvedc.org or 802-223-4654. (Note that this is a different place and concept than the SBA Business Recovery Center at the Vermont Chamber of Commerce listed above.)
  • Services include business counseling, printing, work space, snacks, air conditioning, wifi, and camaraderie with business owners impacted by the flood.
  • CVEDC Business Counselors are being joined by counselors from Center for Women & Enterprise and the Vermont Professionals of Color Network.

• It’s critical to remain vigilant about safety as there are still many dangers present. 
• Vermont Emergency Management provides flood preparedness information in ten languages: Arabic, Burmese, Dari, English, French, Kirundi, Nepali, Pashto, Somali, Spanish
• River levels are tracked by the National Weather Service.
• Road closure information is available from New England 511. (Even when floodwater recedes, roads may have still suffered too much damage to be structurally sound.)
• Power outages are tracked at VT Outages.
• The Agency of Natural Resources has guidance on Water Boils.
• The Vermont Department of Health is offering free drinking water testing for private wells and springs impacted by flooding. Call 802-338-4724 to order free test kits.

• Cleaning up will not affect your eligibility for disaster relief loans! You can 1) Clean up the mud and debris along with damaged inventory, equipment, furniture, and fixtures; and, 2) Replace ruined inventory, equipment, and supplies. In both scenarios, it is advised to take pictures of everything and document all expenses.
• Vermont Digger & Vermont Public have put together tips for Returning to Buildings & Vehicles After Flooding. (It’s important that people avoid wading, paddling, swimming, or otherwise traveling through floodwaters. For a variety of reasons the water is not safe!)
• The Vermont Department of Health provides guidance on safely returning to your home or businesses and cleaning up, as well as preventing/addressing Mold After a Flood.
• The Agency of Natural Resources has guidance on How to Safely Pump out Basements and Flood Debris Cleanup, including which items to separate from trash, how to dispose of hazardous waste, and where to direct questions.
• The Department of Liquor and Lottery has developed guidance for assessing and disposing of Storm-Impacted Alcohol.
• Mold Prevention resources are available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
  • How to Renter Your Flooded Home Safely
  • Homeowner’s and Renter’s Guide to Mold Cleanup After Disasters
  • Mold After a Disaster

• The State is requesting all businesses report damage using this form. For support call “211” and select Ext. 5: Community Resources or text “898211” between 8 AM – 10 PM. (This will allow state and federal agencies to communicate directly with businesses owners as aid becomes available.)
• To assess your damage and prepare for assistance, the Vermont Small Business Development Center has created a quick checklist:
  1. As much as you want to check on the situation, do not enter your location if there is flooding. (Do take pictures and videos from a safe distance, including high water marks).
  2. Call your local insurance agent. Do exactly as they direct.
  3. Begin DOCUMENTATION related to step #2:
     • Take pictures of everything you do from this point forward.
     • Keep a running narrative of every action you take.
     • Begin to estimate the cost of the damage. (Make a list of damaged or lost items and, if possible, include the date of purchase, value, and receipts.)
     • Keep all of your financial data up to date and backed up.
• The Vermont Small Business Development Center also provides a go-to Disaster Recovery Guide for Businesses, which provides step-by-step guidance for small business owners and employees after a natural disaster. (If you’re feeling overwhelmed and struggling to focus/prioritize, this can be a very helpful resource.) 

• Vermont Small Business Development Center Disaster Recovery Guide for Businesses can help you assess when and if reopening makes sense for your business.
• The Vermont Department of Health Food and Lodging Program provides guidance for food and lodging businesses, including re-opening after flooding, and how to operate in accordance with boil water notices and electrical outages.
• The Vermont Outdoor Business Association provides guidance for outdoor businesses and outdoor recreation.
• As businesses are replacing equipment, Efficiency Vermont is available to provide incentives and rebates to subsidize the purchase of more efficient commercial equipment.

• The Internal Revenue Service has extended its deadline for Vermonters to file various individual and business tax returns and payments.
• The State of Vermont has extended tax filing deadlines for Vermonters impacted by the flood, including businesses and employers. Taxpayers unable to meet deadlines between July 7 and November 15, now have until November 15, 2023 to file and pay. Taxpayers impacted by the flood do not need to contact the Department of Taxes to request extensions. Full details on eligibility and tax types can be found in the Governor’s press release.

