Welcome to the first Community Newsletter of 2021. Today's newsletter offers many ways to serve your community and support local businesses and organizations. We've also included the latest information on resources available to our community.
You'll want to take a scan through the newsletter, as there is certainly something for everyone.
Regards,
Rob, Maria & Sarah
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January After-Hours Mixer |
Thursday, January 21st
5:00-6:00pm
Virtual Mixer via Zoom
Join us at our January Mixer for our first ever virtual Trivia Night! We’ll pare you off into randomly selected teams. Put your heads together to answer some tricky questions for a chance to win a $15 gift certificate to Vermont Book Shop. As always, enjoy casual conversation, member announcements, and our Pot of Gold drawing.
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Tuesday, January 26, 8:00- 9:00am
Kick your day off with a dose of energy at our virtual morning mixer with Middlebury Jazzercise, the original dance party workout! Instructor Amy Collier will lead us through a 30-minute Jazzercise class. Blending dance with Pilates, yoga, kickboxing and strength training, one 55-minute session can burn up to 800 calories. The results? Long, lean muscles and an undeniable mood boost. We’ll also set aside some time for casual networking in small breakouts.
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If you don't currently receive our weekly Legislative Update emails but would like to, drop me an email with the subject line: Legislative Updates and I'll add you to the list.
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New Salisbury Walking Trail |
The Pitch Pine Trail off Plains Road in Salisbury made its debut quietly in the middle of last year. The trail begins on Plains Road 0.23 miles east of the junction with Route 7. There is a small parking lot there on the south side of Plains Road outlined with a split-rail fence. You’ll see a kiosk (built by Paul Vaczy, Kip Andres and Preston Turner) with a map (by Chris Fastie) and small, round, blue arrow signs that guide visitors. Read More
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Vermont Hot Chocolate Week |
Vermont Hot Chocolate Week is February 1st - 7th, 2021. A winter tradition that many of us remember fondly from childhood, this is an all ages celebration across the state. Learn More
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Age Well Care-Givers Course |
Thursdays, February 4 - March 11
1:00-3:00pm
A 6-week online course for caregivers that provides tools they need for self care, so that they can care for a loved one more effectively.
Reduce stress, improve self confidence, balance life, and navigate resources.
To register and learn more, contact Millie Richard, Caregiver support specialist.
802-662-5257
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Tuesday, 1/19 - Assembly of God Christian Church, Vergennes - 12:00pm - 5:00pm
Tuesday, 1/19 - American Legion, Bristol - 12:30pm - 5:00pm
Saturday, 1/23 - Church of Christ Latter Day Saints, Middlebury - 9:00am - 1:30pm
Wednesday, 2/3 - Counseling Services of Addison County, Middlebury - 9:30am - 2:00pm
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Bristol Ice Rink Schedule |
Monday–Open Skate, Lights on at 4:45pm
Tuesday – ELP skate session 3-5pm
Wednesday – Hockey Night, Lights on at 4:45pm
Thursday – ELP skate session 3-5pm, No Stick Night 5-7
Friday – Stick and Puck Night
Saturday & Sunday – Open Skate
Please wear facial coverings, respect physical distancing, Warming Hut closed – please use your vehicle to warm up. Do not linger in parking lot: Arrive, Play, Leave.
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Black History Month Lecture |
February 2, 2021, 6:30 pm (via ZOOM)
This Black History Month Lecture will explore efforts to recognize and right missing historical narratives in history. Panelists Dr. Lindsay Varner, Rokeby Museum; Dr. Elise Guyette, author of Discovering Black Vermont, and Carmen James, Mt Tabor Preservation Project, will discuss their work to bring attention to racism in the historical narrative and recognition to significant sites in African American history. Rokeby Museum is committed to continued access to our programming. Register
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Thursday, January 28, 2021
7:00 PM 8:00 PM
In this Henry Sheldon Museum talk presented via ZOOM, Professor Ellery Foutch will discuss memorial wreaths and mourning objects created in Vermont in the 1800s.
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The exciting online monthly movie series Split/Screen resumes with its January edition, coming up 1/22-31. Co-presented by the Vermont International Film Festival [VTIFF] and the Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival [MNFF].
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Get together virtually with other barn owners and enthusiasts to celebrate the U.S. Postal Service’s January 24, 2021 issuance of a new set of barn postcard stamps. Enjoy a discussion about what old barns mean to our communities and trends in barn preservation with three national barn experts and an award-winning fiddle player.
