World 061020

Business Owners Urge Vermont Legislature
to Give Them a Fighting Chance and Quickly
Release State Assistance
Business owners from the restaurant, construction,
retail and agricultural sectors held a
press conference to urge the Vermont State
Legislature to act quickly to release much
needed state financial assistance in the form
of flexible grants.
Various committees in the legislature have
been reviewing the Scott Administration’s
proposal for a $400 million stimulus package
which uses federal CARES Act money. It
includes emergency grants and loans for businesses
impacted by the pandemic and subsequent
closures. But many businesses across
the state fear that the current legislative process
will not get them the money they desperately
need quickly enough.
“We appreciate the governor’s proposal
and that the legislature is working hard to get
relief to Vermont’s restaurant sector. But we
need them to understand that every day without
it edges many restaurants closer to closing
their doors for good,” said Jed Davis,
owner of the Farmhouse Group. “Simply put,
the checks need to go out now. Restaurants
were some of the first to close and last to
reopen. Restaurants need grants, not just
more loans, to give us a shot at long term
survival.”
East Calais General Store Building Purchased –
Community Funding Sought
The East Calais Community Trust exercised
its option to purchase the building that
houses the General Store of East Calais on
May 15. A purchase and sales agreement is
now being completed with expected closure
in 30 days. The store closed in December and
that gaping hole in the small, rural community
has been deeply felt and the store sorely
missed, especially in these difficult times.
The purchase is the first exciting step toward
rehabilitating the historic landmark and the
re-opening of a revitalized General Store.
A little background: About a year ago a
small group of Calais residents formed a
Vermont non-profit called the East Calais
Community Trust (ECCT). Its mission has
been to purchase the building, keeping it
locally owned, with the goal of making restorations
and resurrecting the store. The
Preservation Trust of Vermont has provided
guidance and fiscal sponsorship, accepting
donations on its behalf. Up to this point, the
fundraising campaign had been low key while
negotiating the sale. Several Calais residents
have made generous donations and pledges
raising about half of the purchase price.
Now the ECCT is reaching out to the
Calais community and beyond for support.
They have about 30 days to raise the balance
of the purchase price and closing expenses to
get over the finish line.
The re-opening of the General Store will
bring back to life the beating heart of the village
and will be a catalyst for further economic
opportunities. Along with donations
Businesses are also concerned that the current
proposal would reduce the state assistance
they receive based on prior acceptance
of federal aid.
“We are in a desperate situation – with
cheesemakers seeing 25-75% sales losses
across the state, they are concerned about closing
their doors,” said Marty Mundy, Executive
Director of the Vermont Cheese Council.
“Most can’t take on any further loans at this
point – meaning this funding must be grant
funding if the state is trying to help. This is the
only way we will be able to keep businesses
open in a crisis environment that will likely last
well into 2021 and beyond.”
As the Scott Administration begins easing
restrictions across sectors, businesses are navigating
a complex and sometimes impossible
framework of debt and diminished capacity.
“By supporting immediate emergency
grant assistance utilized in combination with
federal relief, you will give our businesses
and the communities they call home a fighting
chance,” said Jim Bradley, President of
Vermont Builders and Remodelers
Association . “That’s what we are asking for
today. A fighting chance.”
the ECCT is seeking creative ideas to help
envision a more vibrant General Store that
will also serve as a gathering place for the
community and travelers passing through the
village.
Board member Denise Wheeler commented,
“Now that we will own the building we
can use it for small pop-ups, community
cleanup work bees, and begin garnering that
sense of community we want for the new
store. We look forward to a grand opening
with the store shelves full of local products
and more.”
To be clear, the East Calais Community
Trust will now own the building. As renovations
get underway the ECCT will be searching
for someone to lease or manage the store.
For more information please contact any
board member:
• Jan Ohlsson – 232-1028 jgohlsson@gmail.
com
• Denise Wheeler - 456-8730 cockapoo@
myfairpoint.net
• Marc Mihaly – 454-1070 marc@mihaly.org
• Scott Bassage – 456-8971 scott.bassage@
gmail.com
Donation checks should be made out to:
The Preservation Trust of Vermont with a
notation to credit the East Calais Community
Trust.
Mail to: East Calais Community Trust, PO
Box 14, East Calais, VT 05650
Website – eccommunitytrust.org
FaceBook – https://www.facebook.com/
groups/267135284252507
AARP Vermont is Accepting Community
Action Grant Applications
• • •
• • •
Change always starts with a good idea and
energy…and sometimes a little jump start! As
a way to encourage and support grassroots
action to make Vermont communities more
livable, AARP Vermont has expanded its
Community Action Grants to communities
across the state providing modest funding and
technical support to community groups or
individuals. The initiative is part an AARP
Vermont initiative aimed at preparing
Vermont cities and towns for the rapidly
aging demographic shift – particularly in the
areas of housing, mobility and community
engagement. The deadline for applications is
June 26, 2020.
The grant program is open to organizations
and grassroots ad hoc groups and that are
organized to make improvements in their
neighborhood or the community and that
meet all eligibility requirements. Proposals
must include projects that incorporate one or
more of the following:
• Respond to food insecurity
• Respond to the impacts of social isolation
with socialization and the fostering of intergenerational
community connections
• Respond to increased need for technology
and virtual meet-ups
• Respond to affordable and accessible housing
options
• Respond to increased need for improved
mobility, such as pedestrian, bike and bus
infrastructure
• Increase access for civic engagement
• Increase community accessibility for disabled
residents
• Support the delivery of services to help
older residents age in the setting of their
choice
“The pandemic has heightened the importance
of social networks and community support
and services as key ingredients for community
resilience,” said Kelly Stoddard Poor
of AARP Vermont. “These sponsorships are
intended to inspire and support grassroots
groups that have a vision for their neighborhood
or community and how it can be
improved to the meet the needs of all residents.
The program is open to grassroots
groups and small non-profits across the state
and project proposals should represent a
desire to make change through local level
activism and advocacy.”
Up to five non-profits or ad hoc organizations
groups will be selected in 2020 for
grants ranging from $500-$2,000. Grants will
be one-time funding for a 6-month period
starting when the grant is awarded. The project
will need to be completed within the same
6-month period. Grant projects will receive
public recognition by AARP, including letters
of support, as needed and appropriate to
achieve their goals. Sponsored projects will
receive public recognition through AARP,
including letters of support, as needed to
achieve their goals.
Applications and an RFP can be found
online or below.
Questions: Kelly Stoddard Poor at 951-
1313, kstoddardpoor@aarp.org.
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June 10, 2020 The WORLD page 5