Emergency Economic Recovery Grants are intended to provide economic support to businesses and nonprofits in Vermont that have suffered economic losses as a result of the COVID-19 public health emergency. Vermont’s state legislature allocated $5 million in Federal CARES Act funds specifically for cultural nonprofit organizations across Vermont.
The Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD) is no longer administering Emergency Economic Recovery Grants to nonprofit arts and cultural organizations.
For-profit creative sector businesses are still eligible to apply directly to ACCD and should consult the application guidelines on the ACCD website.
Starting September 21, in order to distribute the remaining funds that were earmarked for cultural nonprofits, the Arts Council will open two different applications, one for new applicants and one for those who have already received funding:
For new applicants:
Who is eligible?
Organizations registered as Vermont nonprofits that:
- Have a primary mission centered on arts and culture
- Have at least one W-2 employee (does not need to be full-time)
- Can demonstrate a 50% or greater drop in revenue in any one quarter or month from March 1, 2020 to September 1, 2020, when compared to the same period in 2019
NEW expanded eligibility:
- Arts and cultural organizations that operate under the umbrella of a college or university may now apply
- Unincorporated arts and cultural organizations may now apply via a fiscal agent
For those who have already received funding:
Supplemental funding for organizations who have already received an ACCD Emergency Economic Recovery Grant. In order to be eligible for a supplemental grant, your organization must not have exceeded the maximum grant size of $150,000 and must demonstrate net economic losses in the period from March 1 to September 1, 2020. This application includes an expanded calculation of eligible revenue to include losses in fundraising.
Applications will be accepted on the Vermont Arts Council website beginning September 21, 2020 and will be awarded until funds are depleted.
