State of Vermont

Recovery Plan 

State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds

2021 Report
State of Vermont 

2021 Recovery Plan 

Contents

Executive Summary............................................................................................................................2

Uses of Funds.....................................................................................................................................2

Public Health (EC 1)...............................................................................................................................2

Negative Economic Impacts (EC 2)........................................................................................................3

Services to Disproportionately Impacted Communities (EC 3).............................................................3

Premium Pay (EC 4)...............................................................................................................................4

Water, Sewer, and Broadband Infrastructure (EC 5)............................................................................4

Revenue Replacement (EC 6)................................................................................................................4

Administrative or Other (EC 7)..............................................................................................................4

Promoting Equitable Outcomes..........................................................................................................5

Community Engagement....................................................................................................................5

Labor Practices ..................................................................................................................................5

Use of Evidence .................................................................................................................................5

Table of Expenses by Expenditure Category ........................................................................................5

Project Inventory ...............................................................................................................................0

EC 1: Public Health Programs....................................................................................................................0

EC 2: Negative Economic Impacts.............................................................................................................1

EC3: Programs Providing Services to Disproportionately Impacted Communities ..................................7

EC4: Premium Pay.....................................................................................................................................9

EC5: Infrastructure Programs....................................................................................................................9

EC6: Revenue Replacement....................................................................................................................13

EC7: Administrative.................................................................................................................................13

Performance Report...........................................................................................................................0

Ineligible Activities: Tax Offset Provision ............................................................................................1
General Overview

Executive Summary

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused extraordinary loss and hardship throughout Vermont, the country, 

and the world. Although challenges continue, as the nation struggles with the highly contagious Delta 

variant, Vermont is committed to continuing to lead the nation as we move from response to recovery.

The success Vermont has had in responding to COVID-19 is a testament to the state’s residents—people 

who watch out for their neighbors, who care about their communities, and who follow science. As 

Vermont determines and launches its Recovery Plan funded with State Fiscal Recovery (SFR) funds, it will 

do so with the same commitment to our vulnerable neighbors and communities, and we will follow the 

evidence to design effective and efficient programs. 

Vermont’s SFR Recovery Plan will focus on transparent spending priorities that result in tangible, 

transformative results delivered in a timely manner. The pandemic is not the first crisis to have 

challenged many of Vermont’s most vulnerable, and it won’t be the last. The SFR funds provide an 

opportunity to provide a solid foundation for community resilience as we face the next crises. Vermont 

is committed to using its State Fiscal Recovery Funds on results-oriented programs that provide the 

greatest long term recovery opportunities to populations the hardest hit by the pandemic. Vermont’s 

lower income populations, communities lacking essential communication or water/sewer infrastructure, 

and the state’s numerous small businesses are the initial focus of SFR fund appropriations. 

Uses of Funds

Public Health (EC 1)

Vermont’s public health response to COVID-19 has been a model for the country. Over the last year and 

a half, Vermont has taken the stance that public health and safety is paramount. Vermont’s long history 

of prioritizing health and ensuring a strong health system meant that we entered the pandemic with a 

strong foundation, which the state immediately sought to stabilize and reinforce with the original round 

of CARES Act funding and the Coronavirus Relief Fund. We sought to protect our most vulnerable with a 

robust contact tracing and testing program and universal testing at group home locations. Vermont’s 

people, known for both their self-sufficiency and their community mindedness, followed the “one cow’s 

length” social distancing, masking, and other public health guidance needed to slow the spread of 

COVID-19 and keep themselves and their neighbors safe. 

On June 14, 2021, having met the goal of 80% of eligible Vermonters vaccinated against COVID-19, 

Governor Scott ended all COVID-19 related restrictions in the state. Despite having hit this remarkable 

milestone earlier than any other state, we know that the public health needs prompted by recovery 

from the COVID crisis is far from over. Variants, like the current Delta variant, will remain a threat that 

require constant monitoring and preventative measures. Vermont is committed to keeping our 

vulnerable populations safe as variants emerge. Current anticipated programs to further this goal 

include:

• $15 million appropriated to improve air quality in schools 

• $5 million to support operating costs at adult day service providers
COVID-19 isn’t the only threat to public health Vermonters are struggling with. The pandemic has 

exposed and exacerbated mental health needs. Vermont is committed to providing the mental health 

services its residents need, and has established a $4 million program to expand and improve mental 

health facilities in the state. Additionally, Vermont has funded a $600,000 pilot program for a mobile 

crisis intervention program in Rutland (part of which is a Qualified Census Track area).

Negative Economic Impacts (EC 2)

The economic impact of COVID-19 put many of Vermont’s small businesses in vulnerable economic 

positions. The state has moved quickly since the beginning of the pandemic to provide assistance and 

help stabilize the small businesses critical to Vermont’s communities and economy. Last summer, with 

CRF funding, the state provided millions in small business support, premium pay, rent and utility 

assistance, and other key initiatives to stabilize communities. With the SRF funds, Vermont is seeking to 

both continue the short term assistance needed to drive stability during these uncertain economic 

times, and to make strategic investments to grow the skills of Vermont workers, help heavily impacted 

industries recover, and help our low and moderate income communities grow to long term stability and 

independence. 

Immediate response programs include grants through the Agency of Commerce and Community 

Development to assist businesses in Vermont impacted by the pandemic, focusing on multiple industries 

(including tourism/hospitality) severely impacted by the pandemic. A new microbusiness assistance 

program has also been funded, to assist the Vermont microbusiness owners impacted by COVID-19 and 

to help new businesses started by individuals who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic 

through layoffs, furloughs, or reduced hours or due to being employed in an industry that has been 

severely affected.

Vermont’s economic assistance will also provide significant assistance to assist those members of the 

workforce impacted by COVID-19—seeking to better equip them with the skills they need and to help 

train them in critical industries and occupations. Vermont will launch a variety of programs that focus on 

improving the workforce skills of Vermonters, including a program focused on high school students that 

have graduated and entered the workforce during remote or hybrid learning in 2020 or 2021. For those 

low income residents hardest hit by the pandemic, the state is providing scholarship assistance to grow 

job skills and help transition to new careers. Vermont’s Practical Nurse Program will support 

scholarships and on-the-job training to address the critical shortage of qualified healthcare 

professionals. 

