Agency of Commerce & Community Development - 2021 Legislative Session Wrap-Up - Town of Bristol, Vermont
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Agency of
Commerce &
Community
Development
2021 Legislative Session Wrap-Up
6/3/2021
WHERE WE STARTED IN JANUARY…
$210M
“We must remember, despite this rosy picture, COVID-19 is still
impacting families and businesses. The promise of a future
rebound doesn’t offer much consolation to those facing
devastating losses and sustained unemployment. We know too
many small businesses are on the brink - months, weeks and even
days away from closing their doors for good. So, we must continue
doing all we can to keep them open.”
– Governor Phil Scott, January 26, 2021
Budget Address
2AMERICAN RECOVERY PLAN ACT $1.25B
Governor’s Proposal GENERAL ASSEMBLY PROPOSAL
Proposed expenditures of $1.225 billion over the
Proposed expenditures of $1.049 billion over the
next three fiscal years.
next four fiscal years, with most of the expenditures *Identifies ARPA-CSFRF, other federal funds and State funds as the source of
spent in the next three fiscal years. funds.
•$250 million for the health, well-being and recovery
‘Transformational investments’ into the following: of Vermonters; workforce development; and business
•$143 million for economic development and supports
pandemic recovery •$250 million for climate change mitigation
•$200 million to address climate change •$225 for clean water initiatives
•$170 million for clean water and sewer/stormwater •$250 million for a wide array of housing
upgrades •$250 million for broadband and connectivity
•$249 million for housing
•$250.5 million for broadband and connectivity Does not account for administrative costs.
•$17 million in administrative costs
$575.2 million (FY ’22)
$365,750,000 (FY ‘22)
TOTAL less contingency language
$475.2 million
3ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
•$2.3 million to ACCD for Working Community Challenge grants
•$2 million for Tourism and Marketing
•$150k for outreach and technical assistance to BIPOC-owned
Economic
businesses
•$800k for Technology Based Economic Development
•$1.5 million for ‘Better Places’
Development
•$11 million to ACCD for business grants relating to Brownfield
remediation & Workforce
•$10.58 million for Capital Investment Grants (policy is
consistent with Governor’s proposal; funding falls short) TOTAL: $109.2 million
•$20 million for Economic Recovery Bridge Program (policy is
consistent with Governor’s proposal; Act 9 includes an additional
$10M for the program, making program total $30M.
•$2 million for microbusiness support – through the DCF Office
of Economic Opportunity.
•$1 million to UVM for the office of engagement
4 6/3/2021GO-LIVE APPLICATION DATE: June 7 @ 9:00AM
Priority for the first 30 days will be given to businesses that have
not received or does not have a pending application for any ECONOMIC
State or Federal financial assistance in 2020 or 2021 including,
but not limited to:
O Paycheck Protection Program loans and Grants
RECOVERY
O Economic Injury Disaster Loans and Grants
O Vermont Economic Recovery Grant
O Sole Proprietor Stabilization Program Grant
BRIDGE
O Healthcare Provider Grants
O Restaurant Revitalization Grants Funding PROGRAM
O Shuttered Venue Grants
O Vermont Agricultural Grants
$30,000,000
After the initial 30-day window, second tier priority will be given
to businesses who suffered a 2020 net tax loss and can still
demonstrate a net loss after adding back the amounts of non-
taxable assistance received in 2020 and 2021.
https://accd.vermont.gov/covid-19/economic-recovery-bridge-program
5 6/3/2021The purpose of the program is to make funding available for
transformational projects that will provide each region of the
State with the opportunity to attract businesses, retain existing
businesses, create jobs, and invest in their communities by
encouraging capital investments and economic growth.
Capital
• $1,500,000 max award amount Investment
• Grant funds can be used for the acquisition of property and
• equipment, construction, renovation, and related capital
expenses
Grants
$10,580,000
• Interagency Team to be established to review, analyze, and
recommend projects for funding based on:
• the estimated net State fiscal impact of a project
• transformational nature of the project for the region;
• project readiness, quality, and demonstrated
collaboration with stakeholders and other funding
sources;
• alignment and consistency with regional plans and
priorities; and
• creation and retention of workforce opportunities.
6 6/3/2021• $200,000 to provide technical assistance to first-time
applicants pursuing a federal SBIR or STTR grant.
Technology
• $400,000 to provide a 50 percent State matching grant, up
to $50,000 to businesses that receive a federal SBIR/STTR
Phase I or Phase II grant.
Based
• $200,000.00 to provide a 100 percent matching grant to
Vermont small businesses: Economic
• to purchase services and technical assistance from
universities and research institutions, including research
and development assistance, technology assessments,
Development
$800,000
product prototyping, lab validation, and overcoming
development hurdles; and
• to establish better relationships among Vermont
businesses and higher education researchers, speed
time-to-market for new technologies, and help keep
Vermont companies relevant in the marketplace
7 6/3/2021• Act 9: $14,000,000 to the Department of Environmental
Conservation for brownfield remediation and environmental
clean-up
• H.439: $11,000,000 to the Agency of Commerce and
Community
BROWNFIELDS
Development to “be used in the same manner as the Total: $25,000,000
Brownfields Revitalization Fund established by 10 V.S.A. § 6654,
except notwithstanding the grant limitations in 10 V.S.A. §
6654, projects supported by this appropriation shall not be
limited to $200,000 grants per parcel.”