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Friday, January 22 at 7:30 PM
The Middlebury Performing Arts Series opens its Winter 2021 Virtual Season with pianist Gloria Chien—an equally acclaimed performer, concert presenter, and educator. She will perform works by Field, Liszt, and Mendelssohn in a free, virtual concert broadcast.
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Below are links to three important surveys to help our community. Please take the time to respond to those that apply to you and your organization.
MALT Survey - The Middlebury Area Land Trust (MALT) is gearing up for a strategic planning process. They'll determine the organizations path through 2025 and they need YOUR feedback. Please take 10 minutes to complete this survey, it will help them create a meaningful plan that serves the Addison County community.
Maple Broadband Survey - Maple Broadband is a non-profit, municipal collaborative, focused on bringing high-speed, reliable, affordable internet access – along with prompt, user-friendly customer service and support – to all households and businesses in Addison County. They want to hear from you! Please take a moment to fill out the survey.
Vermont Business Economic Survey - Davis & Hodgdon Associates are again running their annual economic survey. Please take a few minutes to fill it in so that Addison County is well-represented in the numbers. You can also see 2019 Results and 2020 Results.
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COVID-19 Recovery Resources |
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PPP Reopens Jan 11 - The U.S. Small Business Administration, in consultation with the Treasury Department, announced today that the Paycheck Protection Program will re-open the week of January 11 for new borrowers and certain existing PPP borrowers. Updated PPP guidance outlining Program changes to enhance its effectiveness and accessibility was released on January 6 in accordance with the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Non-Profits, and Venues Act.
This round of the PPP continues to prioritize millions of Americans employed by small businesses by authorizing up to $284 billion toward job retention and certain other expenses through March 31, 2021, and by allowing certain existing PPP borrowers to apply for a Second Draw PPP Loan. Learn More.
COVID-19 EIDL Application Deadline Extended To Dec. 31, 2021 - The U.S. Small Business Administration today announced that the deadline to apply for the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program for the COVID-19 Pandemic disaster declaration is extended to Dec. 31, 2021. The deadline extension comes as a result of the recent bipartisan COVID-19 relief bill passed by Congress and enacted by President Trump on Dec. 27, 2020. Apply Here.
Unemployment Insurance Update - Unemployment Insurance programs under the CARES Act have been extended with recent COVID-19 economic relief legislation. Programs include Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC), Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), and the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) program, which has been reinstated to provide an additional $300 per week to claimants. Full details and updates to these programs are available at the Department of Labor website.
New Grant Funds Available from the 1772 Foundation - In cooperation with the Preservation Trust of Vermont, the 1772 Foundation is pleased to announce that funding in the form of 1:1 matching grants of $5,000 – 10,000 is available for the following historic preservation projects in Vermont:
• Exterior painting, finishes and surface restoration
• Installation or upgrading fire detection, lightning protection and security systems
• Repairs to/restoration of porches, roofs and windows
• Structural foundation and sill repair/replacement
• Chimney and masonry repointing
Applications are due February 15, 2021. Visit PTV's website for more information and to apply.
Better Places Place-Making Grants - The State of Vermont's Agency of Commerce and Community Development has launched the Better Places pilot program to provide “placemaking” grants ranging from $5,000 to $20,000 that improve the vitality of state designated downtowns, village centers, new town centers, or neighborhood development areas. Applications are due January 22, 2021. For more information and to apply, visit the program web page on the ACCD website.
BIPOC Business Webinar - The Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation’s Business Resiliency Webinar Series will host a webinar specifically for any self-identified BIPOC and minority business owners or managers on January 21st, from 2:15pm to 3:15pm. The webinar will focus on local and regional technical assistance resources to help access available relief grants, develop loan applications, and introduce participants to local lenders who may be managing COVID Relief funding (such as the PPP or EIDL loans) in their communities. Be sure to register ahead of time.
Vermont Everyone Eats Relaunches - ACCD has allocated $1.6 million to Southeastern Vermont Community Action, the Everyone Eats Program Administrator, to relaunch the program. Though this allocation only funds three weeks of programming, partners across the state including the Scott Administration and the Legislature are working together to identify additional funding opportunities. In 2020, Everyone Eats funded over 530,000 meals, injecting $5.3 million into local restaurants and nearly $500,000 to Vermont farms and food producers.
Save Our Stages (SOS) Grants - The CAA includes a new $15 billion grant program called Save Our Stages ("SOS Grants") through which the U.S. Small Business Administration will provide aid to struggling live venue operators and related businesses. The grants will offer a critical lifeline for the nation’s performing arts venues, movie theatres and museums. Read more about the program and eligibility.
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Addison County Chamber of Commerce | 802-388-7951 | www.addisoncounty.com |
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