The Paycheck Protection Program established by the CARES Act, is implemented by the Small Business Administration with support from the Department of the Treasury.  This program provides small businesses with funds to pay up to 8 weeks of payroll costs including benefits. Funds can also be used to pay interest on mortgages, rent, and utilities.

The Paycheck Protection Program prioritizes millions of Americans employed by small businesses by authorizing up to $659 billion toward job retention and certain other expenses.

Small businesses and eligible nonprofit organizations, Veterans organizations, and Tribal businesses described in the Small Business Act, as well as individuals who are self-employed or are independent contractors, are eligible if they also meet program size standards.

Franklin County Industrial Development Corporation (FCIDC) is one of 12 Regional Development Corporations across the state that are helping to connect Technical Assistance (TA) providers with businesses needing assistance under this program.  FCIDC’s Navigators will help businesses in need determine a recovery solution and then help find the appropriate professional technical assistance to implement the solution at NO COST to the business. 


For Providers:
Does your business provide a service that can be used by other businesses to improve their operations? Potential forms of TA include, but are not limited to, assistance for business operations, financial management, marketing, general business consulting, new online retail sales systems, digital strategies, architecture and design, reconfiguring products or processes, updating safety measures, technology and software consulting, and legal or professional services. Most grant awards, which will go directly to TA providers, will be in the range of $3,000. 
You can obtain detailed information and may register as a TA client at www.vermonteconomicdevelopment.com. 


For Businesses in Need:
Does your business need a service to improve your operations negatively affected by Covid-19? Potential forms of TA include, but are not limited to, assistance for business operations, financial management, marketing, general business consulting, new online retail sales systems, digital strategies, architecture and design, reconfiguring products or processes, updating safety measures, technology and software consulting, and legal or professional services. Most grant awards, which will go directly to TA providers, will be in the range of $3,000. 
You can obtain detailed information and may register as a TA client at www.vermonteconomicdevelopment.com. 

The towns of Enosburgh, Fairfax and Montgomery have agreed to form a communications union district, opening a possible door for expanding broadband in the three towns.

The selectboards from all three communities agreed to be founding members during their respective meetings last week, each voting to create the Northwest Vermont Communication Union District and electing their first representative to the nascent organization.

A communications union district – or a CUD – is an organization created by two municipalities or more to coordinate the buildout of communications services, particularly in areas where access to certain communications services – like high-speed Internet – may be lacking.

To read more visit: ​https://www.samessenger.com/news/enosburgh-fairfax-montgomery-unite-to-bridge-broadband-gap/article_f742cc46-d04b-11ea-820a-aba1309dc7ef.html

As the Vermont reopens, check out the resources below to help you successfully adapt your business.

Facebook is offering $100M in cash grants and ad credits for up to 30,000 eligible small businesses.

How it can help:

•  Keep your workforce going strong
•  Help with your rent costs
•  Connect with more customers
•  Cover operational costs​

​Learn More:
https://www.facebook.com/business/boost/grants?ref=fbb_home_carousel

Additional resources for preparedness:
https://www.facebook.com/business/boost/resource

An iconic center of entertainment in Enosburg, Vt.

ENOSBURG FALLS – With the opening of 242 Texas BBQ, a little bit of Texas has come to Enosburg Falls.
If the name sounds familiar, that is because David and Cyndi Maibaum are already recognized in Franklin
County as seasoned veterans of the county’s food scene.

The previously had a food trailer that, every summer, would park along Route 242 in Montgomery,
drawing fans from as far away as Quebec City and New York City.

David traces his brisket-making days even farther back than the Montgomery food truck, to the Lone
Star State where he served in the U.S. Air Force. “I got to Texas, and the second I got there I fell in love
with barbecue,” David said.
​
“That’s what you do in Texas,” he said. “At any given time at night in the backyard, you look either way and
all you see is smoke. All your neighbors are doing it.”

ST. ALBANS — Northwestern Vermont just got a striking opportunity to develop its workforce.
The Working Communities Challenge selected a team of northwestern Vermont organizations as one of
eight grant award winners.

That means our area now has professional assistance in concretely planning how to develop our local
workforce, as well as $15,000 to fund the six-month planning process.

The Northwest Regional Planning Commission led this area’s application process, with aid from the
Franklin County Industrial Development Corporation, United Way of Northwestern Vermont, Franklin, Grand Isle Restorative Justice, RiseVT and Northwestern Medical Center, following on those organizations’ October 2018 discussions of the so-called “Formidable Four” — four issues hurting our local economy: affordable housing, child care, transportation and substance use disorders.

ENOSBURG FALLS — It’s hard to imagine leaving your non-human companion’s health in warmer hands
than those at Enosburg Veterinary Care.

The freshly opened veterinary clinic is one of the renovated buildings lighting up the corner of Depot
Street, right next door to the Quincy Hotel.

Those who entrusted their pet care to the Animal Doctor, on Water Tower Road, will no doubt be happy
to hear the Animal Doctor’s staff has transferred to Enosburg Veterinary Care.

That includes the business’s new owners, Annie Wagner and Sarah Branon-Menard.
​
But the best news is that the clinic’s new space is triple that of the former location, allowing the clinic to
take on new clients again.