Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The public comment period for the draft Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) for West Central Vermont has been extended to Friday, September 9th. The draft Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) for West Central Vermont is available for review at westcentralvt.org.

Vermont Business Magazine Select boards in Groton, Hardwick, Peacham, Ryegate, and Walden have voted to allocate a total of $328,050 in American Rescue Plan Act funding towards constructing additional high-speed broadband infrastructure within their communities. The funds pledged by the five Caledonia County towns will be matched by both NEK Broadband and the Vermont Community Broadband Board. The combined total of $984,150 will accelerate the construction of the initial framework of infrastructure referred to as the “backbone” of the project. By building the backbone sooner than planned, NEK Broadband expects to bring new high-speed internet to portions of 90% of the towns in the Northeast Kingdom over the next two years. The ARPA funding also enables NEK Broadband to build new infrastructure sooner to three additional towns: Danville, Lyndon, and Saint Johnsbury.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott has signed a proclamation declaring the week of August 22-26, 2022 as Vermont Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Week. The proclamation mirrors one signed at the National level where the President declared the same period as National Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Week. ESGR Week recognizes and thanks the multitude of civilian employers who, through their support to their dual-career employees, enable these citizen service members to continue to serve in uniform without concern for losing their jobs.

by Senator Bernie Sanders I wish very much that I could tell you that the Covid pandemic was over, and that we no longer had to worry about it into the future. But that would not be true. The good news, however, is that as a result of vaccines and improved treatments the death rates and hospital admission rates from COVID today are far lower than they were at the height of the pandemic. Further, a great deal of research is now taking place to create new and better vaccines and treatments. The bad news is that almost 500 Americans a day are still dying from COVID, over 40,000 are in hospitals, and many thousands every day test positive. As a nation we’ve lost over one million Americans to COVID.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets is seeking feedback to further understand Accessory On-Farm Businesses (AOFBs) and Act 143. This model expands opportunities for farmers to diversify operations through an AOFB, such as on-farm sales of agricultural products as well as educational, recreational, or social events. While this business model is vital to support long-term viability of Vermont farmers, the current legislation can be difficult to understand and varies across the state. Therefore, the Legislature has tasked the Natural Resources Board (NRB), with support from the Agency of Agriculture, in preparing a report to analyze current conditions, understand challenges, and offer specific suggestions to help strengthen AOFBs in Vermont.

by Joyce Marcel, Vermont Business Magazine If Vermont has a problem, Ellen Kahler probably has an action plan. While everyone seems to know what's wrong with the Vermont economy — jobs going begging, an aging population, the high cost of housing if you can still find housing, homelessness for those who can't, low wages, limited childcare, an opioid problem — not many have spent their careers finding long-range solutions. Kahler, the executive director of the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund (VSJF), has.

Vermont Business Magazine On August 9, 2022, US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) would award a $1.2 million grant to Vermont Technical College to expand the college’s agricultural workforce development and entrepreneurship training programs. This grant is funded by the American Rescue Plan and will support the establishment of agricultural and food entrepreneurship coursework designed to spur innovation and train the next generation of farmers, food workers, and food entrepreneurs. The EDA grant will be matched with $314,775 in local funds and is expected to create 690 jobs, according to grantee estimates.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Secretary of State Jim Condos announced that the Statewide Canvass of Vermont 2022 Primary Election results will be held on Monday, August 22 at the Secretary of State’s office, located in Montpelier at 128 State Street. The canvass will begin at 2pm. Secretary Condos, along with Chairs or their designees from the three major parties (Democratic, Republican and Progressive) will be certifying vote totals and winners for federal and statewide offices. The Statewide Canvass is open to members of the public and the press. The Canvass had been initially postponed on Tuesday, August 16 due to a technology issue specific to the ability to generate reports based on the official return of votes submitted by the Town Clerks for the Canvassing Committee to certify.

Vermont Business Magazine The Federal Emergency Management Agency will be sending more than $2 million to the State of Vermont to reimburse the costs of stabilizing the Waterbury State Office Complex after Tropical Storm Irene in 2011. The $2,052,222 Public Assistance grant will go to the Department of Buildings and General Services for work done to stabilize buildings in the complex in an effort to prevent further damage after the August 2011 storm flooded many of them. The state received $53 million in FEMA funding to repair or replace buildings, and spent nearly $13 million drying, cleaning and disinfecting buildings; removing debris; and other measures to preserve the structures.