The COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic is a constantly evolving situation that is important for all of us to be educated and updated on. Be on the lookout for important new updates on this page.
Find the Latest Governor’s Executive Orders here:
https://governor.vermont.gov/document-types/executive-orders
Continuity of Operations Plans and Mutual Aid Agreements between Municipalities
To facilitate emergency planning in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, please find the following links to plans and a sample agreement as a way to record and formalize agreements for sharing specific resources or services with another municipality. These are written to accommodate a wide range of situations, so users are urged to customize it carefully and appropriately. Please contact SWCRPC for assistance.
General Resources
Visit the following resources for timely updates and information on this ever-changing situation:
- Vermont Department of Health
- Coronavirus Information for Local Officials- Vermont Emergency Management
- COVID-19 Vermont Emergency Management Update Call for Municipalities (scheduled every Friday at 2 pm, Form for questions, 1-802-828-7667, Conference ID: 964 173 196#)
- Center for Disease Control- COVID-19 Information
- FEMA- COVID-19 Emergency Declaration
- VT League of Cities & Towns- COVID-19 Resources and Recommendations for Municipalities
The SWCRPC is following the Governor’s guidance to help slow the spread of COVID-19 (i.e. novel coronavirus) and to protect the health and safety of our staff, board members, partners and the general public. Starting Wednesday, March 18th, the SWCRPC office will be closed and staff will be working remotely. You can reach all staff members as usual by email or voicemail. We are working from home and will respond as quickly as possible.
Information on nationwide Emergency Declaration (ED) for COVID-19
ED#3437 will allow critical private non-profits, state agencies and municipalities who sustained costs related to COVID-19 to apply for FEMA Federal disaster funding. At this time, it’s unsure what costs will fall under FEMA Public Assistance (PA) eligibility. We do know that disaster related costs under Category B (emergency protective measures) are eligible (See eligible emergency protective measures fact sheet). This Category B work includes working in a call center, emergency operation costs related to COVID-19, food distribution and medical supplies. SWCRPC would recommend that if potential applicants feel they have these costs under emergency protective measures to contact Kim Canarecci at VEM, to discuss with the State agency/PNP/Town to determine if they should apply under the FEMA PA program. Applications (called Request for Public Assistance- RPA’s) are submitted through the Grants Portal. PLEASE MAINTAIN any costs related to COVID-19 and keep them separate from regular job duty expenses.
In order for Private Non-profits to be eligible for PA, they are required to be critical. Please see the attached PNP Eligibility table for a list of critical PNP’s.
Businesses are not eligible for FEMA Public Assistance, but can apply for a small business administration loan (SBA). That information is attached under VT16361and VT16361 EIDL Fact sheet.
The U.S. Small Business Administration has approved the Economic Injury Disaster Declaration for the State of Vermont. Small businesses and private nonprofits can now apply for the low-interest working capital disaster loan online at: https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela or by contacting our Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 to request a paper application. Please see the attached Declaration and Fact sheet for advanced viewing. SBA QUESTIONS: FOCECOVID-19EIDL@sba.gov.
COVID-19 Updates for Municipalities
Remote Meeting Toolkit and Checklists: https://www.vlct.org/municipal-assistance/municipal-topics/remote-public-meeting-toolkit
Recently revised: “What are essential government services” https://www.vlct.org/essentialfunctions
Town Office Closure FAQs: https://www.vlct.org/sites/default/files/documents/Resource/Town%20Office%20Closures%20Related%20to%20Covid-19%20FAQs.pdf
Financial compensation for expenses towns incur handling the outbreak: vem.vermont.gov/news/information-federal-public-assistance-eligibility-covid-19
Public Assistance related information: https://vem.vermont.gov/news/information-federal-public-assistance-eligibility-covid-19
If you wish to apply for Public Assistance COVID-19 Funding, and are eligible as a town, state agency, and/or critical private non-profit you can apply by filling out an Request for Public Assistance form (RPA) found here:
Critical Private Non-Profits are also required to complete the PNP Applicants briefing packet that is attached as a PDF.
Grants Portal training so that towns can go in and enter information to apply and submit RPA and PNP information.
CARES act: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/3548