Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The SBA will begin accepting applications via the application portal noon EDT today, May 3. The application portal will remain open to any eligible establishment until all funds are exhausted. In preparation, qualifying applicants should familiarize themselves with the application process in advance to ensure a smooth and efficient application. Register for an account in advance at restaurants.sba.gov.

Vermont Business Magazine Norwich University has named Dr Julia Bernard as it’s first-ever Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, effective July 1st 2021. Bernard now serves as interim chair and associate professor in East Tennessee State University’s Department of Counseling and Human Services. She holds a doctorate in child development and family studies from Purdue University, where she also received a master’s in marriage and family therapy, and her bachelor’s degree in psychology.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott on Friday announced a change in the state’s mask mandate policy. Effective May 1st, when you are outdoors, masks are only required when you are in a crowd or with multiple other households where you can’t maintain a 6-foot distance. This change in guidance reflects changes made by the CDC this week to mask wearing.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Labor has become aware of fraudulent communications being sent to Vermonters by text message. The message contains claims about 'improved security features' and asks claimants to 'verify information' through a fraudulent link. If you receive this message, please delete and disregard, as the information is fraudulent. The Department of Labor will never ask you to verify information via text message.

Vermont Business Magazine Hey Farmers, Vermont’s 7th annual Open Farm Week is scheduled for August 8-15th! Open FarmWeek creates an opportunity to connect with Vermont’s working landscape and it is a great way to engage with customers and your community. Farms can choose when and how they want to participate, whether that's hosting events or activities, or just generally being open to the public.

Stowe Area Association (SAA) is saluting local hospitality from May 2 – 8 during National Travel and Tourism Week (NTTW), an annual celebration of the contributions of the U.S. travel industry. This year, NTTW spotlights the critical role that travel will play in driving economic recovery efforts and building the path forward through the theme, “Power of Travel.”

by C.B. Hall, Vermont Business Magazine "If you don't have a store, you can't really have a town," Ripton resident and prominent environmentalist Bill McKibben wrote in a New York Times op-ed three years ago. It's a thought that haunts many Vermont towns, as general stores, long a sine qua non of village economies – and the Vermont brand – contend with today's economic forces. From Albany in the state's northeast to West Rupert in the southwest, dozens of communities have confronted what it means to see their local stores endangered, or closed.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Retail and Grocers Association (VRGA) and the Vermont Specialty Food Association (VSFA) work together to guide Vermont made products through the doors of grocery and retail stores statewide. In early 2021, VRGA Member Farrell Distributing partnered with the two associations to pair Vermont specialty foods with beverages that would enhance and highlight the unique nature of both products.

Leonine Public Affairs The Senate Appropriations Committee finalized the FY2022 budget bill, H.439, on Monday. On Friday the Senate gave final approval to the bill and thereby paved the way for a conference committee where the House and Senate will reconcile their respective versions of the bill. While overall base spending changed little from the House-passed version of H.439, the Senate spending plan is significantly different due to the inclusion American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) appropriations. The House had little time to consider ARPA funding as the federal spending bill had just been enacted when the House passed H.439. As a result, the Senate Appropriations Committee did the bulk of the work in deciding how to allocate ARPA funds. When the budget reached the Senate, Governor Phil Scott offered his own proposal on ARPA spending.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Lake Monsters are excited to announce its 68-game schedule for their inaugural season in the Futures Collegiate Baseball League, beginning with the first of 38 games at historic Centennial Field on Wednesday, May 26th against the FCBL defending-champion Nashua Silver Knights.

Limited Batch Flavor Kicks Off the 2021 Ice Cream Season

Vermont Business Magazine If your parents didn't let you lick the batter bowl, the ice cream gurus at Ben & Jerry's have a new offering to help you recreate that childhood joy. Totally Unbaked, Ben & Jerry's first Limited Batch flavor of 2021, is a mixture of chocolate and vanilla ice cream that prominently features two unbaked components: chocolate chip cookie dough and brownie batter swirls.