Workforce training requires robust educational institutions able to meet the needs of the pandemic 

recovery. The State of Vermont has allocated funds and provided grants to the Vermont State Colleges 

system and the University of Vermont, recognizing the significant and ongoing impact faced by the 

higher education sector, and the critical role these institutions will serve in the recovery. 

Services to Disproportionately Impacted Communities (EC 3)

In prioritizing uses of funds to better serve disproportionately impacted communities, the State of 

Vermont is focused initially on addressing the critical shortfall of affordable housing in the state. 

Vermont has allocated $64,000,000 to a statewide housing recovery program that will fund the 

development of low income housing and additional infrastructure for housing insecure communities. 
Vermont is also seeking to assist residents in making necessary investments to their homes to maintain 

and upgrade the living situations of low income Vermonters. Several programs will launch to help 

vulnerable Vermonters with weatherization and heating home repair—improving energy efficiency and 

ensuring continued livability of homes through harsh Vermont winters. The Affordable Community-Scale 

Renewable Energy Program will fund renewable energy projects for Vermonters living in low income 

rental units. These programs aim to not only provide structural upgrades, but also help Vermonters 

reduce energy costs in the long term, essential for many families that saw reductions to their income 

during COVID-19. These projects, although they are aimed primarily at mitigating the impact of COVID19 on low-income communities, will also have ancillary benefits in addressing climate change. 

Premium Pay (EC 4)

The State of Vermont provided premium pay through the Coronavirus Relief Fund. As of the date of this 

Recovery Plan, no further premium pay is anticipated. 

Water, Sewer, and Broadband Infrastructure (EC 5)

Vermont’s natural environment—mountainous terrain and numerous river valleys— and the low 

population density of much of the state makes infrastructure challenging. Water infrastructure varies 

significantly around the state, with some residents served by municipal or regional water and sewer 

systems, and other served by private wells and septic systems. Further, climate-change driven severe 

weather events have also caused significant flooding events on a regular basis, requiring significant 

upgrades to stormwater systems. Vermont is focused on using SFR funds to improve wastewater 

treatment, drinking and sewage water, and stormwater infrastructure improvement projects. We are in 

the initial phase of identifying eligible projects and developing the capacity needed to manage these 

projects.

Broadband infrastructure development faces the same geographic and population density challenges as 

water infrastructure. To best plan and coordinate the deployment of broadband, Vermont has 

established the Vermont Community Broadband Board to coordinate, facilitate, support, and accelerate 

the development and implementation of universal community broadband solutions. The board will 

develop policies and programs to accelerate community efforts that advance the State’s goal of 

achieving universal access to reliable, high-quality, affordable, fixed broadband achieving speeds of at 

least 100 Mbps symmetrical.

Revenue Replacement (EC 6)

The State of Vermont does not anticipate that it has revenue losses sufficient to fund programs in the 

revenue replacement expenditure category.

Administrative or Other (EC 7)

The State of Vermont faces an administrative and technology challenge managing and efficiently using 

the federal funding available. Governor Scott has charged his administration with ensuring that the SFR 

and other federal funds produce tangible, transformative results in a timely and transparent manner. 

This charge requires careful coordination and management of the funding and the secure and effective 

technology tools needed to facilitate the programs contemplated. To meet these needs, the State of 

Vermont targeted upgrades for its cybersecurity core infrastructure and router replacements, and 

targeted system implementations that provide better access to essential government services and 
documents. For example, the state is investing in digitization for essential information such as land 

records— easy access to which is key to timely infrastructure and housing project planning.

Promoting Equitable Outcomes 

The State of Vermont’s demographics and population distribution requires an approach to pandemic 

recovery that recognizes and addresses the unique challenges faced by communities throughout 

Vermont. Vermont’s largest urban area, Chittenden County, has nearly triple the population of any 

other county in Vermont; its poverty rate, however, is similar to that of the state overall. Many of 

Vermont’s rural areas struggle with poverty, lack of economic opportunities, and limited access to 

services. Vermont’s inclusive approach to pandemic recovery recognizes that the low-income

populations in Chittenden County face different pandemic related challenges than those of the much 

more rural Essex and Grand Isle communities. The state is committed to a recovery that recognizes and 

addresses the unique challenges faced by communities based on their major economic sectors, their 

demographics, their proximity to social and government services, and their access to technology.

The state has a strong commitment to equity built into its administrative processes. Each new program 

launched in Vermont, SRF funded or funded through state funds, requires agencies and departments to 

complete an Equity Impact Assessment. These assessments require that agencies and departments 

carefully consider equity when designing and implementing programs. 

Community Engagement 

Vermont is in the early stages of identifying projects within the large program appropriations. As the 

state moves forward in its SFR funding, it will do so with the active participation of communities across 

Vermont and with the priorities of the Governor’s office, the Vermont Legislature and the residents of 

Vermont.

Labor Practices 

Although the Davis-Bacon Act of 1931 does not apply to this funding, Vermont has strong labor practices 

incorporated in its statewide guidance. Vermont’s Bulletin 3.5 provides the state’s contracting 

requirements, including provisions for labor on state construction and transportation projects.

Vermont’s Bulletin 5 provides guidance for subgrants. Vermont will be adding an SFR addendum to its 

standard Bulletin 3.5 and Bulletin 5, specific to SFR.

Use of Evidence

The State of Vermont is committed to efficient and effective use of the SFR funds. We are in the 

foundational stages of many programs, but as programs and projects develop will use rigorous methods 

to evaluate and design SFR fund programs. 

