Coronavirus Resource Guide

Our Team is updating this daily as more information becomes available to support you, your business, and your employees.

Statewide Mask Mandate Effective August 1st, 2020
As you Reopen:
State of Emergency Extended to September 15th
- Mandatory Health & Safety Requirements for all Business, Non-Profit & Government Operations
Federal Response
Changes to PPP
General COVID-19 Updates:
Labor Issues
What Our Members Are Doing: Be Creative. Be Safe.
- Setting Up Shop Online
Resources

Statewide Mask Mandate Effective August 1st, 2020

Governor Phil Scott has signed an executive order that states, effective August 1st, masks will be required to be worn inside public places and outside if it is not possible to practice social distancing. This requirement will apply to everyone over the age of 2 years, except when eating, drinking, exercising or participating in strenuous activity. Additionally, those with medical reasons not to wear a mask will also be exempt; no written documentation will be required in order to preserve the medical privacy of individuals.

The Agency of Commerce and Community Development has published the following guidance on the order:

As of Saturday, August 1, 2020, Vermonters and visitors are required to wear masks or cloth facial coverings over their nose and mouth any time they are in public spaces, indoors or outdoors, where they come in contact with others from outside their households, especially in congregate settings, and where it is not possible to maintain a physical distance of at least six feet.
A person who declines to wear a mask or cloth face covering because of a medical or developmental issue, or difficulty breathing, shall not be required to produce documentation, or other evidence, verifying the condition.
Businesses and non-profit and government entities shall implement measures notifying customers or clients of the requirement to wear masks or facial coverings, which may include, but shall not be limited to, posting signage stating that masks or cloth facial coverings are required and denial of entry or service to customers or clients who decline to wear masks or facial coverings.
Recommended signage can be found here.

VRGA strongly encourages members to:

Print or request signage and post it at the front door and in conspicuous places around your business
Post the mandate on your social media to alert customers of the changes
Communicate this mandate to your employees and customers as soon, and as often, as possible to alleviate any confrontations or uncomfortable situations.

As you Reopen:

Go Through this Re-Opening Checklist
Create a Health and Safety Plan; We’ve created this template with the help of The Richards Group.
Read this Keeping Employees Safe Document
Follow these Guidelines below from the Vermont Department of Health and CDC

All Industries

Non-essential retail operations are limited to 50% (fifty percent) of approved fire safety occupancy; or 1 customer per 200 square feet; or 10 total customers and staff combined, whichever is greater. Read the full updated ACCD Guidance here in section 5.1
- Operators must POST their temporary occupancy limit, and which method was used to determine it, prominently on all entrances. Posting templates are available at https://accd.vermont.gov/covid-19/business/restart/signage.
Employees shall not report to, or be allowed to remain at, work or job site if sick or symptomatic (with fever, cough, and/or shortness of breath).
Employees must observe strict social distancing of 6 feet while on the job. Businesses and non-profit or government entities shall ensure customers observe strict social distancing of 6 feet while on location, to the extent possible.
Limit the occupancy of designated common areas, such as break rooms and cafeterias, so that occupants maintain strict social distancing of no less than 6 feet per individual. The employer shall enforce the occupancy limit and require employees to wipe down their area after use or shall ensure cleaning of the common areas at regular intervals throughout the day.
Employees must wear face coverings over their nose and mouth when in the presence of others. In the case of retail cashiers, a translucent shield or “sneeze guard” is acceptable in lieu of a mask. Businesses and non-profit and government entities may require customers or clients to wear masks.
Employees must have easy and frequent access to soap and water or hand sanitizer during duration of work, and handwashing or hand sanitization is required frequently including before entering, and leaving, job sites.
All common spaces (when open) and equipment, including bathrooms, frequently touched surfaces and doors, tools and equipment, and vehicles must be cleaned regularly and, when possible, prior to transfer from one person to another, in accordance with CDC guidance.
Prior to the commencement of each work shift, all employees shall complete a health survey either in-person at the worksite or prior to arriving at the worksite. This screening survey shall require an employee to verify that he or she has no symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, chills, repeated shaking with chills, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, congestion or runny nose, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea) before they enter the workplace. It is strongly recommended that a temperature check be conducted by the employee at home or a non-contact temperature check be conducted by the employer or the employee at the worksite. Employers may create systems that work best for their unique operations – but must be able to demonstrate, if asked by employees or state health officials, how the system ensures employees have been pre-screened for symptoms before they enter the workplace.
Signs must be posted at all entrances clearly indicating that no one may enter if they have symptoms of respiratory illness.
When working inside, open doors and windows to promote air flow to the greatest extent possible and limit the number of people occupying a single indoor space.
No more than 3 people shall occupy one vehicle when conducting work. Mass transit, taxis, ridesharing, and public safety are exempt from this rule.
No symptomatic or COVID-19 positive workers are allowed on site and any worker(s) who have contact with a worker or any other person who is diagnosed with COVID-19 are required to quarantine for 14 days.
All operations shall designate a health officer on-site at every shift responsible for ensuring compliance with the Executive Order and the Addenda thereto and applicable ACCD Guidance. This person shall have the authority to stop or modify activities to ensure work conforms with the mandatory health and safety requirements.
All businesses and non-profit and government entities shall encourage and facilitate telework among those employees with the capacity to work remotely when practical without impeding productivity. Employers shall accommodate the needs of high risk individuals, those workers who may have child care needs which cannot be met due to the closure of schools or child care facilities for reasons relating to COVID-19 and those individuals with concerns about personal health circumstances.
All employees, including those already working (except healthcare workers, first responders, and others already trained in infection control, personal protection/universal precautions), must complete, and employers must document, a training on mandatory health and safety requirements as provided by VOSHA, or another training program that meets or exceeds the VOSHA-provided standard by May 4, 2020, or before returning to operations. Employers who need translations of the training materials have one week from the time the materials are made available.
For all mass transit CUSTOMERS/ RIDERS (in addition to the mandatory requirement for operators and staff) face coverings are mandatory on public transit conveyances and in stations and terminals, effective May 4, 2020.

