Flood Relief

Find flood relief resources as they become available.

The following information is regularly updated to keep the local business community abreast of helpful opportunities in response to recent challenges.

Guidelines for Flood Response:

For businesses seeking relief:

  • Document any damage with photos

  • Write down your experience, including times of major events

  • Capture all losses: loss of business income, inventory (due to spoilage or floodwater damage), equipment, property, etc.

  • Report damage to 211 by phone or online

  • Contact your insurance company to file a claim or understand what losses may be covered

  • Identify questions you have that we or a local, state, or federal partner can help you answer

  • Avoid making quick decisions or major purchases until we are aware of the potential funding that is available to help

  • Find initial information on disaster relief funding from the Small Business Administration

Resources

  • The Department of Economic Development has created the Business Emergency Gap Assistance Program (BEGAP). This $20 million grant program is for businesses and nonprofits that suffered physical damages from flooding dating back to July 7, 2023. Applicants must intend on restoring, reopening, and bringing their employees back to work as soon as possible and will utilize these grant funds for that purpose.
    Incomplete applications will be returned to applicants for revision and will take more time to process. Please note: applicants will be asked to provide estimates for repairing property and replacing inventory and equipment. Please click here for a template to use in making these estimates (Excel file). If organizations don’t yet have estimates from contractors, vendors and/or suppliers, they need to submit their own estimates using prior purchasing orders or by conducting online research.

  • Local charities are mobilizing to distribute grants and mutual aid to affected businesses. Consider donating here:

  • To Volunteer:

    The need for volunteers is urgent, however please do not self-deploy. To join coordinated efforts, contact:

    More information available at VT.gov/volunteer

  • City of Montpelier: Trash is being picked up. The best practice is to leave debris as close to the curb as possible, in public spaces. Downtown will be prioritized with residential areas to follow. For more information, contact Bill Fraser.

    City of Barre: Beginning Tuesday 7/25, the State's debris removal contractor will begin operating in the City .

    The first areas serviced will be:

    • Pearl Street

    • Seminary Street

    • Granite Street near the railroad

    • Currier Park and surrounding streets

    The trucks will continue to be dispatched throughout the City. A longer-term schedule will be announced as we get a gauge for how many streets can be covered per day. The City still has Myers dumpsters deployed downtown for residents that are able to transport their own debris.

  • Business Emergency Gap Assistance Program (BEGAP) for Agriculture: $1 million is available through the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets for food and farm businesses, organizations, or individuals who raise animals and/or grow food or crops for sale, or who operate on-farm processing operations that have experienced physical damage due to the flooding event. There is no deadline to apply. Farms must meet eligibility requirements. Funds are awarded on a 'first-come-first-served' basis. The program will run until funds have been fully distributed.

    Report agricultural damage here.

    More information available at Agriculture.Vermont.gov.

  • The Barre Community Relief Fund (BCRF) Flood Relief Program seeks to provide financial support to individual households and businesses in Barre City and Barre Town impacted by the July 2023 flooding event. Below are details and answers to frequently asked questions regarding this new opportunity.

    More information available at www.barrecommunityrelief.org.

  • The Barre Partnership is coordinating pumps, dumpsters and mutual aid for Barre-Area businesses. If your business is in need of a pump or dumpster, contact Tracie Lewis at 802-477-2967 or email her at director@thebarrepartnership.com.

    If your Barre-Area business is in need of mutual aid, see here.

    More information at https://www.thebarrepartnership.com/

  • The Better Business Bureau is providing guidance on questions of insurance, potential scams, and trusted service providers.

    More information available at www.bbb.org.

  • Capstone Community Action will play a critical role in flood recovery for folks who need it most. Find help immediately: shelter information, statewide support contacts, food access details, translated video links for multiple languages and more.

    More information available at capstonevt.org.

  • For a comprehensive guide regarding how to recover your business, see the Disaster Recovery Guide (document format here, download PowerPoint format here).

  • As businesses are needing to repair and replace equipment, Efficiency Vermont is available to provide incentives and rebates to subsidize the purchase of more efficient commercial equipment.

    More information available at efficiencyvermont.com.

  • The Montpelier Strong Fund is sponsored by Montpelier Alive.

    “For Businesses: We know you have a million questions - and we will do our best to find answers, but here is a preliminary list of resources for businesses recovering from flooding. Everything from clean-up to funding and insurance questions can be answered here.“

    *The application window for the first round of grants has closed.