Table of Expenses by Expenditure Category

Please note that the below table is based on initial assessments of expenditure categories at the 

appropriations level, and are subject to adjustment (especially within infrastructure categories) as the 

state identifies and funds additional projects within these larger appropriations.
Category Cumulative 

expenditures to 

date ($)

Amount spent 

since last 

Recovery Plan

1 Expenditure Category: Public Health

1.1 COVID-19 Vaccination

1.2 COVID-19 Testing

1.3 COVID-19 Contact Tracing

1.4 Prevention in Congregate Settings (Nursing Homes, 

Prisons/Jails, Dense Work Sites, Schools, etc.)

1.5 Personal P1.7rotective Equipment

1.6 Medical Expenses (including Alternative Care 

Facilities

1.7 Capital Investments or Physical Plant Changes to 

Public Facilities that respond to the COVID-19 public 

health emergency

1.8 Other COVID-19 Public Health Expenses (including 

Communications, Enforcement, 

Isolation/Quarantine)

1.9 Payroll Costs for Public Health, Safety, and Other 

Public Sector Staff Responding to COVID-19

1.10 Mental Health Services

1.11 Substance Use Services

1.12 Other Public Health Services

2 Expenditure Category: Negative Economic Impacts $131,284.80 $131,284.80

2.1 Household Assistance: Food Programs 

2.2 Household Assistance: Rent, Mortgage, and Utility 

Aid 

2.3 Household Assistance: Cash Transfers 

2.4 Household Assistance: Internet Access Programs

2.5 Household Assistance: Eviction Prevention

2.6 Unemployment Benefits or Cash Assistance to 

Unemployed Workers

2.7 Job Training Assistance (e.g., Sectoral job-training, 

Subsidized Employment, Employment Supports or 

Incentives)

2.8 Contributions to UI Trust Funds*

2.9 Small Business Economic Assistance (General)

2.10 Aid to nonprofit organizations

2.11 Aid to Tourism, Travel, or Hospitality

2.12 Aid to Other Impacted Industries $131,284.80 $131,284.80

2.13 Other Economic Support 

2.14 Rehiring Public Sector Staff

3 Expenditure Category: Services to 

Disproportionately Impacted Communities
Category Cumulative 

expenditures to 

date ($)

Amount spent 

since last 

Recovery Plan

3.1 Education Assistance: Early Learning 

3.2 Education Assistance: Aid to High-Poverty Districts

3.3 Education Assistance: Academic Services 

3.4 Education Assistance: Social, Emotional, and Mental 

Health Services 

3.5 Education Assistance: Other 

3.6 Healthy Childhood Environments: Child Care 

3.7 Healthy Childhood Environments: Home Visiting 

3.8 Healthy Childhood Environments: Services to Foster 

Youth or Families Involved in Child Welfare System 

3.9. Healthy Childhood Environments: Other 

3.10 Housing Support: Affordable Housing 

3.11 Housing Support: Services for Unhoused persons 

3.12 Housing Support: Other Housing Assistance 

3.13 Social Determinants of Health: Other 

3.14 Social Determinants of Health: Community Health 

Workers or Benefits Navigators 

3.15 Social Determinants of Health: Lead Remediation

3.16 Social Determinants of Health: Community Violence 

Interventions 

4 Expenditure Category: Premium Pay

4.1 Public Sector Employees

4.2 Private Sector: Grants to other employers 

5 Expenditure Category: Infrastructure

5.1 Clean Water: Centralized wastewater treatment

5.2 Clean Water: Centralized wastewater collection and 

conveyance

5.3 Clean Water: Decentralized wastewater

5.4 Clean Water: Combined sewer overflows

5.5 Clean Water: Other sewer infrastructure

5.6 Clean Water: Stormwater

5.7 Clean Water: Energy conservation

5.8 Clean Water: Water conservation

5.9 Clean Water: Nonpoint source 

5.10 Drinking water: Treatment

5.11 Drinking water: Transmission & distribution

5.12 Drinking water: Transmission & distribution: lead 

remediation

5.13 Drinking water: Source

5.14 Drinking water: Storage 
Category Cumulative 

expenditures to 

date ($)

Amount spent 

since last 

Recovery Plan

5.15 Drinking water: Other water infrastructure

5.16 Broadband: “Last Mile” projects

5.17 Broadband: Other projects

6 Expenditure Category: Revenue Replacement

6.1 Provision of Government Services

7 Administrative and Other

7.1 Administrative Expenses 

7.2 Evaluation and data analysis 

7.3 Transfers to Other Units of Government

7.4 Transfers to Nonentitlement Units 

(States and Territories only)
Project Inventory

Vermont is in the foundational stages of establishing the State Fiscal Recovery Fund programs and their component projects. The Vermont 

legislature has appropriated many of the funds to priorities around the state. The tables below includes information on the high level SFR fund 

programs as appropriated by the Vermont legislature. Entities responsible for establishing specific projects within these legislatively 

appropriated programs are currently working to identify appropriate specific projects (including evidence-based projects) within these 

appropriations and to establish details of how the projects will be structured and administered. As individual projects are identified they may be 

assigned different Expenditure Categories than their initial assignment here for the purposes of this Report. The State of Vermont Recovery Plan

Performance Report in future years will include more details on these programs, their component projects, required key performance indicators, 

and other performance metrics as required by both the Treasury and the state.

EC 1: Public Health Programs

Expenditure 

Category

Program 

Identification 

Number

Program Name Funding amount Program Overview

1.4-

Prevention in 

Congregate 

Settings

AOE-5100892105 School Indoor Air 

Quality Grant 

Program

$ 15,000,000 The Agency of Education will provide grant funds to 

Vermont K-12 covered schools (public schools and 

approved Independent Schools) to improve air quality in 

congregate settings via upgrades to heating, ventilation, 

and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.

1.4-

Prevention in 

Congregate 

Settings

AHS-3460892201 Adult Day 

Service Provider 

Grants

$ 5,000,000 This program supports COVID-19-related expenses and 

financial stability grants at the 11 adult day service 

providers in Vermont. These congregate program

facilities were heavily impacted by COVID-19. 

