Current News

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health reported September 6, 2023, that COVID-19 hospitalizations edged down to a statewide total of 27, down from 31 last week, they were 25 before that and 7 three weeks ago. Cases and hospitalizations had risen over the summer. COVID-19 activity remains in the "Low" range, according to the VDH. Reported cases last week were 165, up 3 from last week; they were 219 before that. The CDC has stated that a new booster will be available early this fall and that an estimated 97% of Americans have some level of immunity, from either vaccination or infection or both, which they said will help keep down new transmission and lessen serious outcomes. 

Vermont Business Magazine Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) and Peter Welch (D-Vermont) and Representative Becca Balint (D-Vermont) today announced five Vermont organizations received federal investments through the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Community Facilities Grants, which support and strengthen rural development in Vermont and across America. The USDA Community Facilities Grants will support projects in the Town of Hardwick, Castleton, Greensboro, Cabot, and Lyndonville. The $914,000 awarded to Vermont is part of an $800 million investment from the USDA across 36 states and two territories, supporting an estimated 480,000 people in rural communities.

Vermont Business Magazine Champlain College is hosting the second annual Leahy Cyber Symposium on Friday, September 22, 2023, between 9 AM and 4 PM. This year’s symposium topic is “Protecting Your Organization Against Cyber Threats.” Speakers and panelists will discuss pressing cyber challenges faced by Vermont businesses and offer insight, best practices, and practical approaches for protecting against cyber threats. 

Vermont Business Magazine On Wednesday, September 6, 2023, The Vermont Flannel Company and the Vermont Lake Monsters joined together on Centennial Field in Burlington, Vermont to celebrate their 2023 fundraising initiative with the presentation of more than $16,000 to the Vermont Foodbank. Legendary Lake Monster CHAMP was present to commemorate the occasion. For the 2023 baseball season, Vermont Flannel donated $500 to the Vermont Foodbank for every Lake Monster Home Run. The Lake Monsters literally “hit it out of the park” in 2023, with 20 home runs amounting to a total of $10,000 in funds. The Lake Monsters amplified the fundraising effort with an additional $6700+ in funds contributed to the Foodbank. 

Vermont Business Magazine Gifford Wellness invites community members to “Heart of the Matter,” a discussion with our expert care team on topics ranging from heart attack prevention to self-management, from 9 to 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 29, in the Conference Center at Gifford Medical Center. Presenters include cardiologist Dr. Bruce Andrus; Leslie Osterman, PA-C; Dr. Courtney Riley; Emily Russell, RN; and Walter Ziske, care coordinator. 

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont), and Representative Becca Balint (D-Vermont) on Monday sent a letter to majority, minority, and Appropriations Committee leadership in the Senate and House of Representatives urging them to ensure that Congress passes federal funding for essential recovery and long-term disaster mitigation work in Vermont following the devastating flooding that hit the state this summer. In the letter, the delegation also called for increasing FEMA's cap for hazard mitigation, making SBA loans forgivable in order to save small businesses, renters, and homeowners from taking on additional debt after experiencing a disaster, and expanding the USDA's emergency grant relief for impacted Vermont farmers, as well as opening eligibility for retroactive enrollment in the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program.

Vermont Business Magazine Two months after the federal disaster declaration for the state of Vermont following July’s severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides, more than $54.7 million in federal assistance has been provided by FEMA and the US Small Business Administration (SBA) directly to Vermonters to aid in their recovery. The funds include grants from FEMA, payouts from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and long-term, low-interest disaster loans from the SBA. 

Vermont Business Magazine Leaders from Gifford Health Care and partners Capstone Community Action, Clara Martin Center, and Tri-Valley Transit will share information about their programs and services and invite feedback from area residents this month during Gifford’s second annual Community Listening Tour.  The Community Listening Tour will make the following stops. Community members are encouraged to attend the session most convenient for them. 

Vermont Agency of Transportation If you are considering acquiring an electric vehicle for the first time or wondering what it would be like to make the switch to electric, join the VTrans webinar next Tuesday, September 19, to learn more. The Vermont Agency of Transportation (AOT) is leading the State’s efforts to electrify transportation in order to reduce Vermont’s carbon output. 

Vermont Manufacturing Extension Center When you join CONNEX Vermont, thanks to VMEC's Supply Chain grant, you will have VT access for life from the day you register your company. And if you sign up by November 20, 2023, you will receive a FREE YEAR OF FULL NATIONAL ACCESS! Simply use promo code vmec1year to take advantage of this offer.

VermontBiz U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) joined Governor Phil Scott, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Chris Saunders of the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC), Johnson Selectboard Chair Beth Foy, and community leaders, in the Town of Johnson, Vermont, to celebrate the town’s award of a NBRC’s Catalyst Award—a $10.8 million grant program across 13 projects to revitalize Vermont’s rural communities.  The Town of Johnson received a $862,000 grant to complete a new light industrial/commercial park on Route 15.  The other 12 Vermont Catalyst Award Winners hail from Addison, Caledonia, Essex, Grand Isle, Lamoille, Orange, Orleans, Rutland, Washington, Windham, and Windsor Counties. 

VermontBiz Secured by former Senator and Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) through the Congressionally Directed Spending Process, the Vermont Congressional Delegation today announced $9.9 million will be invested in the Burlington School District to educate and train the next generation in aviation and aerospace manufacturing. Administered by the United States Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology, the federal funds will build a new aviation and aerospace manufacturing workforce training center that aims to serve up to 150 Vermont high school students and adults each year.