• Business owners, any employees, those who are self-employed, independent contractors, and agricultural workers who are unable to work related to flooding in designated disaster areas may be eligible for federally-funded Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA). (See Support for Employees: Unemployment Assistance & Other Programs>Disaster Unemployment Assistance)
• At this time there are no federal grants available for businesses. Your options for financial assistance are insurance, loans, state grants, and grants from private organizations (as eligible/available). For all options, beware of scammers, who are attempting to take advantage of residents and businesses in Vermont.
• Grants
  • The Business Emergency Gap Assistance Program (BEGAP) will be administered by the Vermont Department of Economic Development (DED) and provide $20 million directly to impacted businesses and not-for-profits who suffered physical damage due to the severe flooding in the form of grants.
    • The application will open Thursday, August 3rd at 12 Noon with applications addressed first come, first served. DED is aiming for grants to be awarded within 7-10 days of the application portal opening.
      Applicants are strongly encouraged to review the guidelines to make sure they have all the information they need in hand before they start the application process, including photographs of damage, insurance adjuster damage assessments, estimates for repairs to physical structures, tax returns, equipment, inventory, or supplies purchases, and/or actual paid expenses.
    • The BEGAP Team has posted a webinar covering eligibility requirements, a walk through of a sample application, and questions from participants. Subtitles are available in Bosnian, Chinese, Hindi, Spanish, Swahili, and Vietnamese. To access them, click on the gear icon along the bottom of the video player, then select “Subtitles/CC”.
    • Businesses will be eligible for a grant of 20% of the net documented uncovered damage to their physical property up to a maximum of $20,000.
      • For properties that sustained more than a million dollars of damage, grant amounts may exceed the $20,000 cap. Those grants will be 20% of net documented uncovered physical damage up to $500,000 based on the number of employees and total damage they sustained.
      • Of the $20 million, $1 million will be administered by the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets and dedicated specifically to agricultural businesses (not including cannabis businesses, which will receive support through DED).
    • Both residential and commercial landlords will also qualify for aid under the program.
    • Physical losses and damage can include physical space and/or replacements of inventory, machinery, equipment, and supplies.
  • The online food delivery service, DoorDash is offering eligible Vermont restaurants $10,000 cash grants as part of their Restaurant Disaster Relief Fund. Eligible restaurants must have a brick-and-mortar location in a state or federally declared disaster area and been open for at least six months before the flood. Money can be used for rent, utilities, maintenance, supplies, payroll, and other essential expenses. Restaurants do not need to be a DoorDash partner to apply. Deadline to apply is September 29, 2023.
  • The Vermont Cannabis Industry Emergency Fund is a permanent relief fund for Vermont licensed cannabis farms and businesses impacted by natural and unnatural disasters. Vermont licensed cannabis farms and businesses may request grants of up to $8,000 to cover a wide variety of eligible expenses.
  • The Vermont Main Street Flood Recovery Fund will provide grants to small businesses up to $2,500 to to cover costs such as equipment replacement, supplies and help with clean-up.
    • Application form is live and accepting applications first come, first serve.
    • In a coordinated effort to ensure all businesses in Vermont affected by the flood have access to grants, Montpelier businesses are asked to apply directly to the Montpelier Strong Recover Fund by July 24.
    • BIPOC businesses: Please note that the application form asks for personal information. If you do not feel comfortable with providing this or would like other support, please contact Vermont Professionals of Color Network at weiwei@vtpoc.net.
    • Any donations has received through our own flood recovery fundraising will be directed here.
  • Montpelier Strong Recover Fund is supporting Montpelier businesses
    • • Apply by Monday, July 24th
      • The First Round of grants (approx. $4,000 per business, as funds are available) will be distributed the week of July 24. The Fund will continue to provide support on a rolling basis as more funds become available.
  • The Barre Community Fund is supporting Barre businesses and community members.
  • The Farm to Plate Network has put together Flood Related Resources for Vermont’s Farming Communities including financial assistance for farmers.

