BREAKING NEWS

• April 3, 2020: SBA ISSUED INTERIM FINAL RULE ON THURSDAY, APRIL 2 TO FACILITATE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM Here are the full details.
• April 2, 2020: The Small Business Administration (“SBA”) has begun to release regulatory guidance and issued a form application for businesses that may be applying to the Payroll Protection Program (“PPP”). Significantly, SBA advises that lenders may begin processing loan applications as soon as April 3, 2020. Read our write up.

• April 1, 2020: The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued temporary regulations for the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) on April 1. The regulations confirmed that employees must give notice to their employers of the need to take leave and provide documentation to support paid sick leave and emergency family and medical leave. The IRS also provided guidance on needed documentation.
  
  See the FFCRA regulations here. See the IRS guidance here.

• March 31, 2020: USPTO 30-Day Extensions Available For Filing Delays Due to COVID-19. On March 31 the United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) announced that certain patent and trademark-related deadlines between March 27 and April 30 can be extended by 30 days. For more information on eligibility requirements for the extensions, please see here for Patents and here for Trademarks. Note that due to several factors explained here, we are suggesting maintaining the original deadline when possible.

• March 31, 2020: The CARES Act. The $2 trillion stimulus package has multiple components to assist business, including for small business the expansion of the Small Business Association’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (EIDL) and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The EIDL expansion provides $10 billion of additional funding to be administered directly by the SBA. The Paycheck Protection Program is a $349 billion small business loan and forgiveness program, intended to allow businesses to continue functioning while maintaining workforce.

• March 30, 2020: Vermont Governor Phil Scott announced a new order for those traveling into the state. Residents and non-residents alike who come to Vermont are asked to quarantine themselves for 14 days. This order does not apply to essential workers who are crossing state borders. In addition, Governor Scott announced that the state will suspend online bookings of lodging operations for non-essential stays.

• March 27, 2020: President Trump signed a sweeping $2 trillion fiscal measure to shore up the U.S. economy as it weathers the devastation of the coronavirus pandemic, cementing it as the largest fiscal stimulus package in modern American history. Here's what's in the stimulus package.

• March 26, 2020: N.H. Stay at Home Order New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu has issued a stay-at-home order for the Granite State. All non-essential businesses are required to close by 11:59 pm on Friday. The details of the stay-at-home order and what constitutes an essential business have not yet been released. Here is a link to Governor Sununu's Executive Order. For details on essential businesses, visit this link.

• March 24, 2020: Vermont Stay Home/Stay Safe Order This evening, Vermont Governor Phil Scott issued Addendum 6 to Executive Order 01-20, which requires that as of March 25, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. all Vermonters are directed to stay home or in their place of residence, except to leave for essential reasons, including obtaining groceries or medicine, medical care, exercise, taking care of others and work. All workers are directed to work remotely when possible. All businesses other than essential businesses are to suspend in-person business practices (note that phone and on-line orders for curb-side pickup and delivery are acceptable). Who are Essential Businesses?

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

CARES Act

• Paycheck Protection Program SBA Guidance
• Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program
• Paycheck Protection Program
• Economic Relief: Beyond the Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loans
• CARES Act: Vermont and New Hampshire Allocations

Essential Business

Vermont

• Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community FAQ page
• Baseline Prohibition: in-person business operations
• Exception for Essential Businesses
• Essential Business Must Continue to Operate Utilizing Best Practices
• Can I appeal my business’s classification or seek clarifying guidance?
• How will the Stay Home order be enforced?

New Hampshire

• Which businesses are deemed essential in New Hampshire?

Employment Matters

• What are the details of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act and how does it impact me?
• Where can I find the FFCRA notice to post in my workplace?
• What are considerations I should make if my employees are still coming to work?
• What are considerations if I want to place employees on leave?
• What are considerations if my company is required to layoff employees?
• What do I need to think about when an employee returns to work after being sick with COVID-19?
• HR and Pandemic: Employee Relations Best Practices During COVID-19

Tax Considerations

• Has the IRS extended tax filing or payment deadlines?
• Has the State of Vermont extended tax filing or payment deadlines?
• Has the State of New Hampshire extended tax filing or payment deadlines?

Small Business Assistance

• Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program
• Paycheck Protection Program
• What are some good resources for information with respect to the effects of COVID-19 on my Vermont or New Hampshire small business?
• Is there a CARES Act guide for small businesses?

Business Interruption Insurance

• Does my insurance cover losses due to COVID-19 related events?

Force Majeure

• If you can’t fulfill your contractual obligations due to COVID-19, will your contract’s force majeure provision excuse your nonperformance?
• If your vendor terminates your contract or fails to perform in a timely manner, will the force majeure provision in the contract excuse their non-performance?

Vermont Legislative Updates

• How will the Vermont state legislature continue to operate during COVID-19?

Cyber Security / Remote Work

• What cyber security and data security risks should I be concerned about if my employees are working remotely?

Intellectual Property

• Are deadlines for filing patents and trademarks in the U.S. extended?
• Are deadlines for filing patents and trademarks elsewhere extended?

Food and Beverage

• What new COVID-19 (coronavirus) related rules and regulations apply to my Vermont restaurant?
• What new COVID-19 (coronavirus) related rules and regulations apply to my New Hampshire restaurant?
• Have Vermont liquor licensing restrictions applicable to my business changed?
• Have New Hampshire liquor licensing restrictions applicable to my business changed?

STATE AND FEDERAL RESOURCES

Vermont Government & Court Resources

• Guidance for Vermont Businesses
• VT Department of Health
• Emergency Administrative Rules for Notaries Public and Remote Notarization
• Town Clerk Office Closures
• VT Judiciary COVID-19 Regular Updates
• Changes to VT Court Procedures
• VT Public Utility Commission (PUC) Operations During COVID-19

New Hampshire Government & Court Resources

• New Hampshire Economy Business Center
• Gov. Sununu Emergency Orders
• NH Dept. of Health & Human Services
• Temporary authority to perform secure remote online notarization
• NH Judiciary COVID-19 Regular Updates
• COVID-19 Updates from the NH Bar
• NH Public Utility Commission (PUC) Operations During COVID-19

Federal Government Resources

• USPTO Notices Regarding COVID-19
• Relief for Taxpayers Affected by Ongoing Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic
• IRS Coronavirus Tax Relief Information

HELPFUL LINKS

• Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce
• US Chamber of Commerce