In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, Governor Scott has issued a "Stay Home, Stay Safe" order for the state of Vermont.
Click here for sector specific business guidance and related resources from the Agency of Commerce and Community Development.
This unprecedented moment makes the work of VOREC and the values our initiative represents, including supporting outdoor recreation businesses and infrastructure and promoting outdoor recreation for all, take on even greater significance. In response, we’ve compiled a set of useful information and ways to get involved:
Impacts to outdoor recreation-related business opportunities in Vermont: many of our outdoor recreation businesses, travel and tourism, food and beverage and hospitality businesses are being hit hard by closures and social distancing. Workers at all levels of the outdoor industry are feeling the impacts.
Resources:
- The Agency of Commerce and Community Development has many resources available for businesses. You can learn more here, and see newly issued guidance for businesses regarding the Stay Home, Stay Safe order here.
- ACCD is seeking to understand and document the impacts of COVID-19 on Vermont businesses. If you represent a business in Vermont, please take and share this survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/vtcovid19.
- The Department of Labor has launched an online portal for employees who may be eligible for Unemployment Insurance benefits as a result of COVID-19.
- The Vermont Outdoor Business Alliance (VOBA) has compiled a list of resources and is asking outdoor recreation businesses to take this survey.
- The Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR) is also compiling messaging and advocacy resources on this webpage.
Impacts to participation in outdoor recreation as well as to the health and wellness benefits of outdoor recreation: while we should all stay at home as much as possible these days, it is a crucial time for people to get outside in healthy and safe ways.
Resources:
- Please see https://fpr.vermont.gov/recreation/outdoor-recreation-and-covid-19 for more information and links to related messages (some highlighted below)
- Other organizations at the national level are responding with some commonsense messages (American Alpine Club, the National Park Service, the National Recreation and Parks Association and many others).
- Vermont State Parks has launched Venture Vermont which is a great way to engage your children in close to home nature-based activities
- You can use the newly re-designed Trail Finder website to find trails close to your home.
Impacts to the stewardship, quality and extent of our recreational resources: it is almost construction season, which means many of our public and private recreation organizations had been gearing up for projects. There is much uncertainty about the timeframe projected for this disease, and groups are starting to strategize about the upcoming season.
Resources:
- Mud Season is upon us: please respect any closure signs you see and turn around if the trail is muddy. See https://vtstateparks.com/hiking.html#mudSeasonHiking for more information.
- Please check with our Recreation Partners for updated information on their responses. FPR and VOREC are working with these partners to plan for contingencies and needs.