• Loans
  • Generally, the Vermont Small Business Development Center recommends businesses pause to consider whether they can take on additional debt.  If you decide to pursue loans, remember that you don’t have to accept the offer.
  • Contact your bank/lending institution to see what type of assistance they may be able to provide, including flexibility with loans you currently have with them.
  • VSECU is offering three flood disaster business loans, ranging from $20,000 to $250,000 with a low, fixed rate. Call your VSECU or NEFCU business loan officer or contact their VBiz Team for more information.
  • Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation is offering an Emergency Working Capital Loan. Term is 5 years, with an interest rate of 2%. Amount is up to $10,000. There is no Prepay Penalty.
  • Vermont Farm Fund Emergency Loan: Natural disaster-related emergency loans of up to $10,000. Zero percent interest. Payable over 24 months with a flexible payment schedule.
  • U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Loans: Business owners who sustained losses in Caledonia, Chittenden, Lamoille, Orange, Orleans, Rutland, Washington, Windham, and Windsor counties can begin applying for assistance.
    • SBA provides low-interest, long-term loans in two categories:
      • “Business Physical Disaster Loan” for physical damage not covered by insurance. Apply through 9/12/23.
      • “Economic Injury Disaster Loan” for working capital until normal operations can resume. Apply through 4/15/24.
    • The first payment is not due for 12 months and no interest accrues during this period.
    • Businesses should engage with the SBA Disaster Team PRIOR to submitting an application. It is imperative that applications are fully accurate prior to submission, or they will be kicked back. (Note that the application process for these loans is more complex and detailed than during COVID and these loans are NOT forgivable. It’s worth taking the time to prepare your application so you don’t have to apply more than once and risk missing the application window.) 
      • The SBA Disaster Team has set up two offices in Vermont to work with businesses through the application process. (See Get Support/Navigating the Recovery Process & Resources)
      • This SBA Disaster Loans Fact Sheet details what may be available and at what interest rates. General information on how these loans work can be found on the SBA website.
        • Cannabis businesses are not eligible.
        • New businesses are eligible as long as they were open prior to the disaster.
        • Businesses who rent are only eligible for equipment damage – nothing building related.
        • Certain “private nonprofits” in Bennington, Orange, and Washington counties who provide what the SBA considers “non-critical services of a governmental nature” are eligible. These include food kitchens, homeless shelters, libraries, and schools. Here is the process:
          1. Private nonprofits must first apply for regular disaster assistance from the SBA.
          2. Private nonprofits in Bennington, Orange and Washington Counties can then apply for additional low-interest loans.

          All damages must be from storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides dating back to July 7, 2023.

      • The Governor has also requested that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) issue a disaster designation for the State of Vermont to open the availability of low-interest USDA Farm Service Agency emergency loans to farms and farmers. More information will be shared as available.
    • Damage assessments are continuing in other areas, and more counties and additional forms of assistance may be designated after the assessments are fully completed

• Vermont Legal Aid has a list of benefits and common legal problems that can come up after a flooding disaster. Pro bono (free) legal support is available to those who have been affected by flooding. Resources on their website are available in 15 languages.
• The Vermont Bar Association is offering pro bono (free) legal advice to Vermonters who are facing legal issues arising from the flooding of their homes, businesses or places of employment. They have also partnered with the Vermont Law & Graduate School, to offer the Small Business Legal Assistance Project, which links low bono lawyers with small business owners who need advice and legal services related to their businesses such areas as business formation, leases and contracts, business succession, intellectual property, employment law, business tax issues, regulatory compliance and other business-related matters.
• Vermont Law and Graduate School’s Entrepreneurial Legal Laboratory is offering free legal assistance to Vermont businesses affected by flooding. The school has coordinated with volunteer attorneys across the state to provide up to 10 hours of guidance on everything from FEMA assistance and Small Business Administration loans to navigating insurance claims and appeals processes.
• Small Businesses can contact Emily McDonnell, Small Business Advocate with the Vermont Attorney General’s Consumer Assistance Program at ago.smallbusiness@vermont.gov

• Mutual Aid is a valuable resource for local support. Vermont Flooding 2023 Response and Recovery Mutual Aid provides a clearinghouse for multiple communities across the state, with local offers and requests for support.
• The State of Vermont is organizing volunteers. Businesses can email volunteer@vermont.gov with your contact information and details of your need.
• The Vermont Professionals of Color Network is providing and organizing assistance to members of the BIPOC community who have been impacted by flooding.

Support for Employees: Unemployment Assistance & Other Programs

• Hula is offering free 10 Day Punch Passes for affected businesses that can no longer work in their space. Businesses can receive up to (5) 10 Day Punch Passes for their staff members. These passes are good for six months. No reservation is necessary. Just swing by the Front Desk and the Community Team will set you up!
• Disaster Unemployment Assistance
  • Business owners, any employees, those who are self-employed, independent contractors, and agricultural workers who are unable to work related to flooding in designated disaster areas may be eligible for federally-funded Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA).
    • This program gives temporary money to those who don’t qualify for regular unemployment benefits.
    • Individuals living, working, or scheduled to work in the disaster declaration areas of Caledonia, Chittenden, Lamoille, Orange, Orleans, Rutland, Washington, Windham, and Windsor Counties who meet the qualifications for impact are eligible. When or if more counties are identified, the Department of Labor will announce these publicly.
    • Individuals in the initially declared counties have until August 21, 2023, to file a claim
    • Claimants should file for regular unemployment benefits and indicate that their employment has been impacted by the disaster. VDOL will determine if DUA benefits apply and adjust benefits automatically.
    • The first payable benefit week has been identified as July 9 – 15, 2023.
    • Employers do not need to contact the VDOL when laying off employees and there is no work search requirement for employees who are temporarily laid off for 10 weeks or less. Individuals filing for benefits will need to provide an estimated return-to-work date in order to have the work search requirement waived.
    • More information is available at https://labor.vermont.gov/dua or by calling the UI Claimant Assistance Center at 1-877-214-3330. This page also includes information about language access
• Employee Assistance & Income Advance Programs
  • The Rhino Foods Foundation Income Advance Program makes it easy for employers to support their employees with access to emergency funds through partnerships with financial institutions and payroll deductions. Contact Executive Director Christina Blunt at cblunt@rhinofoodsfoundation.org or 802.861.9890 for more information.
  • The United Way of Northwestern Vermont Working Bridges program can help your employees easily connect with community services. Contact Liz Gamache at lizg@unitedwaynwvt.org or 802-730-3424 for more information.

