Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Lamoille Housing Partnership (LHP) and Evernorth have announced construction is underway on Village Center Apartments, 24 new energy-efficient affordable apartments for low and moderate income residents in the heart of downtown Morrisville. Construction is expected to take 12 months. Funding totaling $7.9 million from several public and private resources was raised to finance the total development costs.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Today, the Vermont Department of Labor reported that the seasonally-adjusted statewide unemployment rate for July was 3.0 percent. This reflects a decrease of one-tenth of one percentage point from the prior month’s revised estimate. The comparable United States rate in July was 5.4 percent, which was a decrease of five-tenths of one percentage point from the revised June estimate. Vermont has the fifth lowest rate in the US.

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General TJ Donovan announced that Gregory Kelly, 55, of Burlington, Vermont, was arraigned yesterday on twelve felony counts of Possession of Child Sex Abuse Materials – Second Offense. The charges brought against Kelly are the result of a criminal investigation – including the execution of a search warrant on electronic devices – conducted by the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (VT-ICAC), including personnel from the Attorney General’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, Burlington Police Department, and with the assistance of the Burlington Probation & Parole Office of the Vermont Department of Corrections.

Vermont State Police Both lanes are now back open. At 9:11 am Friday 8.20.2021 VT RT 7A in the area of Dutch Ln in the town of Arlington is closed at this time due to a traffic incident. This incident is expected to last for an extended period of time.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD) has officially launched a new relocation program that offers reimbursement grants, up to $7,500, to workers across the country who move to Vermont after July 1, 2021. The application portal opened today, and the program will be overseen by the Vermont Department of Economic Development. This new program builds upon Vermont’s previous successful recruitment initiatives and aims to attract new residents to the state, grow the workforce, and support employers facing workforce challenges due to low unemployment or finding qualified candidates.

Vermont Business Magazine The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is recommending that people whose immune systems are moderately to severely weakened receive an additional dose of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. At this time, CDC recommends the third dose for people who have compromised immune systems and have received either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. An additional dose is not currently recommended for those who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. The VDH on Thursday reported 169 new cases of COVID-19, which is the highest one-day total since the Delta variant came to Vermont in early July. There is one additional death for 268 total statewide. There are also 21 people hospitalized with 9 in the ICU.

Vermont Business Magazine GlobalFoundries (GF), the global semiconductor manufacturer with a plant in Essex Junction, today announced its goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent from 2020 to 2030, as the company expands its global manufacturing capacity. Building on GF’s history of environmental responsibility and ongoing greenhouse gas emissions reduction, this new Journey to Zero Carbon initiative reinforces the company’s commitment to sustainable and environmentally efficient manufacturing operations. GF is based in Malta, NY.

Vermont Business Magazine Green Mountain Power (GMP) announced it is extending its popular rebates on electric vehicles (EVs), electric motorcycles, heat pumps, geothermal heating systems, and electric yard care equipment through Dec. 31, 2021. The rebates, which were set to expire at the end of August, have already enabled more than 3,000 customers to save money this year and reduce their carbon footprints.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont gasoline prices edged down one cent this week to an average of $3.07 a gallon. Vermont's average is 3 cents higher than a month ago and nearly a dollar higher than a year ago ($2.13).

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced a series of vaccination clinics that will be open at schools across Vermont this week for anyone ages 12 or older. You can just walk-in or visit www.healthvermont.gov/MyVaccine to make an appointment. You can also call 855-722-7878. Governor Scott and health officials encourage everyone ages 12 to 17 to get vaccinated.

Vermont Business Magazine People are at the very heart of the Lake Champlain Chamber’s mission to create economic opportunity. LCC is committed to equal justice, safety, respect, and opportunity for all people. As part of that commitment, LCC has announced the formation of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. The DEI Committee is working with LCC to help inform and prioritize efforts related to equity and inclusion.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott is seeking applicants for the Natural Resources Board (NRB) to fill the chair position, which is currently held by Interim Chair Don Rendall. The NRB oversees the administration of Act 250, Vermont’s land use and development law. Act 250 was enacted in 1970 to balance development and environmental protections.