Additional health and safety consideration for all business, non-profit and government operations:

Use of shared workspaces, desks, offices, etc. is discouraged to the maximum extent practicable.
Face-to-face staff meetings should be limited, and physical distancing must be observed.
Consider staggered work shifts, break times, etc. and expanding hours to reduce number of individuals working together and reduce contact with members of the public.
To the extent possible, provide access to hand washing and/or hand sanitizer for vendors, and customers.
Limit staff travel between multiple sites.
Ensure a safe process to receive supplies and deliveries.
Consider accommodations for employees at higher risk from COVID-19 infection (as currently defined by the CDC) to work remotely or have a job tasks that minimize public interaction.

Mask Use for Employees

The ACCD has mandated mask use for employees interacting with the public. The mandate reads “Employees must wear face coverings over their nose and mouth when in the presence of others. In the case of retail cashiers, a translucent shield or “sneeze guard” is acceptable in lieu of a mask.
Current towns with a mandate that customers wear masks in businesses are: Bennington, Brattleboro, Burlington, South Burlington, Manchester, Middlebury, Montpelier, Stowe, Vergennes, Wilmington and Woodstock. These mandates will be superseded by the Governors Executive Order when it becomes effective August 1st.

Food Retail (General stores, convenience stores, etc)

“Food retailers may now resume in person operations subject to the ACCD, CDC, and VT Dept of Health guidance on operating. Critical retailers, such as grocery stores, that continued operations under the Stay Home, Stay Safe order do not need to reduce occupancy to continue operating.
Curbside pickup remains the preferred method of operation. When possible, retailers should take steps to schedule or stage customer visits, such as waiting in cars or outside, to ensure lower contact operations.
Employees must wear face coverings over their nose and mouth when in the presence of others. In the case of retail cashiers, a translucent shield or “sneeze guard” is acceptable in lieu of a Mask.

Retail Operations

Retailers may begin to reopen concurrent to ACCD sector guidance including:

Non-essential retail operations are limited to 50% (fifty percent) of approved fire safety occupancy; or 1 customer per 200 square feet; or 10 total customers and staff combined, whichever is greater. Operators must POST their temporary occupancy limit, and which method was used to determine it, prominently on all entrances. Posting templates are available at accd.vermont.gov.
Retailers must continue to practice all Worksafe Guidelines, including practicing social distancing, frequent access to handwashing, regular cleaning of workspaces, bathrooms, equipment, etc.
Prior to starting work, employees must also continue to complete a health survey verifying that they have no symptoms, signage must be posted discouraging customers with symptoms to stay home.
Cashless/touch-less transactions are strongly preferred.
Curbside pickup remains the preferred method of operation. When possible, retailers should take steps to schedule or stage customer visits, such as waiting in cars or outside, to ensure lower contact operations.
Yard sales and garage sales may occur at private residences with 25 or fewer people present at any one time.
Organized outdoor markets, such as flea markets, shall adhere to the farmers market guidance issued by the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets.
Pick-your-own agricultural producers, including berry farms and orchards, shall adhere to retail guidance, and follow the best practices identified in the Agency of Agriculture’s Pick-Your-Own Restart Plan.