• Drying centers and shelters are listed on the Vermont 211 website. For more information call “211” and select Ext. 5: Community Resources or text “898211” between 8 AM – 10 PM.
• Southeastern Vermont Community Action has launched Vermont Emergency Eats to help feed Vermonters in Caledonia, Chittenden, Lamoille, Orange, Orleans, Rutland, Washington, Windham, and Windsor Counties. Participating restaurants in those areas will prepare meals for distribution. The program will run through September 5th. If you are in need of food because of the flood, or if you are a farmer, food producer or restaurant that would like to take part in feeding your fellow Vermonters, visit the Vermont Emergency Eats web site.
• Community action agencies throughout the state are all addressing issues such as temporary housing, food, clothing, and case management to help people access state/federal assistance, clean up, and much more:

• • BROC – Community Action in Southwestern Vermont
  • Capstone Community Action
  • Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity (CVOEO)
  • Northeast Kingdom Community Action (NEKCA)
  • Southeastern Vermont Community Action (SEVCA)

• The Vermont Agency of Commerce & Community Development (ACCD) will provide regular updates for businesses as more information and resources become available in the coming days. We suggest signing up for their “Severe Storm Recovery” email list to stay up-to-date.
• VTDigger’s “Daily Digger” will be an invaluable daily information resource in the weeks and months ahead for businesses, families, individuals, and communities as we recover – sign up for that here.
• Vermont Public’s 2023 Flooding in Vermont webpage is a useful hub for their flood-related reporting and resources.
• VBSR will continue to connect our members with updates as they become available through this guide, email, and social media. To receive Flood Recovery news and resources in your inbox, sign up for our VBSR Newsletter here.

• VT Digger’s article on “Here’s How to Help, Without Getting in the Way” provides updates and guidance related to financial donations and volunteer opportunities as of July 13th.
• Vermont Public has put together suggestions for How to Help with Flood Recovery in Vermont (updated July 13th).
• Mutual Aid is a valuable resource for local support. Vermont Flooding 2023 Response and Recovery Mutual Aid provides a clearinghouse for multiple communities across the state, with local offers and requests for support.

• The Vermont Main Street Flood Recovery Fund will provide grants to small businesses up to $2500 to to cover costs such as equipment replacement, supplies and help with clean-up.
• Vermont Professionals of Color has created the BIPOC Relief Fund, supporting BIPOC small business owners and community members who have been impacted by the 2023 VT Flood.
• The Vermont Community Foundation has created the Vermont Flood Recovery and Response Fund 2023 to support Vermonters in responding to and recovering from the catastrophic rainfall across Vermont in 2023.
• Farmers have been hit hard by heavy rainfall and flooding. Opportunities to support farmers include the NOFA Farmer Emergency Fund, Intervale Recovery Fund, and Center for Agricultural Economy’s Farm Fund.
• There are a few regional funds to support business recovery, including the Montpelier Strong campaign and Barre Community Fund.

• The State of Vermont has created a volunteer registry specifically to support Vermonters affected by flooding. They will coordinate with nonprofit and community partners to share information about potential volunteers. Groups interested in volunteering should email volunteer@vermont.gov and include contact information, capabilities, and number of individuals.
• Vermont Professionals of Color Network is organizing volunteers, both BIPOC or not, to provide mutual aid to Vermonters who are Black, Indigenous and People of Color. Volunteers are welcomed to sign up using this form. There you’ll be asked about the kind of assistance you can provide, from money and time to food and language interpretation.
• Volunteer signups for Barre can be found here.
• In Waterbury, town officials are directing potential volunteers to sign up on this form.
• For those who want to help specifically in Montpelier, you can sign up here.
• Volunteer signups for Cabot can be found here.

• Montpelier businesses need dry, multi-thousand square foot space for storage, inventory, and prep as well as access to commissary kitchens.
• No known collections at present. (See general guidance above.)