​​Preparing to Submit Your Application

This program is first-come, first-served and will remain open until funds are depleted. We expect to fund 45 projects, so you'll want to reserve your space in line early by being prepared to provide the following information:

​

1. Owner's household income (More details on calculating that HERE)

2. Your business's gross revenue, net income, and the number of full-time employees for 2019 - 2021

3. A general idea of the kind of technical assistance your business needs - Take a look at the list of registered vendors to get a sense for the kind of services that are being offered.​

​

What should I expect if I apply? Program Overview:

​

1. Complete and submit your application. Submitting an application is not a guarantee of funding.

2. A business assistance Navigator will review your application. There are two Navigators to coordinate Technical Assistance services for the state; completing the application as accurately and thoroughly as possible will expedite your project, but applicants should expect the project timeline to reflect the program's limited staffing capacity.

3. Once approved, you will receive a notification to schedule a meeting with your assigned Navigator to discuss your project and walk you through the remaining steps

4. You will identify and reach out to Technical Assistance Provider(s) that meet your project’s needs

5. Complete a project outline that covers the details of your project (deliverables, timelines, outcomes, etc.)

6. Your Navigator will generate a formal scope of work, which you, your technical assistance provider, and the program administrator will sign off on.

7. Work on the project commences

8. The Technical Assistance Provider notifies your Navigator once work is complete, and all parties sign off on the project’s completion

9. Technical Assistance Provider uploads their invoice and receives payment

​

How can a business participate in the program as a client and receive technical assistance?

​

To be eligible you must be a Vermont entity conducting activities in Vermont. You may be asked to demonstrate that you operate out of a Vermont property, pay employees who conduct work in Vermont, or have sales and customers in Vermont. Any business that would like to explore a technical assistance solution may register at this website. Once the business registration is complete and eligibility is confirmed, the Navigator for the region in which the business is located will contact the business. The Navigator will discuss the best path towards recovery for the business and develop a potential Scope of Work (SOW) with the business owner. Together, a technical assistance (TA) provider will be selected from the Technical Assistance Network registry and a final SOW will be signed and the work implemented. 

 

What is the timeline for this program?

​

The program is opening in the first quarter of 2022. All scopes of work must be completed no later than six months from the date of execution to be eligible for payment. This means that applicants must outline the work needed, secure a TA provider, and execute that SOW in a timely manner.

 

Can a business that is closed participate in the program?

​

Yes. The business must certify that it has a plan to reopen and that the technical assistance will help the business advance its reopening plan.

 

How much technical assistance can this program provide?

​

The average Scope of Work between a business and its TA provider varies based on the business and the project, but applicants with approved projects will receive a minimum of $500 in technical assistance.

 

How does a business find a technical assistance provider?

​

Once a business has completed the registration process it will be contacted by a Navigator who will help the business identify an appropriate service provider. Through this program a registry of TA providers will be compiled and hosted at this website. New providers will be added on an ongoing basis.

 

Can a client business select their own technical assistance provider? 

​

Yes. If a client business has been working with a TA provider or knows of an appropriate provider that can deliver the TA required to advance the businesses recovery, that TA provider may be selected. However, the TA provider must become a registered vendor in the program through the form available on this website.

 

Is reporting by the client business required?

​

Yes. The client registration requires information about the business including name, address, contact, website, sales, profits/loss, employment, etc. Similar information, along with project results, will be requested after the project is completed.  

 

Is client information public?

​

If a Business Technical Assistance is funded with U.S. Small Business Administration federal monies, then all client information including business name, address, and the value of the TA are confidential. Other information collected will be used only in the aggregate to report program results to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), and Vermont Legislature. Individual information (while confidential) is shared with CNPP project partners for coordination of services.

 

If a Business Technical Assistance is funded with Agency of Commerce Community Development (ACCD) Community Development Block Grant federal monies, then the company name, address, and value of the TA provided will be considered public information. Other information collected will be used only in the aggregate to report program results to the Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD), and Vermont Legislature. Individual information (while confidential) is shared with CNPP project partners for coordination of services.

​

If approved for funding, your Navigator can inform you which funding source your project falls under.

​

Is the value of the technical assistance counted towards the “Duplication of Benefits” calculation? 

​

No.