1.10-

Mental 

Health 

Services

AHS-3150892103 Expanded 

Capacity and 

Accessibility for 

Mental Health 

Services and 

Facilities

$ 4,000,000 This program will make existing housing and communitybased facilities providing mental health services and 

developmental disability services more accessible, safe, 

and compliant with ADA and expand capacity in 

community settings. This will support and expand 

Vermont's behavioral healthcare response capacity. As 

in many states, behavioral health needs in Vermont have 

been exacerbated by COVID-19.
1.10-

Mental 

Health 

Services

AHS-3150892201 Mobile Crisis 

Intervention 

Program

$ 600,000 The Mobile Crisis Intervention Program is a Mobile 

Response and Stabilization Services (MRSS) program 

pilot run by Rutland Mental Health Services. This will 

support children, youth, and families who are 

experiencing significant emotional, behavioral, and 

mental health difficulties. Mental health concerns 

among children and youth have increased nationwide 

and in Vermont since the COVID-19 pandemic, while 

access to services is more difficult. MRSS will serve those 

in urgent need of immediate support.

EC 2: Negative Economic Impacts

Expenditure 

Category

Program 

Identification 

Number

Program Name Funding amount Program Overview

2.6-

Unemployment 

Benefits or 

Cash 

Assistance to 

Unemployed 

Workers

DOL5100892211DOL - Funding to 

complete UI 

modernization 

and Joblink 

replacement

$ 4,500,000 The Department of Labor will use this funding for phase 

one of the UI modernization to begin replacement of 

mainframe applications for unemployment insurance 

($3,500,000) and the Joblink replacement to coordinate 

activities between the Department and the Agency of 

Commerce and Community Development to better serve 

Vermonters ($1,000,000). These projects will help 

improve the efficacy of economic relief programs 

throughout the State.

2.7-Job 

Training 

Assistance

VSA2110892202Green Mountain 

Grad Program

$ 2,800,000 The Green Mountain Grad Program provides scholarship 

assistance for up to 2 free classes in the 2021-2022 

academic year at any of the Vermont State Colleges for 

any Vermont 2020 or 2021 high school graduate. This 

program also includes a student stipend for transport, 

books, or other necessary costs. The Vermont General 

Assembly determined that all high school graduates 

from the classes of 2020 and 2021 were directly 

impacted by COVID-19 with virtual learning, canceling of 
sports and other after school activities, and the lack of 

access to staff support for post-secondary training and 

education. This program provides a financial incentive 

for those students to pursue the training and education 

that is required for higher paying jobs.

2.7-Job 

Training 

Assistance

VSC2240892201Practical Nurse 

Program $ 1,400,000 

The Practical Nurse Program will support scholarships 

and job training for 40-45 existing staff at skilled nursing 

facilities with the opportunity to achieve certification as 

a Practical Nurse through Vermont Technical College. 

The program will partner with skilled nursing facilities 

across the state to upskill existing staff at these facilities 

to achieve certification as a Practical Nurse. This 

program aims to address the negative public health and 

economic impacts due to COVID-19 and will help 

mitigate the shortage of nursing professionals 

exacerbated by the pandemic. 

2.7-Job 

Training 

Assistance

VSC1110892110 Workforce Upskill $ 3,000,000 

The Workforce Upskill program will provide scholarship 

assistance for up to 2 free classes in the 2021-2022 

academic year at any of the Vermont State Colleges for 

Vermont residents with a verified economic impact due 

to COVID-19. The program also provides wraparound 

services.

2.7-Job 

Training 

Assistance

UVM1110892111 Workforce Upskill $ 1,000,000 

The Workforce Upskill program will provide scholarship 

assistance for up to 2 free classes in the 2021-2022 

academic year at the University of Vermont for Vermont 

residents with a verified economic impact due to COVID19. The program also targets Vermont residents seeking 

to transition to a new career to enhance their job skills.

2.7-Job 

Training 

Assistance

VSC1110892205 Workforce Upskill $ 2,000,000 

The Workforce Upskill program will provide scholarship 

assistance for up to 2 free classes in the 2022-2023 

academic year at any of the Vermont State Colleges for 

Vermont residents with a verified economic impact due 

to COVID-19. The program also provides wraparound 

services.
2.7-Job 

Training 

Assistance

VSC6140892201

Degree 

Completion 

Scholarships $ 3,000,000 

This program will provide degree completion 

scholarships for up to 30 credits towards a credential of 

value for adult learners who have earned at least 40 

credits towards an undergraduate degree and have a 

gap in attendance of at least two years. Students will 

qualify either by a means test or by attestation that they 

have been negatively impacted by the pandemic.

2.7-Job 

Training 

Assistance

VSC2130892202

Critical 

Occupation 

Scholarships $ 5,000,000 

The Critical Occupations Scholarships will support 

students pursuing careers in occupations critical to 

addressing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, such as 

healthcare and early childhood education. Students are 

eligible to receive funding after utilizing federal and 

state funding options. Students who were negatively 

impacted by COVID-19 are also eligible to receive the 

scholarship assistance. 

2.7-

Job Training 

Assistance

PSD2240892203

Efficiency 

Vermont 

Workforce 

Development 

Initiatives and 

NeighborWorks of 

Western 

Vermont's Heat 

Squad $ 2,000,000 

The Public Service Department will grant these funds to 

Efficiency Vermont for the purpose of workforce 

development initiatives and to support the expansion of 

NeighborWorks of Western Vermont’s Heat Squad 

program. NeighborWorks of Western Vermont provides 

low-cost energy audits for homes and businesses. These 

funds shall be deposited in the Electric Efficiency Fund 

established under 30 V.S.A. § 209(d)(3) and shall be 

available for use by Efficiency Vermont through 

December 31, 2023.

