BEGAP to Open Next Week
Friday, 8/23. Next week, the BEGAP program will re-open to applicants. BEGAP is a grant program offered by the State of Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development to contribute up to 30% of the uncovered costs of physical damage suffered by farms and businesses in 2023 and 2024 flooding in Vermont.
CVEDC has been named as a statewide provider of technical assistance for BEGAP. If you'd like to apply for BEGAP without help, you may do that as soon as the program opens.
If you think you’ll need help, you may make an appointment with CVEDC. To set your appointment, please register here. After you register, you’ll receive outreach to set up a date and time to meet.
We will begin taking phone or Zoom appointments at 9 AM next Thursday, August 29. We will begin in person meetings (your shop or ours, we are in Montpelier) beginning 9 AM Tuesday, September 3.
We can make some accommodations outside of 9-5 hours to support you, please ask if that is something you need. If you need language support or know someone who does, please let us know.
At the end of this email I will include a list of what you should put together now for applying to BEGAP.
As always, ask us any questions you have and we will do our best to answer. Below the "Documents to Prepare" in this email are some questions we've received and answers.
With best wishes,
Melissa Bounty
Documents to Prepare for BEGAP
Information Required:
Contact information
Damaged property location and ownership documentation such as property tax bill, lease
Federal Employer Tax Identification Number (FEIN)
Insurance policy information: type of coverage, policy number, agent contact
Dollar amount of damages anticipated to be recouped through insurance
Other grants or donations received and used to defray the costs of repairing or replacing those damaged assets
Description of the impact of the flooding on the applicant
Damage type and estimated costs for repair/replacement (see Contractor Estimate tool)
An economic injury estimate and description (anticipated or actual revenue loss). This is not being used to calculate the award but is for informational purposes only
Documentation Required:
Most recently filed Federal Tax Return (or 990)
Profit and Loss Statement if business started in 2024
An updated IRS Form W-9
Declaration or Certificate of Insurance for all policies held
Supporting documentation for claimed damages (insurance adjusters report, vendor estimates)
Repair estimates for physical structures, equipment, inventory, supply purchases or actual paid expenses
Photographs of damaged property (maximum of 5)
Proof of property ownership (e.g. property tax bill, deed, lease agreement)
Eligibility Questions
We have received some questions about eligibility. We do not know all of the program details yet but here is what we can answer that we've been asked:
I applied for BEGAP in 2023, should I still do this?
Yes!
Here are people who should apply to BEGAP:
Vermonters who own farms or businesses that were physically impacted by floods in 2023 or 2024. Landlords and sole proprietors count as businesses.
People who applied for BEGAP in 2023 but only received a partial award (less than 30% of their physical damage)
People applied for BEGAP and received no award. Some people applied to the program before it ran out of money. This group should definitely reapply.
Here are people who should speak with CVEDC if they'd like to apply, as you may not be eligible:
Those who were flood-impacted in 2023 and found NOT eligible for the BEGAP program in 2023. We recommend those folks talk with us to determine if you are likely to be eligible for this year's program.
If you had flood damage in 2023 and did not apply to BEGAP in 2023, speak with us before applying
If you only had economic harm (no physical damage) you should not apply to BEGAP.
If you have not yet contacted your insurance company, it is not the right time to apply to BEGAP. You must contact your insurance company first and will not be eligible for BEGAP until you have.
If you do not own a business or farm (sole proprietors and landlords are included as businesses), you are not likely eligible for this funding
I did not make as much money in 2023 or 2024 because of the floods. Will this program help me?
The requirements of BEGAP do not allow us to fund to cover these losses, which are called economic injury. We can discuss other options for how to resource this need. If you are a business owner who is unable to work because of the flooding, please apply for unemployment. Our Federal disaster declaration comes with disaster unemployment assistance, a program that offers income support to those not usually eligible for unemployment assistance. We are happy to refer you to our partners at Vermont Department of Labor to discuss this funding for yourself or your employees.
I cannot find my 2023 application. What should I do?
Prepare the above documents in their most up to date status. Most recently filed tax returns, updated quotes and receipts. We can file a new application even if you have lost the original application.
I am frustrated by the work or unsure if I agree with this. Should I apply?
You are not alone in feeling this way. We have resources to offer beyond this grant, so we encourage you to reach out if the flood has caused you and your business losses of any kind. We are curious and concerned about what is happening to businesses in Vermont and are eager to discuss solutions with you.
I am a nonprofit and have heard conflicting information about my eligibility. What should I do?
You should prepare to file for BEGAP. We do not have final nonprofit guidance but we are aware of this problem and are discussing it with the leadership in charge of the program. We expect to have an answer next week on this question.
I am a Vermonter of Color impacted by the flood and am interested in resources that come from a BIPOC community perspective. Where can I go?
Vermont has an incredible organization supporting Vermont Professionals of Color, https://www.vtpoc.net/ that has been active in engaging with and supporting Vermonters of Color in response to the floods.
I am a woman and am interested in collaborating with a group of women business owners to recover from the flood. Where can I go?
We are also fortunate to collaborate in flood recovery with the Center for Women & Enterprise, https://cweonline.org/our-centers/cwe-vermont
I have legal questions that will stop me from applying to BEGAP and are also too expensive for me to pay for. Can I get support?
You may qualify for free legal education that will allow you to move forward with your progress to recover, please visit https://sblc.vermontlaw.edu/ for more information.
Where can I find mental health support to deal with this disaster?
This is the question we have been asked the most often. As survivors ourselves of this disaster at home and at our past workplaces, we understand the incredible demand a disaster puts on your mental health, and your family's. Please do not feel there is anything wrong with asking for help about this, even if you've never reached out before for mental health support. In Washington County please visit https://www.wcmhs.org/center-for-counseling-and-psychological-services#HowToAccessHelp
And statewide, look to https://mentalhealth.vermont.gov/sites/mentalhealth/files/documents/Mental%20Health%20Resources%20for%20Flood%20Recovery%20%28002%29.pdf