Some relief grant checks coming out soon
Checks will soon be in the mail for applicants to two pandemic relief grant programs, Vermont officials said.
Those include grants for some frontline workers and health care organizations. Both programs are backed by federal COVID-19 relief money that was allocated by the Legislature.
The Frontline Employees Hazardous Pay Grant Program saw 460 applications since the online application portal opened in early August. As of Friday, 70 applications met the program’s criteria, and they will collectively receive a total of $10,397,000 in grant funding. Those 70 checks will hit the mail early this coming week, according to Mike Smith, Vermont’s secretary of human services, who spoke to the media Friday. The hazardous pay grant program, funded by $28 million in aid, was for certain public safety, public health and human services employers whose workers were substantially involved in Vermont’s COVID-19 response between March 13 and May 13. The employers will be passing the payments along to the employees.
The other grant initiative addressed Friday was the Health Care Provider Stabilization Program, which is currently preparing to send out its first batch of payments. This program, supported by $275 million in relief funds, was meant to stabilize the financial foundation of the health care system and ensure access to care, including at smaller local practices. The grants were to cover lost revenue and increased expenses related to COVID-19 which occurred between March 1 and June 15. The state has seen a total of 351 applications from eligible providers, and Smith said the first batch of award recipients will be notified this coming week. That first group includes 93 applicants who will collectively receive $4,459,000.
“These were mostly smaller entities who were severely impacted by COVID-19, and we’re trying to get those (checks) out as quickly as possible,” Smith said. Further grant awards for larger health care organizations are expected in the coming weeks.
Certainly, these initial grant rewards will help cover some emergency needs related to the pandemic. However, as Gov. Phil Scott said Friday, these funds are not enough, and efforts to support Vermonters and revive the economy will continue.
— Gareth Henderson