2.9-Small 

Business 

Economic 

Assistance

AHS3440892109

Economic 

Microbusiness 

Recovery 

Assistance $ 500,000 

This funding will be granted to the Community Action 

Agencies for the Statewide Community Action Network’s 

Economic Microbusiness Recovery Assistance for the 

COVID-19 Epidemic (EMBRACE) to assist the Vermont 

microbusiness owners impacted by COVID-19 and for 

new businesses started by individuals who have been 

impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic through layoffs, 

furloughs, reduced hours, or due to being employed in 

an industry that has been severely affected.
2.9-Small 

Business 

Economic 

Assistance

AHS3440892205

Microbusiness 

Development 

Program $ 2,000,000 

The Microbusiness Development Program will provide 

the technical support and financial assistance necessary 

to start and sustain entrepreneurial enterprises. This 

funding will to be granted to the Community Action 

Agencies for the Statewide Community Action Network’s

Economic Micro Business Recovery Assistance for the 

COVID-19 Epidemic (EMBRACE) to assist the Vermont 

microbusiness owners impacted by COVID-19 and for 

new businesses started by individuals who have been 

impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic through layoffs, 

furloughs, or reduced hours or due to being employed in 

an industry that has been severely affected.

2.12-

Aid to Other 

Impacted 

Industries

ACD7120892101

Economic 

Recovery Bridge 

Program $ 10,000,000 

The Economic Recovery Bridge Program will provide 

financial relief to Vermont businesses (for-profit or nonprofit) who suffered a net tax loss due to the COVID-19 

pandemic. Additionally, the appropriation targets 

certain industries (tourism, travel, hospitality) most 

heavily impacted by COVID-19.

2.12-Aid to 

Other 

Impacted 

Industries

UVM1110892208

Offset Impact 

from Level Room 

and Board $ 2,200,000 

This funding will provide economic support to UVM to 

offset the impact from level room and board. UVM has a 

documented negative financial impact due to COVID-19. 

Higher Education has been one of the most negatively 

impacted industries throughout the pandemic. 

2.12-

Aid to Other 

Impacted 

Industries

ACD7120892201

Capital 

Investment Grant 

Program $ 10,580,000 

The Capital Investment Grant Program will 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. This program will 

directly target regions and industries with negative 

economic impacts due to COVID-19. These include: aid 

to tourism, travel, and hospitality services industries; 

new or expanded childcare and education facilities; aid 

to private development projects for planned expansion 
of facilities with regional importance delayed due to the 

pandemic; and water and sewer infrastructure projects 

aligned with CWSRF and DWSRF. The Agency of 

Commerce and Community Development will 

collaborate with other State agencies, regional 

development corporations, regional planning 

commissions, and other community partners to identify 

potential regional applicants and projects to ensure the 

distribution of grants throughout the regions of the 

State.

2.12-

Aid to Other 

Impacted 

Industries

ACD7120892203

Economic 

Recovery Grants 

Program $ 20,000,000 

The Economic Recovery Grants Program will provide 

financial relief to Vermont businesses (for-profit or nonprofit) who suffered a net tax loss due to the COVID-19 

pandemic. Additionally, the appropriation targets 

certain industries (tourism, travel, hospitality) most 

heavily impacted by COVID-19.

2.12-Aid to 

Other 

Impacted 

Industries

UVM1110892204

Matching 

Research Grant

Funding $ 1,000,000 

This program will provide matching funds to leverage 

research grants on COVID-19. UVM has a documented 

negative financial impact due to COVID-19. Higher 

Education has been one of the most negatively impacted 

industries throughout the pandemic. 

2.12-Aid to 

Other 

Impacted 

Industries

VSC1110892207Offset Pandemicrelated Deficits $ 21,000,000 

This funding will provide economic support to Vermont 

State Colleges to offset the negative economic impact 

due to COVID-19. VSC has a documented negative 

financial impact, including deficits from revenue loss and 

increased operating expenses. Higher Education has 

been one of the most negatively impacted industries 

throughout the pandemic. 

2.12-

Aid to Other 

Impacted 

Industries

AOT1110892112DMV IT System 

Replacement $ 14,120,000 

This project will support Phase 1 of the DVM IT system 

replacement. This will support DMV's backlog due to 

COVID-19 and improve the online user interface. 
2.12-Aid to 

Other 

Impacted 

Industries

AOE6215892201

Education 

Strategic IT 

Projects $ 4,010,000 

The Agency of Education will use this appropriation for 

three strategic IT projects to support Vermont adult 

learners, educators, high school students, and the 

Vermont Student Assistance Corporation. These projects 

support the education industry—one of the most 

disproportionally impacted industries due to COVID19—lower income populations, and the delivery of 

education programs at all levels.

2.12-Aid to 

Other 

Impacted 

Industries

ANR1110892109Permit Navigator 

Portal $ 1,100,000 

This funding will support the second phase of the 

Department of Environmental Conservation permit 

navigator-citizen facing permit portal.

2.12-Aid to 

Other 

Impacted 

Industries

NRB8100892204Act 250 Scanning 

Project $ 500,000 

This funding will be used for the Act 250 scanning 

project to digitize land use records. This is necessary for 

remote public access.

2.12-Aid to 

Other 

Impacted 

Industries

ACD7110892207

Salesforce Grant 

Management 

System Upgrade $ 1,000,000 

The Agency of Commerce and Community Development 

will use this funding for the Salesforce grant 

management system upgrade. This will help ACCD 

improve the efficacy of its economic relief programs.

2.12-Aid to 

Other 

Impacted 

Industries

SAS1110892206

Criminal Case 

Management 

System Upgrade $ 1,700,000 

The Department of State’s Attorneys and Sheriffs (SAS) 

intends to implement a new criminal case management 

system (CCMS) which will help to alleviate the backlog of 

court cases due to the COVID-19 public health 

emergency. This expense aims to address the backlog of 

court cases which has increased because of the 

deviation from the normal court procedures to reliance 

on electronic systems to submit case information and 

the increase in domestic violence-related cases during 

COVID-19. 

2.12-Aid to 

Other 

Impacted 

Industries

ODG4100892202

Criminal Case 

Management 

System Upgrade $ 140,000 

The Office of the Defender General will support the 

Department of State’s Attorneys and Sheriffs in 

implementing a new criminal case management system 
(CCMS) which will help to alleviate the backlog of court 

cases due to the COVID-19 public health emergency.