Bars, Restaurants and Food Service

Occupancy & Seating
- Restaurants, catering, food service, and bars may allow 50 percent of fire safety occupancy or 1 person per 100 square feet, with a maximum of 75 people indoors and 150 people outdoors.
- Operators must limit the total number of customers served/seated in OUTSIDE seating at one time to 150 or their maximum licensed seating capacity, whichever is less.
- Seating must be available for all patrons and seating must allow for physical distancing of at least 6 feet between seated dining parties. Standing is not allowed at this time. Customers must be seated while consuming food or beverages.
- Bar seating and drink or food production areas must remain closed to patrons to reduce prolonged contact between patrons and bartenders and to prevent close contact between patrons and the food and drink of other customers.A counter area, such as a lunch counter or diner counter, may be open if there is at least six feet between customers and six feet between the customer and any waitstaff and no food or beverage production or storage occurs at the counter.
- Reservations or call ahead seating is required. Reservations should be staggered to prevent congregating in waiting areas. Waiting areas must accommodate physical distancing.
- For “fast food” takeout or counter service (no wait staff), no reservations or logs of customers are required. Please note that an absence of logs may require a public announcement of possible exposure if a case is identified.
Self-Serve coffee and beverage stations have been allowed to reopen at this time.
Consider using rolled silverware and eliminating table presets. Disposable/single use condiment packets are encouraged. Multi-use condiments and all other items for general use must be cleaned and sanitized between customers.
Use of shared food service (buffet style) and self-serve utensils, plates or napkins, are prohibited.
Customers should be encouraged to wear face coverings when not eating.
Restrooms should be monitored and routinely cleaned and soap dispensers regularly filled.
Disinfect all front-of-house surfaces including door handles, screens, phones, pens, keyboards; as well as tables, chairs and other areas of high hand contact frequently.
Licensed caterers and licensed beverage manufacturers may follow this guidance for either outdoor or indoor Catering Event Permits and Special Event Permits in compliance with all Department of Liquor and Lottery permitting and license requirements. These events must either adhere to the customer restrictions in this section or allow 50 percent of fire occupancy or 1 person per 100 square feet, with a maximum of 75 people indoors and 150 people outdoors.
Bars, breweries, distilleries, wineries, cideries and tasting rooms may offer outdoor beverage service in compliance with this outdoor dining guidance, and the temporary outdoor consumption notification and permit stipulations established by the Department of Liquor and Lottery.
Operators must maintain an easily accessible log of customers and their contact information for 30 days in the event contact tracing is required by the Health Department. This must include at least the name and phone number of one member of a party making a reservation with the date and time the person visited the establishment.

For more resources related to reopening head to the ACCD website: Restart Vermont Resources

Useful Print Outs

View this page with multiple Reopening Signage
View this page with multiple CDC Signs for your business
Read this guidance on face masks from the Vermont Department of Health
Printable Symptoms of Coronavirus
Know who is at risk for serious illness.
You can Post this Food Stock Flyer if customers are worried about empty shelves
Educate your employees about the virus, including its transmission and prevention, print this: Stop the Spread of Germs
Hang this sign in your public/employee bathroom: Handwashing Steps

Cleaning:

Read this Cleaning and Sanitation Guide for Food Retail
If needed, we have compiled a list of Commercial Cleaning Services in Vermont, VRGA is not promoting these companies, we are just compiling the information as it comes in for your benefit.

State of Emergency Extended to September 15th

View the full order New Work Safe Additions as of 5/15/20 Executive Orders Summary

Click here to view the VRGA/VSFA Summary of the Stay Home, Stay Safe Order

The latest order enables cities and towns to enact stricter local limits for gathering sizes than those established by the State. Municipalities may also mandate shorter hours for the sale of alcohol by bars and clubs than those set forth by the Department of Liquor and Lottery.

