The need for relief
When it comes to pandemic relief dollars, all eyes are on Congress which is taking steps toward a new federal bill to help with the financial impact of the crisis.
Businesses are certainly among those watching. Though many Vermont business owners have partially reopened their operations, many companies face a rough summer amid revenue declines and often with a smaller workforce.
“We definitely need a new stimulus package,” said PJ Skehan, executive director of the Hartford Area Chamber of Commerce. “We need another lift here to get us through.”
Chambers have been busy keeping businesses informed of relief opportunities. For example, the application process opened Monday for a new economic relief grant program to help sole proprietors, which comprise a large portion of the business community in Vermont. Skehan said Tuesday he was encouraging people to apply for the funds if they haven’t already.
“Don’t leave any money on the table,” he said.
The federally funded Vermont Sole Proprietor Stabilization Program will provide grants of $5,000, $7,500 or $10,000 to qualifying sole proprietors through a lottery draw. The grants will be awarded through a lottery system on Aug. 14. Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation (BDCC) and Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission (TRORC) will be administering funds. More details are available at the program portal.
As state officials have many times acknowledged, the relief funding already offered is not enough during such a widespread pandemic. But hopefully it will at least be of some help as businesses look to stabilize their operations, in anticipation of additional assistance.
Naturally there is trepidation about the new relief plan Congress hopes to hammer out. On Tuesday, Vermont Gov. Phil Scott understandably said Vermont was in a “holding pattern” on reopening more sectors, with the recent surges in COVID-19 cases elsewhere in the country. If that continues, and restrictions cannot be further lifted, business relief will be all the more critical as this challenging summer wares on into the fall.
Still, Vermont’s pandemic data continues to provide a good basis for progress. As the governor noted in his Tuesday remarks, Vermont now has the lowest number of COVID-19 cases in the nation. While many still struggle amid the financial impact, it’s still important to forge ahead and work together to hold that progress, and build on it. If the past few months are any indication, we’ve proven we can do so.
— Gareth Henderson