2.12-

Aid to Other 

Impacted 

Industries

SOS2230892201Vermont Business 

Portal $ 250,000 

The Vermont Business Portal will provide digital access 

for Vermont-based businesses to at least four State 

agencies. This will facilitate improved efficacy of 

economic relief programs throughout the State.

2.13-

Other 

Economic 

Support

PSD2240892204

Affordable 

Community-Scale 

Renewable Energy 

Program and 

Clean Energy 

Development 

Board $ 20,000,000 

$10,000,000 of this funding is to be used for the 

Affordable Community-Scale Renewable Energy 

Program, consistent with parameters of the Clean 

Energy Development Fund, to support the creation of 

renewable energy projects for Vermonters with lowincome. In fiscal year 2022, $5,000,000 may be allocated 

by the Clean Energy Development Board. The 

Department shall submit a plan for use of the remaining 

$5,000,000 funds for approval by the General Assembly 

during the 2022 legislative session.

EC3: Programs Providing Services to Disproportionately Impacted Communities

Expenditure 

Category

Program 

Identification 

Number

Program Name Funding 

amount

Program Overview

3.11-

Housing 

Support: 

Services for 

Unhoused 

Persons

VHC1110892203

Housing 

Recovery 

Program

$ 

64,000,000 

The Housing Recovery Program will provide capital awards for the 

development of homeless shelters, emergency shelter capacity, and 

affordable housing for households and areas disproportionately 

impacted by the COVID-19 public health emergency. Housing projects 

and units targeted to the homeless and affordable housing projects in 

qualified census tracts will be prioritized. The program will also target 

affordable housing for low-income populations.

3.12-Housing 

Support: 

Other 

Housing 

Assistance

ACD9150892201

Vermont 

Housing 

Incentive 

Program

$ 

5,000,000 

The Vermont Housing Incentive Program (VHIP) is a rental housing 

rehabilitation program to incentivize small private apartment owners 

to make significant

improvements to both housing quality and weatherization through 

small grants and elimination of land gains tax. This program is 
intended for existing properties that are vacant or blighted and in 

need of substantial reinvestment.

3.12-Housing 

Support: 

Other 

Housing 

Assistance

AHS3440892209

Vermont Low 

Income Home 

Weatherization 

Assistance 

Program

$ 

4,000,000 

Vermont Low Income Home Weatherization Assistance Program will 

subgrant funds to Vermont's Weatherization Assistance Providers to 

weatherize multi-family and single-family homes owned or occupied 

by low income Vermonters (<=80% AMI). In addition, subrecipients 

will use funds to address home repair issues or vermiculite (asbestos 

insulation) where such issues otherwise prevent weatherization. 

Where appropriate, subrecipients may also replace heating systems 

or install cold-climate heat pumps as part of weatherization activities. 

Low income households were disproportionately impacted by COVID19 and weatherization reduces the energy costs of low income 

households, putting more money in their pockets for other 

necessities, as well as making the home more comfortable and safer. 

3.12-Housing 

Support: 

Other 

Housing 

Assistance

AOA1100892204

Vermont 

Housing Finance 

Agency 

Weatherization 

Support

$ 

9,000,000 

The Agency of Administration will grant this funding to the Vermont 

Housing Finance Agency to be used for financial support of housing 

weatherization statewide.

3.12-Housing 

Support: 

Other 

Housing 

Assistance

PSD2240892202

Efficiency 

Vermont 

Weatherization 

Incentives

$ 

5,000,000 

The Public Service Department will grant these funds to the Efficiency 

Vermont for the purpose of weatherization incentives. These funds 

shall be deposited in the Electric Efficiency Fund established under 30 

V.S.A. § 209(d)(3) and shall be available for use by Efficiency Vermont 

through December 31, 2023.

3.12-Housing 

Support: 

Other 

Housing 

Assistance

ACD7110892203

Water System 

Efficiency 

Improvements 

for Housing $ 750,000 

The Department of Housing and 

Community Development will provide 

financial assistance or incentives for water 

system and water efficiency improvements 

as part of housing rehabilitation projects.
EC4: Premium Pay

At this time, Vermont does not anticipate premium pay programs funded by the SFR funds. Vermont previously provided premium pay to 

essential workers using funds from the Coronavirus Relief Fund.

EC5: Infrastructure Programs

Expenditure 

Category

Program 

Identification 

Number

Program Name Funding 

amount

Program Overview

5.1-Clean Water: 

Centralized 

Wastewater 

Treatment ANR-6140892204

Preserving 

Wastewater 

Treatment Facility 

Capacity While 

Enabling Economic 

Development 

$ 

2,000,000 

This program aims to invest in wastewater pretreatment 

systems that reduce high strength waste concerns for 

municipal protect municipal wastewater treatment 

facilities (WWTF) and serve to protect streams, lakes, and 

public health and provides while providing for greater 

local economic development capacity. 

5.3-Clean Water: 

Decentralized 

Wastewater ANR-6140892203

Village Water and 

Wastewater 

Initiative

$ 

8,000,000 

This program will promote public health, affordable 

housing, economic development, and compact growth in 

Vermont’s designated villages and neighborhoods by 

providing targeted technical and financial assistance to 

develop or expand public drinking water systems and 

community wastewater disposal systems where this 

critical infrastructure is lacking. 

5.4-Clean Water: 

Combined Sewer 

Overflows ANR-6140892205

Statewide 

Combined Sewer 

Overflow 

Elimination and 

Abatement 

$ 

10,000,000 

This program will help Vermont municipalities fast-track 

the implementation of planned projects that reduce 

pollution of Vermont’s streams and lakes. Abating CSOs is 

expensive, takes time, and typically requires multiple 

iterative projects before adequate abatement or 

elimination is achieved.