The Governor has ordered all non-essential/non-critical businesses to shut down, unless included in the current implementation of the “restartvt” phased reopening plan, and directs all non-essential residents of the state to remain at home throughout the duration of the order, leaving only for essential reasons. While we cannot provide legal advice on whether your specific business can stay open, we can steer you in the right direction.

Find out here what businesses are deemed Critical and Essential.
We have also compiled a list of businesses in the state providing shopping hours for vulnerable members of the community, curbside pickup and other services in response to this pandemic. As stores in the state reopen, these services are expected to change. It is always wise to check with a store directly before going to it. If your business is offering special services in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, please reach out to us to be added to this list. This list also includes businesses accepting 3SquaresVT (SNAP) and WIC benefit payments. Thank you to Hunger Free Vermont for helping us with this list!

Please check this list for a store near you
Businesses deemed critical to public health and safety are urged to offer Curbside Pickup to the extent possible. We strongly encourage you to offer this service. If it is not possible, here are ways to limit exposure to your employees and customers along with helpful links.

Mandatory Health & Safety Requirements for all Business, Non-Profit & Government Operations

As detailed in Governor Phil Scotts recent order, the Vermont Occupational Safety and Health Agency (VOSHA) has developed training and other materials to inform Vermonters on appropriate safety measures necessary to return to work amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Training and other materials were developed in conjunction with the Vermont Department of Health and the Agency of Commerce and Community Development.

VOSHA Resources Guidelines for Businesses from CDC and Vermont Department of Health

Beginning May 4th, businesses that are open to the public will be required to conduct pre-screening or health survey to verify each employee has no symptoms of respiratory illness (fever, cough, and/or shortness of breath), including temperature checks to the extent possible, prior to the start of work each day.

Employees will be required to complete, and employers must document, a training on mandatory health and safety requirements as provided by VOSHA, or another training program that meets or exceeds the VOSHA-provided standard.

This training is available here.

Federal Response

The most recent federal response bill, The HEROES Act, has passed the house. The $3 trillion dollar bill includes a broad range of provisions: $875 billion for state and local governments affected by COVID-19, a second round of $1200 stimulus checks, $75 billion for expanded testing, $75 billion in mortgage relief, $100 billion for rental assistance, student loan forgiveness up to $10,000 per borrower, and expansions to federal nutrition and unemployment programs. The bill is expected to be rejected by the Senate in its current form.

Here are the highlights of the new bill:

$310 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Wall Street has cautioned that even this sizable cash injection may only last a period of days. Of this amount, $60 billion will be reserved for smaller banks that cater to underserved communities. That money will be further divided between banks will less than $10 billion in assets and those with between $10 billion and $50 billion in total assets. The SBA has warned Congress it will take some time to this set-up.
$60 billion for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) and Grants. This incudes $50 billion for straight EIDL loans and $10 billion to restore the $10,000 emergency small business grants. Note that the SBA rationed distribution of the grants, providing only $1,000 per employee up to $10,000 per applicant. I assume this will remain unchanged with the new cash injection.
$75 billion for hospitals and other healthcare providers. This a stop-gap until more is known about the resource situation, and another, possibly larger cash injection is likely in the next coronavirus bill.
$25 billion for COVID-19 testing including funds for the development of nationwide and state-by-state testing strategies.

Changes to PPP

Recently, changes to the PPP Program have been made with the intention of making the use of PPP funds more flexible. The changes are still being examined for their impact. VRGA will provide members with a summary when it is available.

Recurring PPP Webinars with the SBA Vermont District Office

PPP Forgiveness Webinar - A daily webinar to discuss PPP forgiveness
- Monday - Friday, 9:00am - 10:00amJoin online: https://meet.lync.com/sba123/sbmazza/SFFM2N9R
- Join by phone: (202) 765-1264; Code: 237511921#
PPP & EIDL Webinar - A twice-weekly webinar to discuss PPP, the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and Advance, and information about updates to these programs
- Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:00am - 10:00am
- Join online: https://meet.lync.com/sba123/sbmazza/6F6N4YK6
- Join by phone: (202) 765-1264; Code: 470177937#

Key Takeaways from the PPP Flexibility Act:

The PPP Flexibility Act amends the Paycheck Protection Program to give borrowers more time to spend loan funds and still obtain forgiveness.
Borrowers now have 24 weeks to spend loan proceeds, up from 8 weeks.
The Act also reduces mandatory payroll spending from 75% to 60%.
Two new exceptions let borrowers obtain full forgiveness even without fully restoring their workforce.
Changes made by the PPPFA have been incorporated in new forgiveness applications released by the SBA.
Time to pay off the loan has been extended to five years from the original two.
The Act now lets businesses delay paying payroll taxes even if they took a PPP loan.

