Current News

Vermont Business Magazine On Saturday the Vermont AFL-CIO held its Convention at the Old Socialist Party Labor Hall in Barre. There, the State Labor Council voted to prioritize passage of the Reproductive Liberty Amendment, endorsed the entire Progressive Party slate of candidates running for Statehouse, and appointed Katie Harris to fill the vacant position of Executive Vice President.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Transportation (AOT) is seeking public comment on a draft management plan for the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail (LVRT). The draft plan can be viewed at vtrans.vermont.gov/lvrt and comments can be submitted via email until 4:00 p.m. on August 31, 2022. The LVRT management plan seeks to develop a cohesive vision for the trail; identifies long-range strategies for management, maintenance, and operations of the trail; and supports opportunities for community and economic development efforts along the LVRT.

Vermont Agency of Transportation This weekly report is a list of planned construction activities that will have traffic impacts on state highways throughout Vermont for the week of August 22. Please remember to drive safely in all work zones. Lives depend on it.

Vermont Business Magazine JAG Productions, a Vermont and New York City-based company serving as an artistic sanctuary for Black creatives in the American theatre, announced its 2022/2023 line-up this week. JAG’s exciting seventh season, including new play and musical development, a residency at New York Theatre Workshop, the return of the wildly popular Theatre on the Hill, and a fully realized production of a new Afro-surrealist dark comedy presented in Vermont and New York City, centers around themes of freedom and healing. The season is titled The Freedom Practice.

Saint Michael’s College Class member Brian Lacey ’72 -- a highly successful entertainment executive and long a champion of the humanities and international scholarship at Saint Michael’s as a donor, trustee and volunteer -- led the push for his class to support the new Center for Global Engagement and efforts of its director, Jeffrey Ayres of the political science/international relations faculty.“ From the outset, a few of our classmates on the committee discussed ways our class could significantly raise the bar for both the level of class participation as well as the total financial commitment to the College for our 50th reunion,” Lacey said. “We felt it was important to accomplish these goals to demonstrate both the appreciation for our Saint Michael’s experience as well as establishing new benchmarks for future 50th reunion class gifts. Lacey believes a liberal arts education has a much longer trajectory than mere preparation for a career. “The class of 1972 gift underscores our collective faith and commitment that this special Saint Michael’s College experience is transformative and more importantly, will be available for worthy students for future generations,” he said.

Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports Did you know that in the past 10 years, the number of program outings Vermont Adaptive has provided has grown 500%? That’s right, 500%! But the crazy part is, as a team, we have served so many more people year-round with our existing small but mighty staff. That’s about to change. There is a deep need for the adaptive recreation and adventure programs that Vermont Adaptive provides in our communities, and as that need grows, so do we.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health reported August 17 that COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are still considered "Low." Total cases for the week decreased slightly. However, hospitalizations increased about 24%. The BA.5 variant has become the predominant variant of COVID-19. As of August 13, there have been 6 COVID-related fatalities in August in Vermont, for a pandemic total of 702 (the VDH report could be updated as more data becomes available). There were 12 deaths from COVID in Vermont in July. There were 12 deaths in June attributed to COVID after 32 in May. May saw an increase in fatalities from April and March. June and July had the fewest COVID fatalities since July 2021 (2). The Delta variant then took off in August 2021.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, S&P Global Ratings affirmed the State of Vermont’s AA+ (the second highest) general obligation bond ratings and revised the rating outlook from negative to stable. Vermont is still the highest rated New England state. In the ratings report, S&P wrote that the improved outlook is attributed to recent shifts in demographic trends, “retirement reforms designed to significantly reduce unfunded liabilities,” and historical credit strengths including “regular forecast updates, annual midyear budget adjustments, consistent reserve levels across economic cycles, and debt affordability oversight.” Vermont received the highest score possible in the financial management category. The state's bond rating was downgraded by Moody’s and Fitch from triple A status in 2018 and 2019, respectively, and the assignment of a “negative outlook” by S&P in 2020.