5.4-Clean 

Water: 

Combined 

Sewer 

Overflows

ANR6140892209

Water 

Infrastructure 

Funding $ 30,000,000

The Department of Environmental 

Conservation will use this funding for drinking 

water, sewer, and stormwater infrastructure 

projects, including CSO abatement, in FY23 and 

FY24

5.6-Clean Water: 

Stormwater ANR-6140892202

Supporting 

Vermont 

$ 

5,500,000 

This is part of Vermont's ARPA Water and Sewer 

Program. Vermont’s Clean Water Act of 2015 established 
Businesses and 

Landowners to 

Control 

Phosphorus 

Pollution from 

Developed Lands 

the requirement that all owners of properties install 

modern stormwater treatment practices on parcels with 

three or more acres of “impervious surfaces.” 

Construction of these practices is essential to prevent 

water pollution in Vermont. ARPA resources will provide 

municipalities and private citizens or business owners 

resources to do their part for clean water, while 

complementing other State funding sources. 

5.6-Clean Water: 

Stormwater ANR-6130892201

Three-acre 

Stormwater Rule

$ 

1,000,000 

The Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation will use 

this funding to support compliance with the three-acre 

stormwater rule.

5.6-Clean Water: 

Stormwater AOT-8100892206

Three-acre 

Implementation 

and Flow 

Restoration 

Protection

$ 

3,500,000 

The Agency of Transportation will use this funding for the 

implementation of three-acre and flow restoration 

protection and clean water compliance expenditures for 

transportation infrastructure and to fund the municipal 

grants in aid program to address stormwater runoff from 

municipal roads

5.9-

Clean Water: 

Nonpoint Source DPS-2140892201

Flood Resilient 

Communities Fund

$ 

4,880,000 

The Flood Resilient Communities Fund intends to provide 

matching grants to government entities, non-profit 

entities, and individuals to mitigate flood hazards by 

addressing water and sewer infrastructure needs in 

accordance with the CWSRF and DWSRF. The Flood 

Resilient Communities Fund's goal is improving landscape 

and community resilience and reducing the future public 

safety and water quality impacts of climate-related flood 

hazards in Vermont, focusing on buyouts of floodvulnerable properties. The program will prioritize projects 

in communities and/or for homeowners with greatest 

economic need and projects that mitigate repetitive loss 

among low-income and marginalized portions of the 

population. Where feasible, funding under FEMA’s 

Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) grant programs will 

be utilized first. This funding will predominately be for 

projects that are not eligible under existing HMA 
programs and should be used to leverage other funding 

sources or fill funding gaps to make projects viable.

5.9

Clean Water: 

Nonpoint Source ANR-6140892210

Flood Resilient 

Communities Fund 

Technical 

Assistance

$ 

120,000 

The Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) intends to use 

this appropriation to provide technical assistance to the 

statewide Flood Resilient Communities Fund 

(administered by the Department of Public Safety). This 

program will award property owners matching grants to 

mitigate flood hazards and reduce future flooding. The 

ANR technical assistance position will help with project 

development, screening, and regulatory compliance for 

eligible projects.

5.6-Clean Water: 

Stormwater ANR-6140892207

Clean Water 

Projects as 

Recommended by 

the Clean Water 

Board (FY22)

$ 

10,000,000 

Vermont’s 2015 Clean Water Act established a broad 

suite of requirements that support the protection and 

restoration of all of Vermont’s lakes, rivers, and wetlands. 

That Act also established a state-supported Vermont 

Clean Water Fund (CWF) to support a broad suite of 

water quality improvement projects and project types 

aimed at reducing water pollution to restore recreational 

and ecological uses for those waters. The Vermont 

General Assembly has directed ARPA funds to be made to 

Clean Water Fund uses, in accordance with the statutory 

procedures used by the Clean Water Board to 

recommend CWF appropriations. These projects will align 

with CWSRF and/or DWSRF guidelines. This appropriation 

is for projects in FY22.

5.6-Clean Water: 

Stormwater ANR-6140892208

Clean Water 

Projects as 

Recommended by 

the Clean Water 

Board (FY23 and 

FY24)

$ 

20,000,000 

Vermont’s 2015 Clean Water Act established a broad 

suite of requirements that support the protection and 

restoration of all of Vermont’s lakes, rivers, and wetlands. 

That Act also established a state-supported Vermont 

Clean Water Fund (CWF) to support a broad suite of 

water quality improvement projects and project types 

aimed at reducing water pollution to restore recreational 

and ecological uses for those waters. The Vermont 

General Assembly has directed ARPA funds to be made to 
Clean Water Fund uses, in accordance with the statutory 

procedures used by the Clean Water Board to 

recommend CWF appropriations. These projects will align 

with CWSRF and/or DWSRF guidelines. This appropriation 

is for projects in FY23 and FY24.

5.3- Clean Water: 

Decentralized 

Wastewater ANR-6140892206

Mobile Home Park 

Water/Wastewater 

Solutions and 

Healthy Homes: 

Funding for 

Installation or 

Replacement of 

Water or 

Wastewater 

Systems

$ 

4,250,000 

Some of Vermont's mobile home parks struggle to 

provide clean and adequate drinking water, wastewater, 

storm water, and drainage systems. The Mobile Home 

Park Water/Wastewater Solutions grant program seeks to 

provide financial support to remedy those challenges and 

provide safe, affordable housing by providing grants to 

mobile home parks for both construction of 

water/wastewater solutions as well as needs analysis, 

technical assistance, and engineering.

The Healthy Homes program will enhance affordable 

housing that ensures residents have access to safe, 

reliable drinking water and health-protective wastewater 

disposal. There are a number of low-income Vermont 

homeowners, residents whose income is likely to have 

been disproportionately affected by COVID-19, and 

whose existing on-site water / wastewater system has 

failed or is a public health issue. 