Remember, you must follow the treasury and SBA guidelines for loan use to qualify for loan forgiveness. We urge you to contact your bank as well, to ensure you collect the right documents to present when asking for loan forgiveness.

You can find answers to questions frequently asked by borrowers in this SBA FAQ: PPP FAQ

Consider this set of guidelines from the SBA as well: SBA Guidelines for Use of the PPP

Important to note generally:

60% of your loan balance must go to payroll for maximum forgiveness.
PPP loans have an interest rate of 1%.
Loans issued prior to June 5 have a maturity of 2 years. Loans issued after June 5 have a maturity of 5 years.
Loan payments will be deferred for six months.
No collateral or personal guarantees are required.
Neither the government nor lenders will charge small businesses any fees.
Forgiveness is based on the employer maintaining or quickly rehiring employees and maintaining salary levels.
Forgiveness will be reduced if full-time headcount declines, or if salaries and wages decrease.

You should use the proceeds from these loans on your:

Payroll costs, including benefits;
Interest on mortgage obligations, incurred before February 15, 2020;
Rent, under lease agreements in force before February 15, 2020; and
Utilities, for which service began before February 15, 2020.

Payroll costs include:

Salary, wages, commissions, or tips (capped at $100,000 on an annualized basis for each employee);
Employee benefits including costs for vacation, parental, family, medical, or sick leave; allowance for separation or dismissal; payments required for the provisions of group health care benefits including insurance premiums; and payment of any retirement benefit;
State and local taxes assessed on compensation; and
For a sole proprietor or independent contractor: wages, commissions, income, or net earnings from self-employment, capped at $100,000 on an annualized basis for each employee.

Please Note: You must keep documents to prove your use of the loan is in accordance with these guidelines if you are going to seek loan forgiveness. We urge you to contact your bank and find out exactly what documents they will want from you down the road.

PPP Program Forgiveness Information

The SBA has issued instructions for requesting forgiveness of PPP loans, as well as an application for doing so.

The application has four components: (1) the PPP Loan Forgiveness Calculation Form; (2) PPP Schedule A; (3) the PPP Schedule A Worksheet; and (4) an (optional) PPP Borrower Demographic Information Form. Borrowers are required to submit items (1) and (2) to their lender.
The SBA’s guidance provides for four broad categories of costs that are eligible for forgiveness: (1) payroll costs; (2) business mortgage interest payments; (3) business rent or lease payments; and (4) business utility payments. Subject to some exceptions, forgiveness is generally available for costs incurred with respect to these items during the borrower’s “Covered Period,” which is the eight-week period that begins on the date the PPP loan was disbursed. As with prior guidance, the SBA requires that at least 75% of the forgiven amount be attributable to payroll costs.

To ease your fears about keeping up with payments on your current or potential SBA loan, You may want to review immediate relief to small businesses with non-disaster SBA loans, in particular

7(a): Re an affordable loan product of up to $5 million for borrowers who lack credit elsewhere and need access to versatile financing, providing short-term or long-term working capital and to purchase an existing business, refinance current business debt
504: Provides loans of up to $5.5 million to approved small businesses with longterm, fixed-rate financing used to acquire fixed assets for expansion or modernization
Microloans: provides loans up to $50,000 to help small businesses and certain not-for profit childcare centers to start up and expand. The average microloan is about $13,000. These can be applied for through Community Capital of VT.

EZ Forgiveness Applications

Some businesses may qualify for an “EZ Forgiveness Application”. The SBA has prepared this checklist form to help determine if you qualify. If you can check at least one of the form's three boxes, submit it to your lender (or the lender that is servicing your loan). Borrowers may also complete this application electronically through their lender. If you are unable to check one of the boxes, you cannot use SBA Form 3508EZ and instead you must apply for forgiveness of your PPP loan using SBA Form 3508

CARES Act

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. The comprehensive aid package includes direct payments to Americans, an expansion of unemployment insurance and billions in aid to large and small businesses. We are closely monitoring the passage of this bill and will provide a summary of the final passed bill when it is available. VSFA Associate Member Gravel & Shea, a Burlington-based law firm, has provided this explanation on eligibility, terms of loans, and forgiveness opportunities.

