REGION 1 - The State of Vermont received a grant totaling over $1 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), awarded to help reimburse expenses associated with ongoing COVID-19 response efforts.
The grant of $1,397,762 is given to the Agency of Commerce and Community Development, to pass through to Southern Vermont Community Action (SEVCA), for food distribution to high risk populations. Work performed under this grant occurred from January 18 to February 14.
In response to the pandemic’s threat to health and safety, Vermont’s Agency of Commerce and Community Development entered into an agreement with SEVCA to operate the state’s emergency feeding program: “Vermont Everybody Eats". SEVCA established and coordinated state-wide subcontractors who oversee restaurant engagement, meal production, and meal distribution. This program is a vital part of Vermont’s emergency feeding initiative, providing meals to the COVID-19 impacted population of the state."
The funding is awarded at 100% federal cost share through FEMA’s Public Assistance Grant Program which reimburses communities for actions taken in the immediate response and recovery activities during a disaster.
“We are pleased to support the State of Vermont with funding critical needs like this and directly aiding those affected by COVID-19," said Acting Regional Administrator and Federal Coordinating Officer Paul Ford, who oversees FEMA’s operations in New England. “We will continue to work closely with the state of Vermont to respond to this pandemic continues."
Additional information about FEMA’s Public Assistance program is found at:
https://www.fema.gov/pubic-assistance-local-state-tribal-and-non-profit
Source: Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency
