FEMA Awards Vermont Nearly $5 Million For COVID Emergency Meal Costs

The Federal Emergency Management Agency will be sending almost $5 million to the State of Vermont to reimburse the costs of providing emergency meals for residents in need during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The $4,932,438 Public Assistance grant will go to the Agency of Commerce and Community Development for providing meal preparation and delivery service to high-risk populations under the state’s emergency feeding program “Vermont Everyone Eats” between March and July 2022.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) | Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

During that time the agency entered into an agreement with Southeastern Vermont Community Action, Inc. (SEVCA), which established and coordinated with state-wide subcontractors (Hubs) that oversaw restaurant engagement, production, and distribution of 416,000 meals to Vermonters experiencing food insecurity.

Since it was started in August 2020, the program distributed approximately 3.5 million meals throughout all 14

counties, generating more than $34 million in revenue for participating restaurants.

“FEMA is pleased to support Vermont’s innovative approach to assisting its most vulnerable populations,” said FEMA Region I Regional Administrator Lori Ehrlich. “By involving the private sector in the preparation and distribution of meals, both those faced with food insecurity and those who work at restaurants are helped.”

FEMA’s Public Assistance program is an essential source of funding for states and communities recovering from a federally declared disaster or emergency. So far, FEMA has provided almost $476 million in grants to Vermont to reimburse the state for pandemic-related expenses.

Additional information about FEMA’s Public Assistance program is available at https://www.fema.gov/public-assistance-local-state-tribal-and-non-profit. To learn more about the COVID-19 response in Vermont, please visit https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4532.

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