Delayed Applications for Working Lands Enterprise Initiative Fiscal Year 2021

The Working Lands Enterprise Fund (WLEF), which provides critical support to our educational institutions and agriculture and forestry businesses is funded via allocations in the State of Vermont’s annual budget. Because the COVID-19 pandemic has caused serious disruptions in the State’s budgeting process the Governor approved a “skinny” budget in June which only authorized spending for the first quarter of the State’s fiscal calendar (July through September). The Legislature returns on August 25th and a top priority for them will be to finalize a budget for the remainder of the fiscal year, pending the Governor’s approval. We recognize the State cannot operate normal granting programs without an approved budget beyond the end of September. Due to the uncertainty surrounding the budget and its impact on these programs, the Agency of Agriculture will be delaying the release of the applications for the WLEF program. We will be monitoring the budget process closely and will provide updates on these important programs as more information becomes available. The Vermont Agency of Agriculture has released this COVID-19 relief application for agriculture and forestry working lands businesses, please visit this link for more information: https://agriculture.vermont.gov/covid-19-information/vermont-covid-19-agriculture-assistance-program