    More information at www.montpelierstrong.org.

  • The NOFA-VT (Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont) Farmer Emergency Fund is available to assist Vermont certified organic and NOFA-VT member commercial farmers who are in financial need after having been adversely affected by natural and unnatural disasters. Farmers may request up to $2,500 in grants that do not need to be repaid.

    More information available at nofavt.org

  • NorthCountry Federal Credit Union has deployed a special low-cost loan for people and businesses suffering material and financial losses due to the recent floods. Flood Recovery Loans are available for up to $20,000, with no collateral required, and no fees.

    More information available at northcountry.org.

  • One Credit Union implemented an Emergency Relief Loan that provides up to $10,000 unsecured over 24 months at 3% to assist members and eligible members that have been impacted by the flood. This is just quick money in a time of need for expenses (repairs, transportation, temporary loss of income, etc.). We are now working on a larger loan for our small business members. This may help bridge those members between now and when other federal monies are received.

    More information available at www.onecu.org

  • Donated supplies are available for pick-up at 81 N Main St Suite 2, Barre, VT. Those who are able may donate supplies there as well.

    More information available at rainbowbridgevt.org/

  • ReSOURCE has had community service as a central part of its job training programs dating back to Hurricane Katrina. Their construction training programs teach skills that are directly needed for flood recovery. ReSOURCE is prepared to make flood rebuilding a focus of the service components of our YouthBuild and Intensive Training programs. In addition, ReSOURCE is prepared to expand its Essential Goods program and through this program make household goods, appliances, clothing and other items available to any flood victim who needs assistance.

    ReSOURCE Barre is expected to reopen in mid-August. Locations in Burlington, Hyde Park and Williston are open now to support building material and household good needs now.

    For more information, contact Tom Longstreth or visit ReSOURCEVT.org.

  • On July 14, 2023, a Major Disaster Declaration was recommended by FEMA and approved by President Biden. The Major Disaster Declaration allows for additional streams of federal funding as related to disaster relief.

    View the SBA Fact Sheet about Disaster Loans.

    More information available at sba.gov.

  • The Special and Urgent Needs (SUN) grant round helps Vermont nonprofits with unexpected expenses that impact their ability to meet their mission. A SUN grant can help an organization manage an unbudgeted, unforeseen, and time-sensitive emergency or take advantage of an unanticipated opportunity that will enhance its work.

    More information available at vermontcf.org.

  • In response to the devastation caused to Vermonters all across our state, the Vermont Association of Realtors® has established a Disaster Relief Fund to provide financial support to Vermonters who were impacted by recent flooding.

    Recipient must be a full-time resident and U.S. citizen or legally admitted for residence in the United States.

    More information available at VermontRealtors.com.

  • The VT Flood Response and Recovery Fund 2023 was established to support Vermonters in responding to and recovering from the catastrophic rainfall across Vermont in 2023.

    More information available at vermontcf.org

  • Started in response to the devastation our Vermont farms suffered at the hands of Tropical Storm Irene, the VFF seeks to minimize the hurdles to secure a loan and receive funds to begin the recovery process. The maximum Emergency Loan amount is currently $10,000. This is a zero percent interest loan, payable over 24 months with a flexible payment schedule.

    More information available at vtfarmfund.org

  • The Vermont Main Street Flood Recovery Fund is raising money to provide grants to Vermont's small business owners impacted by July 10th's flooding. These Vermonters are vital to our communities and we will do all we can to support them through this crisis. The Fund will provide grants in the range of $2,500-$10,000 to cover costs such as equipment replacement, supplies and help with clean-up. This will help bridge need until further support is available.

    More information available at www.vtrecovery2023.com

  • Thanks to a partnership with the Vermont Community Foundation, VSECU is able to offer 0% financing on up to $3,000 for Vermont residents with our member emergency loan. Because the devastation is so widespread, VSECU is also waiving any credit requirements so anyone can get approved for much-needed funds.

    More information available at vsecu.com.

  • THE AFL-CIO is generously donating time, provisions, and other forms of mutual aid to local working class individuals and families.

    More information available here.

  • The impact of the recent devastation goes beyond the financials; your personal health and well-being are crucial to recovery.

    If you are struggling, consider the following resources: