Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Last week, the Vermont Community Foundation’s Insight Hub, its research-driven arm focused on providing insight to inform charitable giving, published a brief on how charitable individuals can use their philanthropy to help vulnerable Vermonters cope with soaring inflation and rising consumer prices. The Insight Hub offers webinars, events, briefs, and peer-to-peer experiences that help philanthropists understand where their giving can make a difference.

Hit PBS Series’ 2022 Production Tour Travels to Shelburne Museum While Filming for its 27th Season

Vermont Business Magazine ANTIQUES ROADSHOW will visit Shelburne Museum in Shelburne, Vermont, on Tuesday, July 12, 2022, for an all-day appraisal event as part of the series’ 27th production tour! This summer PBS’s most-watched ongoing series will visit five cities with stops exclusively at distinctive, historic locations.

by Vermont Secretary of State Jim Condos and Deputy Secretary of State Chris Winters It only takes just a few minutes online to get a snapshot of America in 2022; a country divided; a digital battleground of rhetoric where information is wielded as a weapon. We hold faith that we can still heal this divide when we focus on our shared values and learn once again to put partisan motives and political differences aside for the common good.

Vermont Business Magazine Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission has approved a final order settling charges that the merger of New York-based supermarket operators The Golub Corp., which owns the Price Chopper chain, and Tops Market Corp. would likely be anti-competitive in 11 local markets across upstate New York and Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine The personal income tax, the most important General Fund revenue source, continues to perform well. And has been the case for several years, it was supported by the tourism-related rooms and meals tax. Secretary of Administration Kristin Clouser released Vermont’s revenue results for December 2021 today. The Education Fund also exceeded expectations, but once again the long-lingering Transportation Fund continues to under-perform because of fuel tax receipts.

The Homeowner Assistance Program will award grants of up to $30,000 towards a variety of overdue housing payments

Devon Green, VP Government Relations, VAHHS At the State House, the House went hybrid last week. Even though witnesses remain remote, it was oddly comforting to see those tiny committee rooms on YouTube. I don’t know if we’ll ever want to cram into those spaces in the same way again, but I hope the legislature maintains some COVID practices, like allowing an emergency department physician from Brattleboro to testify over Zoom. Governor Scott also unveiled his FY 2023 budget with a focus on one-time funding as a lasting investment in areas like broadband, housing and workforce. While the governor and the legislature seem aligned on these broad goals for Vermont, we will have to see what emerges as they dig into the details in the upcoming weeks.

The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food, & Markets (VAAFM) announces $500,000 in grant funds to strengthen Vermont’s specialty crop industries and producer associations. Two funding opportunities are available: 2022 Vermont Specialty Crop Block Grant Program: Grant funds will enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops by leveraging efforts to market and promote specialty crops, assisting producers with research and development, expanding availability and access to specialty crops, or addressing local, regional, and national challenges for producers. Specialty Crop Producer Association Grant: This grant opportunity will support producer associations that serve specialty crop businesses.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health today is reporting 1,004 of COVID-19 for Friday (1,516 cases on Friday; 1,766 Thursday, 1,115 Wednesday; 1,344 Tuesday and 715 Monday). There were no additional deaths Friday or Saturday. The record daily high of COVID-19 cases was set January 7, with 2,975. Case rates appear to be declining in Vermont and in the Northeast. Hospitalizations today were 104 (down seven from yesterday). The record was 122 on January 19. ICU stays, which also had been elevated, were 22 (down three).

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health today is reporting 1,516 cases of COVID-19 for Friday (1,766 Thursday, 1,115 Wednesday; 1,344 Tuesday and 715 Monday). There were no additional deaths Friday. As of Thursday, COVID-related deaths increased seven to 514, which makes for 21 fatalities in the last week.

Leonine Public Affairs The Vermont Legislature convened in person this week for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Sort of… The House of Representatives returned to the State House for a hybrid in-person/remote format after almost two years of Zoom legislating. In some ways it was like little had changed, with lawmakers and staff roaming around the building, meeting in committee rooms and talking in the cafeteria. But for the most part the pandemic’s impact on safety and social protocols was evident. The Senate remained remote.