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Vermont Business Magazine As producers of the Vermont Flower Show, the first priority of the Vermont Nursery and Landscape Association Board of Directors is the safety of all attendees, vendors, and volunteers who participate in our signature event, the Vermont Flower Show. It has been a full year plus of living with a pandemic and the good news is vaccinations are ramping up and the spread of the virus seems to be moving in the right direction. With that said there is still uncertainty about how all of this is going to evolve and change over the next 6-8 months. In an abundance of caution, the VNLA has made the call to postpone our show until MARCH 3-5, 2023.

Vermont Business Magazine Northern Vermont University has announced the guest speakers for Commencement 2021. Dr Francois S Clemmons will address the NVU-Johnson graduating class and Dr Henry S Parker will address the NVU-Lyndon graduating class. Though the ceremonies for both campuses will be held virtually this year, they will include time-honored traditions. The commencements will premiere on YouTube on Saturday, May 15 at 11 am (Johnson Campus) and Sunday, May 16 at 11 am (Lyndon Campus).

Vermont Business Magazine State officials said at Tuesday’s press conference that Vermont’s COVID-19 data continues to trend in a positive direction and that we are ranked one of the top states in our vaccination progress. The state ranks first or second in nearly every category. As the Johnson & Johnson vaccine restarts, it will take a couple of weeks before there is a substantial new supply, but the state will see a net increase in vaccine this week when all three vaccines are factored in. The VDH is also reporting 59 new cases of COVID-19, as cases continue to trend well under 100. Weekly totals are at their lowest levels this year. However, there was one more death reported for 245 statewide. Nearly 60 percent of adult Vermonters have now received at least one dose of vaccine.

Vermont Business Magazine SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman today announced the US Small Business Administration will begin registrations at 9 am EDT April 30 and open applications at noon EDT May 3 for the Restaurant Revitalization Fund. The online application will remain open to any eligible establishment until all funds are exhausted.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Labor announced today that the work search requirement for unemployment claimants will be reinstated beginning Sunday, May 9, 2021 for all claimants in regular UI and specific claimants in the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program. Claimants will be required to conduct three qualified job contacts for each week they claim unemployment insurance.

Vermont Business Magazine A coalition of labor, racial justice, and environmental organizations are holding a series of worker solidarity actions to celebrate International Workers Day on May 1. Promoters of events say it will include speakers at the State House who will lift up efforts to protect state employee pensions, protect workers’ rights through legislation such as the PRO Act and Card Check, pass universal healthcare, advance racial equity and more. A subsequent rally at the Hannaford Supermarket will pressure the grocery chain to protect farmworker rights by joining the Milk with Dignity program.

by Senator Randy Brock Imagine if you were baking a birthday cake and you had the benefit of having the Vermont Senate Finance Committee helping you. That’s what it’s like as we debate how to extend broadband throughout Vermont. The birthday we want to celebrate is coming soon and we have to make decisions about what kind of cake we want, who will bake it and how it will be delivered. None of us on the committee have ever baked a cake before and several have never even used an oven. What could go wrong?

Vermont Business Magazine Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) announced Monday his intent to restore one of Congress’ constitutional powers, the power to approve congressionally-directed spending items (earmarks), and to do so with enhanced transparency and accountability. The Senate Appropriations Committee will, on a bipartisan basis, accept requests for congressionally directed spending items for appropriations bills for the fiscal year that begins October 1, 2021.

Vermont State Police On Monday, at approximately 1915 hours, Troopers with the Vermont State Police Westminster Barracks conducted a traffic stop for speeding on I-91, near mile marker 6 in Guilford, VT. During the stop, Troopers determined that the operator, later identified as Nathaniel Jones, 35 of Springfield, MA had provided a fake ID and lied to Law Enforcement. While speaking with the occupants, suspected drugs were observed in plain view. The passenger in the vehicle, Gina Barrette, 27 of St Johnsbury, VT, was found to have several outstanding Vermont arrest warrants for Sale of Cocaine, Unlawful Mischief >$250, Heroin Possession 200mg, Buy/Receive/Possess Stolen Property.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermonters participated in the nationwide Prescription Drug Take Back Day this past Saturday, turning in more than 3.5 tons of unused, unwanted and expired medication at over 55 collection sites throughout the state. The 7,165 pounds of collected medication sets a record for Drug Take Back Day in Vermont, exceeding the previous record of 6,734 pounds collected in October 2019.

by Susan Boutwell, Dartmouth Joseph Helble, a recognized leader in the field of engineering who has served Dartmouth as provost since 2018, was today named the 15th president of Lehigh University. He begins work at the Bethlehem, PA, university—his alma mater—on August 16. He will continue to serve as Dartmouth's provost through the academic year.

by Devon Green, VAHHS Vice President of Government Relations In a dire situation that is growing in severity around the country, our hospital emergency departments are overwhelmed right now—not with COVID patients—but with children and adults in mental health crisis waiting days and weeks at a time to receive proper and complete treatment. The mental health of Vermonters is the next public health emergency. VAHHS hopes to work with the legislature and state agencies to bring to our current mental health crisis the resources, regulatory flexibility, workforce development and data collection efforts Vermont successfully deployed to take on COVID-19.

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