• $1,000,000 in fiscal year 2022 to regional planning
commissions for the purposes of brownfields
assessment.
8 6/3/2021WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT INVESTMENTS
•$650k for the ‘new’ and ‘remote’ worker programs created
under ACCD
•$2 million for the Department of Labor for apprenticeship
programs
•$1 million to UVM for research grant opportunities relating to
Workforce
COVID-19
•$10 million to the Vermont State Colleges for:
• $2 million to provide two courses to Vermonters whose
employment was impacted by COVID-19
• $3 million in degree completion scholarships
• $5 million for one year of tuition support for Vermonters
Investments
enrolled in critical occupation tracks
• $21 million to the Vermont State Colleges for pandemic-
related deficits
• $2.2 million to UVM to hold room and board rates level
•$300k in Adult CTE grants for equipment and to contract with
curriculum development experts
•$400k to Career and Technical Centers
•$100k to VSAC for Adult Training Scholarships at CTEs
9 6/3/2021New Relocated Worker Program – $480,000
• Eligibility starts July 1, 2021 for individuals moving to
Vermont to work for a VT company
• Base grant of $5,000
• “Enhanced Grant” of $7,500 if newly relocated worker moved
to a specific labor market area
RELOCATED
• Full-time resident, full-time employee, employer attestation
• Launch Date: To Be Announced… WORKER
Starting January 2022…$130,000
$650,000
• Eligibility expands to “remote workers” who:
• Full-time residents, work full-time & from home (or co-
working space) for an out-of-state business;
• Subject to VT income tax
Department of Financial Regulation Efficacy Study - $40,000
10 6/3/2021• $1,400,000 to promote Vermont’s travel, recreation, culinary,
TOURISM AND
arts, culture, agritourism, and heritage experiences to attract
visitors and stimulate visitor spending with local attractions
and small businesses in rural communities and throughout
MARKETING
the State; and
• $600,000 to develop a grant program to enable local, FUNDING
regional, or statewide organizations to implement campaigns
and initiatives that increase consumer spending, support
local businesses, and advance community recovery efforts to
$2,000,000
support businesses in Vermont that have suffered economic
harm due to the COVID-19 public health emergency.
11 6/3/2021Goal of the program is to, “help local leaders identify, develop,
and implement placemaking projects by creating the Better
Places Program to advance local recovery efforts, rebuild local
economies, boost local capacity, and reconnect Vermonters to
one another—critical elements that help communities recover
quickly and build prosperous and resilient communities in the
future.”
BETTER
PLACES
• Establishes “Better Places Fund” at DHCD
• Grants to a municipality, a nonprofit organization, or a
community group with a fiscal sponsor for a project that is
located in or serves a designated downtown, village center,
new town center, or neighborhood development area that will
create a new public space or revitalize or activate an existing
$1,500,000
public space.
• The minimum amount of a grant award is $5,000 and the
maximum amount of a grant award is $40,000
• A donor may not contribute more than $10,000 or 35 percent
of the campaign goal, whichever is less.
• An applicant shall provide matching funds raised through
• crowdfunding of not less than 33 percent of the grant award
12 6/3/2021ARPA
• $94 million to the Vermont Housing Conservation
Board (VHCB) to expand capacity in homeless
shelters and build new housing which prioritized
homeless Vermonters
HOUSING
• $5 million for the Vermont Housing Incentive
Program rental housing incentives
GENERAL FUND/NON-ARPA
• $40 million in GF to VHCB for mixed-income
housing
INVESTMENTS
• $36 million in Consolidated Appropriations Act
Emergency Rental Assistance Program (non-ARPA $190 million
federal funds) for DCF’s emergency housing
program
• $15 million in rental assistance to reach up
beneficiaries
13 6/3/2021• $40,000,000 in fiscal year 2021 is appropriated
HOUSING
from the General Fund for affordable housing
initiatives.
• $94,000,000 to the Vermont Housing and
Conservation Board (VHCB) from ARPA to: Vermont Housing Conservation
• provide housing and increase shelter capacity,
with priority given to populations who may be
Board
displaced from the hotel/motel voucher $134,000,000
problem or are currently without housing,
including by providing permanent homes in
mixed-income settings.
Vermont Housing Investment
• $5,000,000 to the Vermont Housing Investment Program
Program to fund rental housing investment $5,000,000
programs and homeowner purchase and
rehabilitation investments.
14 6/4/2021HOUSING
• $36 million in CARES Act funding for DCF’s
emergency housing program
RENTAL
• $15 million (GF) in rental assistance to reach up
beneficiaries ASSISTANCE
$51,000,000
15 6/3/2021• $150 million for accelerated community
broadband
• Establishes a “Vermont Community Broadband
Board” with a Connectivity Initiative and
standards for delivery and buildout
BROADBAND
• Pre-Construction Community Grant Program
• Funding for a “Rural Broadband Technical
INVESTMENTS
Assistance Specialist”
• Workforce training program for technicians and AND EXPANSION
installers
Total: $150 million
“With respect to federal funds potentially available
to the State of Vermont in fiscal years 2021 and
2022, the General Assembly establishes as a high
priority providing support for community efforts that
advance the State’s goal of achieving universal
access to reliable, high-quality, affordable
broadband…”
16 6/3/2021You can also read