Read the current CARES Act bill

Small Business Owners Guide to the CARES Act: This guidance document will help you determine if you’re eligible, how much you can apply for, and how you can use it.

CARES ACT FAQs: Small Business from Senator Sanders Office also provides significant information.

FFCRA Act

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act included a number of provisions related to paid family/medical leave and paid sick leave, including a tax credit for employers intended to fully cover the cost of leave: The effective date of this legislation is April 1st, 2020 and will remain in effect until December 31, 2020. The second of three bills passed by Congress in response to COVID-19 creates emergency paid sick leave along with paid family leave for individuals impacted by coronavirus/COVID-19. Employers can claim a 100 percent refundable tax credit against payroll taxes for employers and sole proprietors.

Read the full FFCRA Act

Click here for a quick overview of the FFCRA

View this Document for more information on Paid Sick Leave/Medical Leave/Family Leave

Read the FAQ on the FFCRA Act here.

Department of Labor recorded a webinar on the FFCRA. Please continue to frequent this web address regularly as the Department will continue to update the compliance assistance information available there.

General COVID-19 Updates:

Liquor Licensing Renewal Required

In response to the COVID-19 shutdown, the Division of Liquor Control has provided this on-line method of starting the renewal process. Please submit this form prior to April 27, 2020 to ensure you are placed on the Valid After Expiration list. The Department issued a letter to all licensees describing the process in more detail.

To read the letter that was sent out, please click here. If you have questions or problems filing this form, please contact the Division of Liquor Control's Licensing office at (802) 828-2339. If you have not shared your intent to renew your license, you can do so on this online form

Childcare

Childcare organizations, day summer camps and afterschool programs must follow the Vermont Department of Health, Agency of Education and Department for Children and Families guidance surrounding the reopening of childcare programs, summer programs and afterschool programs.

State of Vermont makes web-based form available to help ensure Childcare for essential workers.

The State, with the help of Let's Grow Kids, has developed a web form to more easily collect information to connect the families of essential workers with childcare in schools and licensed childcare programs that are operating to provide services now through April 6, 2020, while school dismissal and general childcare service closures are in effect. Families can also call 2-1-1 ext. 6 or 1-877-705-9008 to speak to a childcare referral specialist. Eligible families can complete the form and the State, through the Agency of Education for school-aged children through grade 8, and Child Development Division for younger children, will work to connect essential workers who need childcare with options for their children.

Essential workers who need help finding childcare should visit this website or call 2-1-1 ext. 6
Childcare programs with questions should call or email the Child Development Division: 800-649-2642 (option 3) or ahs.dcfcddchildcarelicensing@vermont.gov
Schools with questions should contact the Agency of Education: 802-828-1130

CDC Mass Gathering Guidance

Continue to monitor the CDC's Resources for Large Community Events & Mass Gatherings website
Considerations for Postponing or Cancelling a Mass Gathering - review the CDC's guide here.

Alcohol Sales: Take Out, Curbside and Delivery Orders Allowed

Expires June 15th (follows expiration of State of Emergency)

Per a directive from Governor Phil Scott, a temporary allowance has been made for take out, curbside and delivery sales of spirits, spirit based, malt and vinous beverages given the following:

1st class licensees are hereby authorized to allow for take-out, curbside pickup and delivery of beverage alcohol, including spirit-based drinks and malt and vinous product accompanying food orders for off premise consumption.
2nd class licensees shall be authorized to allow for delivery and curbside pickup of un-opened containers of spirits, spirit-based product and malt and vinous product.

If you are considering offering this, we strongly encourage you to contact your Insurance agent to discuss your current Liquor Liability coverage.

The permissible hours for delivery shall be from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m. For deliveries, the licensee shall be able to travel from town to town or from place to place carrying orders for delivery of any alcohol product they are licensed to sell and authorized to deliver hereunder without a delivery permit, provided the following conditions are met:

The person making the delivery is at least 18 years old and is certified to sell or
serve alcohol by the Board.
All deliveries shall be in person to a physical building or residence.
Licensees shall maintain an inspectable log of all deliveries made and such log shall
at a minimum include:
- Name of recipient and physical address in Vermont to where the product was
  delivered;
- How ID was verified;
- A signature of recipient at least twenty-one (21) years of age;
- Complete description of the product and quantity delivered;
- Time of delivery;
- The name of the employee making the delivery

Bottle Redemption

ANR has rescinded their prior waiver allowing stores to selectively receive bottle bill redeemables, effective June 22nd 2020. ANR expects full compliance with the bottle bill on June 22nd. In limited circumstances, ANR may consider exercising enforcement discretion. Unless you have specifically received notice of enforcement discretion applied to your business, be prepared to restart redeemables collection on open of business, June 22nd, 2020. The full text of the announcement can be found here

For questions about Vermont’s bottle bill, or this pause in enforcement, contact Becky Webber with the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation at 802-522-3658, or rebecca.webber@vermont.gov.

