Vermont's COVID-19 Response -Overcoming Challenges and Achievements

Vermont Covid-19 Cultural Recovery Grant Program is a program that provides funds for arts and humanities organizations that are severely impacted by Covid-19. It primarily gives financial assistance to eligible groups and organizations to recover from their loss due to the pandemic. The said program can also help organizations ease their financial hardships.

Moreover, the main objective of the Covid-19 Cultural Recovery Grant Program is to bring back the essence of the life of arts and culture throughout the local state of Vermont. And this will be done upon the recovery of the groups and organizations that mainly support arts and culture.

The Vermont Covid-19 Cultural Recovery Grant Program was under the amendments of the American Rescue Pan Act of 2021. It was mainly created by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) together with the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) of Vermont. The agencies teamed to accomplish the said program.

Also, they’ve said that they want to maximize their capability of assisting and supporting Vermont’s arts and humanities organizations. As most of the government programs focus on individuals that are affected by the pandemic, arts, and cultural organizations became unknown.

So, the Vermont Covid-19 Cultural Recovery Grant Program will lift every qualified organization to recover and boost their purpose throughout society.

Who are the Eligible organizations for the Vermont Covid-19 Program?

Not all humanities or arts organizations in Vermont can apply for the Covid-19 Cultural Recovery Grant Program. The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) set a qualification rule for the said program.

Organizations that did not meet the given rules will be ineligible for the said program. Refer to below for the preference for the qualification rules for Vermont Covid-19 Cultural Recovery Grant Program.

• Humanities or arts organizations must be integrated with the Vermont 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status that complies with the federal and state requirements.
• Those who received the 2020 Cultural Relief Grant or Vermont Economic Recovery Grant for Cultural Organizations are also qualified for the program.
• Must experience financial hardships as a result of the pandemic but should not be limited to the following: (Risk of permanent closure, Loss of paid staff, significant revenue, venue, or workspace)
• Humanities or arts organizations must have a Data Universal Number System (DUNS) number.

Covid-19 Program Special Consideration

The Vermont Covid-19 Cultural Recovery Grant Program also has special consideration, check the list below. Organizations that serve and are being led by the following individuals:

• Indigenous people
• Member of LGBTQ+
• Lives in rural areas
• With Disabilities
• Immigrants or refugees
• Whose first language is not English

Below are the exclusions for the Vermont Covid-19 Cultural Recovery Grant Program.

• Individuals
• Organizations that do not have 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status.
• Political, advocacy, and religious organizations or groups.
• Agencies of the local state government.
• Pre-K to Grade 12 schools
• Colleges and universities academic departments
• Libraries

How Much Can Eligible Organizations Get From the Vermont Covid-19 Program?

The amount of financial assistance from the Vermont Covid-19 Cultural Recovery Grant Program may vary based on the beneficiaries. The Vermont Arts Council and Vermont Humanities set the basis for the benefits of the organization's size. The organization size is computed from the organization’s expenses from FY 2019 up to the pandemic.

Refer to the table below for the number of grants based on organization size under the Vermont Covid-19 Cultural Recovery Grant Program.

Where Can Organizations Use the Funds from the Program?

The Vermont Covid-19 Cultural Recovery Grant Program has its limits upon the usage of its benefits. Check the list below on how to appropriately use the funds from the said program.

Vermont Humanities Grants

1. Programming in the humanities.
2. Humanities-focused organization’s operating costs.
3. Plans and capability efforts for the organization’s program related to Covid-19 such as response and recovery programs.
4. Technical/consultant to support the access of the programs.
5. Equity assessments related to Covid-19.

Vermont Arts Council

1. Day-to-day operating costs or business expenses.
2. Salary support for the organization’s staff.
3. Fees for artists and contractual personnel related to the organization’s programs.
4. Rent and utility payments.
5. Expenses for the health and safety supplies of staff.
6. Cost of marketing and promotion.

How to Apply for the Program?

As of now, the application for the Vermont Covid-19 Cultural Recovery Grant Program is still. Check the list of deadlines for the application of the first two rounds.

• Round One: July 21, 2021, by 5 pm.
• Round Two: September 14, 2021, by 5 pm.

The application processes were handled by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) throughout the state of Vermont.

An announcement, if there will be a third round of the said program, will also be from them. Moreover, the said program provided $665,000 for 79 Vermont organizations in its second round.

Now, the agencies are still in the process of disbursement of funds from the said program to its eligible beneficiaries. Visit Vermont Humanities for more information regarding Vermont Covid-19 Cultural Recovery Grant Program.