5.17-Broadband: 

Other projects PSD-2240892108

Broadband 

Infrastructure 

Program

$ 

1,800,000 

This Broadband Infrastructure Program covers: assistance 

to Communications Union Districts (CUD) with 

preconstruction cost & support services for eligible 

projects; Vermont Relay Conference Captioning (RCC) 

service; and Wi-Fi hotspot license renewal. For the RCC 

service, COVID-19 led to widespread remote work and 

schooling, which disproportionately impacted disabled 

populations--including the deaf or hard of hearing--who 

rely on RCC to engage with remote work and schooling.
5.17-Broadband: 

Other projects PSD-7110892206

Broadband 

Infrastructure 

Projects

$ 

150,000,000 

Universal access to reliable, high-quality, affordable 

broadband is essential for economic recovery and 

responding to increased telehealth, remote learning, and 

remote work needs. This funding will support and 

accelerate the State’s goal of achieving universal access 

to reliable, high-quality, affordable broadband. The 

broadband projects will provide service to unserved or 

underserved households and businesses. The service will 

reliably meet or exceed symmetrical 100 Mbps download 

speed and upload speeds. This appropriation will include 

several projects: Vermont Community Broadband Board, 

Broadband Preconstruction Grant Program, and 

Broadband Construction Grant Program. 

EC6: Revenue Replacement

Vermont does not believe it has eligible shortfalls to provide for funds under the revenue replacement expenditure category.

EC7: Administrative

Expenditure 

Category

Program 

Identification 

Number

Program Name Funding amount Program Overview

7.1-

Administrative 

Expenses

ADS1105892201

Cybersecurity Core 

Infrastructure and 

Router 

Replacements $ 1,500,000 

The Agency of Digital Services is applying the allocated 

ARPA funds to a redesign of its critical infrastructure to 

address network capacity and security improvements in 

order to continue to support networks and systems 

that directly support health, public health, and 

economic relief programs and the addition of greater 

redundancy (resilience) is directly related to the burden 

our remote workforce and exponentially larger online 

service presence (all due to Covid-19 response) 

represent. Key in these activities is enhanced 

cybersecurity protections gained through redundancy, 

throughput, modern hardware, and cloud security. The 
architecture of the solution is tailored to ensure that 

our partner organizations in municipalities have reliable 

connections to in-scope State services, that those 

connections are monitored and secured in a way that 

helps prevent cyber-attacks, and to prevent failure in 

the central portions of our network where we process 

and maintain connections for all State Agencies, 

including those that are on the front lines of our COVID 

response such as Human Services, Commerce and 

Community Development, Public Service, and Vermont 

Emergency Management.

7.1-

Administrative 

Expenses

AOA1100892205

Administration 

costs for ARPA 

Funds $ 6,500,000 

The Agency of Administration intends to use this 

appropriation for State administrative costs related to 

the State's COVID-19 response. This includes payroll 

expenses for 58 limited service positions to administer 

ARPA funds and contract with Guidehouse response 

and recovery consultant services.
Performance Report

As stated above in the Project Inventories section, Vermont is in the foundational stages of establishing 

the State Fiscal Recovery Fund programs and their component projects. The Vermont Legislature has 

appropriated many of the funds to priorities around the state. Entities responsible for establishing 

specific projects within those legislatively appropriated programs are currently working to identify 

appropriate specific projects (including evidence-based projects) within these program appropriations 

and to establish details of how the projects will be structured and administered. The State of Vermont 

Recovery Plan/Performance in future years will include more details on these projects, output and 

outcome measures, required key performance indicators, crosscutting indicators, and other 

performance metrics as required by both the Treasury and the state.

In an effort to provide urgently needed economic support for businesses in Vermont, Vermont quickly 

launched one program, the Economic Recovery Bridge Program, that had been operation as of July 31, 

2021 to provide some performance data. 

Economic Recovery Bridge Program Performance Report (As of 07/31/2021)

The Economic Recovery Bridge Program was initially established pursuant to Vermont Act 9 (2021), and 

later amended pursuant to Act 74 (2021). Between the two Acts, the Agency of Commerce and 

Community Development (ACCD) was appropriated $30,000,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) 

funding to create, implement, and deploy the Program. The Program was established to provide bridge 

funding for businesses that suffered a tax loss in 2020 and require immediate state aid, either to remain 

open or to reopen their business. The legislative rationale for the appropriated funding was to provide 

assistance to organizations impacted by the COVID-19 public health emergency and to prioritize 

businesses that have not received prior federal or State assistance. 

As of July 31, 2021, the Economic Recovery Bridge Program has served 70 impacted small businesses 

throughout the state. Businesses from 13 out of Vermont’s 14 counties have submitted applications for 

aid (Essex County is the exception). Chittenden County, Washington County, and Addison county are the 

three regions with the most awarded applications. In terms of sum of awards, Chittenden County, 

Lamoille County and Addison County have received the most funding thus far. 

The program has targeted the hardest hit industries during COVID with initial funding. The top three 

industries with the most awarded applications include: Accommodations and Food Services, Retail and 

Trade, and Agriculture. In terms of sum of awards, the Program has awarded the most funding to the 

Accommodations and Food Service, Manufacturing, and Agriculture industries. 

To ensure that business aid responds to a negative economic impact of COVID-19, ACCD verifies in the 

program application that the Vermont business or non-profit suffered a tax loss in 2020 and requires 

immediate State aid. Applicants are required to submit both 2019 and 2020 tax returns. The legislative 

intent of the Economic Recovery Bridge Grants program is to provide priority funding to businesses that 

have not received prior State or Federal financial assistance. Furthermore, businesses must attest at the 

time of the application that award funds will be used to aid in economic recovery and resume business 

operations during this recovery period. Business that were closed due to COVID are also eligible for 
grants, and must provide a description of how they will use the funding to reopen and resume business 

operations. 

To apply, businesses access the application via an online portal supported by Salesforce, and managed 

by ACCD. In order to promote equity and accessibility for impacted business owners, ACCD translated all 

Economic Recovery Bridge program documents (guidelines and FAQs) into 10 of the most commonly 

spoken languages in Vermont. These are all available for download on ACCD’s website. 

Ineligible Activities: Tax Offset Provision

Vermont does not believe that it has any revenue-reducing covered changes to report through the end 

of its 2021 fiscal year (June 30, 2021).

Item Amount

a. Revenue-reducing Covered Changes $