Business Emergency Gap Assistance Program (BEGAP)

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Business Emergency Gap Assistance Program Guidelines

Program Overview

The Business Emergency Gap Assistance Program (BEGAP) is a grant program for businesses and nonprofits that suffered physical damages from flooding events. This includes farms and landlords.

Funding is for property damaged in the 2023 and/or 2024 floods. Eligibility and grant calculations differ depending on several factors.

BEGAP funding is granted per physical location, and separate applications need to be submitted for each physical location.

A business or nonprofit can receive grants for up to three physical locations, per flood. (Ex. If a business or nonprofit received BEGAP funding in 2023 for three properties, and another property was damaged in 2024, they could receive BEGAP funding for that fourth property.)

If you are an agricultural business, please visit the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (AAFM) website for guidance before applying.  If agricultural businesses have questions they can email: agr.floodresponse@vermont.gov

Business Emergency Gap Assistance Program FAQs

Prior 2023 Business Emergency Gap Assistance Program Awardees (One Listing Per Property)

Important Information for Applicants

To ensure BEGAP communications are delivered successfully and avoid potential redirection to spam, please add the following to your approved email contacts:

• ACCD.BizFloodGrant@Vermont.gov
• noreply@vermont.gov
• msonlineservicesteam@microsoftonline.com

A cell phone is required to open an application account.

It is essential that applicants remember their login email and password.

BEGAP funding is taxable.

Private nonprofit organizations which provide services of a governmental nature and are deemed critical should apply directly to FEMA for uninsured disaster-related expenses and/or disaster-related damages to the facility. (Ex. Emergency services, water supply, electric power, telephone communications, direct medical care.)

Eligibility Requirements

This information applies to all BEGAP funding.

An eligible applicant for BEGAP must be a business or nonprofit that meets the following criteria:

• Physical property damages must be in Vermont.  
• Physical damages include damage to real estate, leasehold improvements, inventory, machinery, and equipment.  
• Intends to reopen in the same location or elsewhere in Vermont and will utilize the grant funds for this purpose.  
• Nonprofit organizations providing community service (education, utilities, health care facilities, or emergency services) that were denied a Public Assistance Grant from FEMA.

The following are ineligible: 

• Municipalities 
• Businesses or nonprofits that sustained only economic injury (revenue loss) 
• Individual homeowners (for home-based businesses, this application only pertains to business assets) 
• Nonprofit organizations that provide community service (education, utilities, health care facilities, or emergency services) and receive a Public Assistance Grant from FEMA.

2024 BEGAP Funding

Deadline

• Applications are due November 15, 2024

Eligibility

• Business or nonprofit must have been established before the 2024 flood(s).
• The location for operations and/or assets must have suffered physical damages from the 2024 flood(s). 

Grant Calculation 

• 30% of net uncovered damages, up to $100,000.
• “Net uncovered damage” is the remaining unmet need after subtracting any insurance proceeds and other grants or donations used to defray the costs of repairing or replacing damaged assets.

Required Information

• Contact information 
• Damaged property location and ownership documentation such as property tax bill, lease   
• Federal Employer Tax Identification Number (FEIN)  
• Insurance policy information: type of coverage, policy number, agent contact  
• Dollar amount of damages anticipated to be recouped through insurance 
• Other grants or donations received and used to defray the costs of repairing or replacing those damaged assets   
• Description of the impact of the flooding on the applicant 
• Damage type and estimated costs for repair/replacement

Required Documentation   

• Most recently filed Federal Tax Return (or 990 for nonprofits) 
  • Please Note: Complete tax returns are required, and documents cannot be password protected.
• Profit and Loss Statement if the business started recently or if the most recent tax return is unavailable  
• An updated IRS Form W-9
  • Please Note: Documents must be hand-signed in blue or black in within the last year. Digital signatures will not be accepted. The address on the W9 must match the mailing address listed in the application.
• Declaration or Certificate of Insurance for all policies held  
• Supporting documentation for claimed damages (insurance adjuster report, vendor estimates) 
• Repair estimates for physical structures, equipment, inventory, supply purchases, or actual paid expenses 
• Photographs of damaged property (maximum of 5) 
• Proof of interest in the damaged property (e.g. property tax bill, deed, lease agreement)

Note

• Preference will be given to applicants with the majority of their operations based in Vermont.
• 10% of funds will be set aside for awards to Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color applicants. 
• Applicants who received funding for 2023 flood damage are also eligible to apply for new damage sustained from 2024 flooding.