Current News

Vermont Business Magazine This is the 2nd pandemic for the iconic 103-year old Wayside Restaurant in Montpelier, VT. There were no government programs to help them get back on their feet in 1918. Thanks to newly announced coronavirus legislation, there is great opportunity on the horizon. A business owner can now enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner at a local restaurant with a valued client or prospective customer and take a 100 percent tax deduction. This is great news for restaurants struggling across America.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, the Vermont Department of Labor is reporting that the seasonally-adjusted statewide unemployment rate for February was 3.1 percent. This reflects a decrease of one-tenth of one percentage point from the prior month’s revised estimate of 3.2 percent. The comparable United States rate in February was 6.2 percent, which was a decrease of one-tenth of one percentage point from the revised January estimate. The decline is largely due to a sharp decrease in the Labor Force from January. The number of unemployed also fell. Both the Labor Force and total Employed represent about 30,000 fewer workers than a year ago, which was pre-pandemic.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Regular weekly unemployment claims last week fell by 64 to 782, which is just above the 2021 low reached in February. Nationally, claims have fallen under 700,000 to the lowest number since the beginning of the pandemic, but remain at historically high levels.

Weekly UI Report

Regular weekly UI claims in Vermont last week edged down for the third consecutive week (up 3,002 from the same time last year, as the pandemic hit. Governor Scott signed the Executive Order March 13, 2020 and closed restaurants and bars after lunch on March 17).

As for ongoing jobless claims, for the week ending March 20, 2021, the Labor Department processed 13,185 claims, up 95 from the previous week and 7,520 more than the same time last year.

by Robert Smith and Louis Josephson The ongoing challenges and sacrifices brought about by the coronavirus pandemic have tested each of us in ways that might not have been imaginable just a year ago. Yet during this unprecedented time, we have learned that adversity can inspire new approaches to solving our common problems. We are encouraged to say that such is the case with the relationship between union and management at the Brattleboro Retreat.

Vermont Business Magazine The Board of Directors of Community Mutual Insurance Company voted unanimously last week to elect Jennifer P Galfetti as President of the Company, and Schuyler M Ryan as Treasurer. The promotions were announced at the Company’s annual meetings held on March 17, 2021. Community Mutual Insurance Company is part of the Union Mutual of Vermont Companies, a property-casualty insurance group consisting of Union Mutual Fire Insurance and New England Guaranty Insurance Company Inc, both based in Montpelier, Vermont.

​Vermont Business Magazine Vermont State Colleges System Chancellor Sophie Zdatny today commented on the Vermont House’s proposal to bolster the Vermont State Colleges System (VSCS) with a total proposed appropriation of $97 million in the Fiscal Year 2022 State Budget. Notably, $20.5 million of the proposed investment supports scholarships and free tuition programs for Vermont State Colleges students, $5 million is an increase to the VSCS annual state appropriation, and $20 million supports system transformation over the next four years.

Vermont Business Magazine In an effort to provide an outlet for Vermont youth to share their pandemic experiences, Governor Phil Scott, the Vermont Department of Mental Health and Vermont Afterschool today held a virtual youth summit. The event asked students from across the state to share their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic, giving the Governor and his team the opportunity to learn more about their needs and concerns as the state moves forward on student recovery efforts.

Vermont Business Magazine More than 11,200 Vermonters age 60 and older made appointments for COVID-19 vaccine through the state registration system today, the first day the age group became eligible. Vermonters age 50 and older, will become eligible to register on Monday, March 29. The VDH is also reporting today that there were 173 new cases of COVID-19, with 67 in Chittenden County. This is about double the totals of recent days. There was also one more death for a statewide total of 223.

Vermont Business Magazine Small businesses are vital to NASA’s mission, helping expand humanity’s presence in space and improve life on Earth. NASA has selected 365 US small business proposals for initial funding from the agency’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program, a total investment of more than $45 million. Vermont's Concepts NREC, LLC is one.

Vermont Business Magazine The 158th Fire Department responded to a civilian aircraft fire on a runway of Burlington International Airport on the evening of Wednesday, March 24. The response crews arrived on the scene within one minute of dispatch and confirmed that a civilian aircraft, a Piper Cherokee, was on fire on its right side and the flames were spreading to the wing. Response crews extinguished the fire within three minutes of arrival. They then inspected the aircraft for additional fire or hotspots and found none.

Vermont Business Magazine Earlier this morning, Alliance for a Better Vermont joined President Pro Tempore Becca Balint of Windham County, Chittenden County State Senator Kesha Ram, Chittenden County State’s Attorney Sarah George, and Newport educator Aimee Alexander to call on Governor Scott to address the current public health crisis resulting from his inaction. The Alliance is calling vaccinating the Vermont prison population. The Northeast Vermont Correctional Facility in Newport has seen the most recent outbreak.

Vermont Business Magazine Efficiency Vermont has named longtime staff leader and lifelong Vermonter Carol Weston as the energy efficiency utility’s new director. Weston has been with Efficiency Vermont for nearly a decade, most recently serving as Efficiency Vermont’s Director of Operations. Weston will replace former Efficiency Vermont Director Rebecca Foster, who is transitioning to the role of CEO of VEIC – the Winooski-based non-profit organization that operates Efficiency Vermont under an order of appointment from the Vermont Public Utility Commission. Foster will continue to work closely with Efficiency Vermont leadership in her new role.