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RDCs outline plan to administer federal CDBG disaster funds for flood economic injury
Summary
Andy Jewel told the committee Senator Welch secured a roughly $66 million federal supplemental for disaster relief; RDCs would administer CDBG disaster relief funds to address business economic injury from 2023–24 floods without requesting state funds.
Andy Jewel told the committee that Senator Peter Welch had secured a federal disaster supplemental—about $66 million—to Vermont for disaster relief tied to the 2023–24 flooding events. Jewel said the funds are available through HUD’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) disaster relief program and that RDCs would administer a program to address economic injury to businesses.
Jewel explained the difference between physical damage and economic injury: the Business Emergency Gap Assistance (BGAP) program covered physical damage to inventory and equipment after the floods, while lost revenue tied to temporary shutdowns or supply disruptions (which Jewel called “economic harm”) was not covered in prior rounds. He said RDCs plan to stand up an economic‑injury grant program similar to the 2016 CDBG disaster recovery program administered after Tropical Storm Irene and that the RDC network would manage the federal funds and program administration.
Jewel said the planned program would be federally funded and that RDCs were not asking for state dollars to run it, but he asked the committee to be aware of the effort and to coordinate where appropriate. He also noted that agricultural businesses would be eligible under the planned program.
Committee members asked clarifying questions about scope and timing; Jewel confirmed the funds are for the 2023–24 flood events and that RDCs would manage administration and grants distribution if the program moves forward.
Jewel framed the proposed program as complementary to prior BGAP awards and as focused on helping businesses recover lost revenue and regain operations after flood events.
