How to Apply

 

  1. Review the Grant Eligibility and Criteria below to determine if you are eligible
  2. Complete the Small Business Resiliency Fund Grant Application
  3. Prepare a Small Business Resiliency Fund Financial Profile
  4. Applicants selected for further consideration will be invited to submit a Financial Profile for review

 

Timeline

November 6, 2020             Application Live

November 16, 2020           Applications Due at 11:59pm

November 19, 2020           Applicants selected for further consideration receive invitation to submit Financial Profile

November 29, 2020           Financial Profiles due at 11:59pm

December 18, 2020            Applicants notified

 

Eligibility

For-profit (business) members of Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (VBSR) are eligible for a Small Business Resiliency Fund grant if they meet the following:

 

  • Applicant’s VBSR membership must be in good standing, and they joined VBSR prior to 12/31/19
  • Business must be in good standing with the State of Vermont
  • Business must employ 30 or fewer employees (FTE)
  • Annual revenues of the business must be greater than $50,000 and less than $5 million
  • Business must operate in Vermont and have a majority of its shareholders in Vermont
  • Businesses who can demonstrate financial stress or disrupted operations related to COVID-19, such as:
    • Inability to make loan payments due to reduced sales or suspended operation
    • Increased cost related to COVID-19 prevention measure
    • Disrupted supply network leading to shortage of critical inventory or materials
    • Required cease of operations due to government mandate
    • Other circumstances subject to review on a case by case basis
  • Businesses who meet one or more of the following categories:

Downtown Vitality

Locally owned downtown businesses who provide jobs, services, and amenities to local residents, including clean transportation and equitable/affordable housing.

Local Food System

Local food and beverage manufacturers, Vermont farms, food hubs, farmers markets, food co-operatives, eateries that support local economies (such as cafe’s and restaurants), and businesses who provide services to the local food economy.

Green Economy

Businesses that contribute to reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities and promote sustainable development. Examples include green/net-zero building and construction; sustainable product design; material efficiency; waste prevention; upcycling, recycling and recovery; waste to energy; and renewable energy technologies.

Health & Wellness

Businesses whose products and/or services contribute to the emotional, mental, and physical well-being of their local community and/or Vermont.

Social Change

Enterprises who use their platform and/or offer services to promote and foster any of the following: socially responsible investing, justice, diversity equity and inclusion, climate action and sustainability, family-friendly workplaces, and community empowerment. 

Non-profit organizations are not eligible. Businesses with full or partial ownership by VBSR staff, VBSR Board members, or their families are not eligible.

Criteria

A committee of VBSR partners will select proposals based upon financial viability, need, and triple-bottom-line excellence:

 

Financial Viability will be measured by the information provided in the Financial Profile, including cash flow, revenue, and changes to the business model between 2019-2020.

 

Need will be measured by the information provided in the Financial Profile, and is defined as follows:

  • Inability to make loan payments due to reduced sales or suspended operation
  • Increased cost related to COVID-19 prevention measure
  • Disrupted supply network leading to shortage of critical inventory or materials
  • Required cease of operations due to government mandate
  • Other circumstances subject to review on a case by case basis

 

Triple-Bottom-Line Excellence will be measured by the applicant’s ability to rebuild, sustain, and grow their operations through a “triple-bottom-line” focused on people, planet, and prosperity through:

 

Employee-First Workplaces

Examples include: Investing in company culture; Generous and forward thinking employee benefits; Policies and practices that support employees’ family and financial stability

Investment in Local Economies

Examples include: Providing jobs, products, and services to the local community; Utilizing local suppliers for purchasing and business operations; Banking with a local credit union/bank; Business investors are local

Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

Examples include: Demonstrated commitment to justice, equity, diversity and inclusion through Employee education and training; Business policies and practices; Leveraging business brand to bring awareness to issues and opportunities; and Community engagement and/or support

Environmental Sustainability

Examples include: Using renewable energy and environmental design; Environmentally friendly operations and/or supply chain; Supporting clean transportation; Participating in climate resilience initiatives

Positive Community Impact

Examples include: Supporting and partnering with non-profits and community organizations; Supporting employee volunteering; Investing in community development

For more information, please see our Frequently Asked Questions.

 

The VBSR Small Business Resiliency Fund is Supported By:

Mascoma Bank LogoGreen_Mountain_Power_Logo              VSECU Logo

                  Gardener's Supply Logo