Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife has launched the Vermont Outdoors mobile application, a new tool to help citizens and visitors explore outdoor recreational opportunities in ways that meet COVID-19 pandemic safety practices. Built in partnership with the state’s digital government services partner, NIC Vermont, the mobile app provides a wide offering of features, including interactive maps, and enables users to easily access policy information and guidelines for activities, such as hunting, trapping, fishing, boating and hiking in Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine The 6th annual Dunkin’ Hot Chocolate Day fundraiser for Camp Ta-Kum-Ta is set for Friday, December 11 at several Dunkin’ stores in the greater Burlington region. Participating Dunkin locations owned by local Franchisee Ari Souliotis will donate $1 to Camp Ta-Kum-Ta from the sale of any size and any flavor hot chocolate.

Vermont Business Magazine Several Vermont businesses have partnered with the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity (CVOEO) to outfit homeless Vermonters currently residing at the Holiday Inn with winter clothing and accessories. Vermont Gas (VGS), Mutual of America, Lenny’s Shoe and Apparel and the South Burlington Rotary donated much needed coats, boots, hats and gloves to CVOEO to help these Vermonters stay warm this winter.

Vermont Business Magazine As Health Commissioner Mark Levine, MD said earlier this week, we are in the very first stages of vaccine production and distribution to the states, and there will likely be a limited supply of vaccine early on. Meanwhile, cases of COVID-19 continue to increase in Vermont. The VDH reported today 105 new cases of COVID-19 statewide in Vermont, with one more death for a total of 86.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott and the Department of Buildings and General Services (BGS) today announced the recipients of this year’s Building Communities Grants for Facilities. These grants will fund $600,000 in construction and capital improvements for 68 projects across Vermont, which contribute to strong communities.

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General TJ Donovan and a bipartisan coalition of 47 other attorneys general today filed a lawsuit against Facebook Inc, alleging that the company illegally stifles competition to protect its monopoly power. The lawsuit alleges that, over the last decade, the social networking giant illegally acquired competitors in a predatory manner and cut services to smaller threats, depriving users of the benefits of competition and reducing privacy protections and services along the way — all in an effort to boost its bottom line through increased advertising revenue.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott, the Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD) and the Vermont Community Foundation today announced $90,000 in grant funding to launch Better Places, a statewide initiative that aims to speed economic recovery by creating places in downtowns and village centers to safely serve residents and visitors this winter and into the coming year.

by Bill Schubart While a taskforce of educators and consultants works to envisage and create a new and sustainable Vermont State College System this winter, the dialogue about our public grade schools continues in the wake of Act 46. The demographic shifts driving consolidations, school governance, pandemic closings and inequitable broadband, and the loss of a community resource are all issues swirling about the future of El-Hi public education in Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine The Department of Health (VDH) and the Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD) will host their weekly webinar series again Wednesday, December 9 at 3:00pm focusing on health and commerce pandemic updates for the business community. Decision makers from ACCD, VDH, and the Department of Public Safety will provide updates and be available to answer your questions. Businesses can submit questions ahead of time via an online form.

Vermont Business Magazine The vast majority of Eastern US voters support the multi-state Transportation & Climate Initiative (TCI) as a way to jumpstart the struggling economy in the wake of the COVID-19 epidemic, according a scientific survey of more than 3,800 voters after the November election. The massive poll was conducted by Climate Nexus and the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication (YPCCC) on behalf of the Our Transportation Future (OTF) coalition. Vermont respondents also supported it, with 37 percent saying they "strongly support" it and 33 percent saying they "somewhat support" it; 18 percent "opposed" and 13 percent were "unsure."

Vermont Business Magazine Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) urged Senate Democrats today to recognize the enormity of the economic and public-health crisis posed by COVID-19 and join them “in demanding that any new COVID-19 relief proposal includes a $1,200 direct payment to adults and $500 to their children,” while rejecting provisions “to give a liability shield to corporations who threaten the health and safety of workers and customers.”

Vermont Business Magazine The US House of Representatives Tuesday passed legislation by Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) granting protections to whistleblowers who shine a light on violations of antitrust laws. The Criminal Antitrust Anti-Retaliation Act, which unanimously passed the Senate last year, must now be signed by the President to become law.