Labor Issues

CURRENT LABOR LAW: The Vermont Department of Labor has issued guidance to staff. "Staff shall not deny claims for able and available issues due to a claimant being isolated or quarantined at the direction of a health care official due to potential or verified exposure to the COVID-19 disease. These individuals shall be treated as temporarily unemployed through no fault of their own, and able and available, for the purpose of UI benefits."

Associate Member Gravel & Shea, a Burlington-based law firm, has provided this overview of the expanded employment benefits that have been recently passed by the Vermont Legislature and Congress.

Refusal to Return to Work

The Department of Labor reminds unemployment claimants who have been placed on temporary layoff or furlough related to COVID-19 that they must return to work if called back by their employer. Refusal to return to work, when being offered the normal rate of pay and number of hours per week, may result in the termination of unemployment benefits and the need to repay certain benefits.

If your employees have refused to return to work and are instead continuing to draw unemployment benefits, you must report this to the state Department of Labor. Employers should complete the online refusal to work form.

New Alphabetized Structure

The Vermont Department of Labor has implemented an alphabetized structure for the intake of weekly claims and inquiries, designating specific days of the week for individuals to contact the Department, based on the first letter of their last name. The structure will take effect on Sunday, April 12, 2020. View the new structure and find out more here.

DOL to Accept Unemployment Claims from Self-Employed and Others

The Department of Labor has announced that the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program (part of the federal CARES Act) is now available to accept unemployment claims from those not eligible for the regular Unemployment Insurance program (self-employed, sole proprietors, independent contractors).

Find More information on the PUA application process and eligibility
Pandemic Unemployment Assistance info

Pandemic Unemployment Claims (PUC)

Department of Labor to Accept Unemployment Claims from Self-Employed and Others

More information on the PUA application process and eligibility

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance info

Watch this Vermont Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) Demo: A How to fill out the form

What VRGA is doing for YOU

VRGA has been in touch with many state officials asking questions on your behalf, once the question has been answered it will be on our FAQ Page. Our Team is working around the clock to make sure we have up-to-date information for you. Here are some of the requests, press releases, and questions we are bringing to the conversation with your state officials.

Check out our FAQ Page on questions already answered.
VRGA's Letter to the Director of Vermont Emergency Management on suggestions on which businesses should be deemed Essential vs Non-Essential.
See VRGA President Erin on WCAX on March 22nd with Vt. Agriculture Secretary Anson Tebbetts discussing the impact of the coronavirus on the state's dairy industry and food systems; Erin discussed assistance available to help small businesses and the challenges grocers are having keeping the shelves stocked.
Call to Action That All Vermont Retailers & Grocers Offering Designated Shopping Hours for Vulnerable Populations
Request to postpone the ban on single-use plastic bags which is set to take effect on July 1, 2020.
Interview with VRGA President Erin Sigrist and Peter 'Fish' Case from Great Eastern Radio
View all of our Press Releases Here

What Our Members Are Doing: Be Creative. Be Safe.

Many of our members have tried to come up with creative ways to provide the goods people need while limiting their exposure to COVID19. Try thinking outside the box, react in the moment but prepare for the coming months. As stores begin to reopen, it is important to stay vigilant for changes from the CDC and the Governor's office.

Visit this webpage on downtown districts and see what Vermont is doing and support your local retail/grocer!

Setting Up Shop Online

We understand that many businesses are shifting their focus to trying to increase their online sales in order to make sure they can stay afloat. We have compiled a few resources that you may want to look into to help navigate that world.

AGH Fulfillment and A Slice of Vermont are working with VSFA members to help with shipping and e-commerce for producers.
Uptown Cow has a comprehensive, easy to follow guide on how to set up an online platform. They also put together a Growth Guide for retailers that already have platforms.
Pointy gets your products online instantly if you have a barcode scanner. Connect a Pointy box to your scanner or if you use a POS system you can download the free app to get your products online.