Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Mayor Miro Weinberger and the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today announced that HUD has awarded more than $3.6 million to the City of Burlington to help protect low-income children and families from lead-based paint and home health hazards. The announcement took place at a home that is enrolled in the Burlington Lead Program. With this funding, the City’s Burlington Lead Program will be able to address lead hazards in 110 homes that are occupied by low- and very low-income families with children. The program also will use this funding to conduct education, outreach, workforce development, and capacity-building within Burlington and Winooski, and leverage local resources to further protect the community from lead poisoning.

Vermont Business Magazine The University of Vermont Health Network said in a statement Monday afternoon that it continues to make significant gains in the effort to recover from a recent cyberattack event. Much work remains ahead of us, however, and significant disruptions to patient care continue. We deeply appreciate the ongoing patience and support of our patients and communities. Thanks to the hard work of our IT team, we have accessed the detailed clinical plans for chemotherapy patients at the University of Vermont Medical Center. However, there is still no access to the MyChart patient portal.

Vermont Business Magazine Commissioner of Financial Regulation Michael S. Pieciak announced today several important updates regarding the Frontline Employees Hazard Pay Grant Program. This second round of the program substantially expands the sectors eligible for the grants and includes Vermonters formerly employed in eligible sectors. An additional $8 million of Coronavirus Relief Funds was recently appropriated, bringing the total second round appropriation to $30.5 million.

Vermont Business Magazine As Covid-19 cases continue to grow in Burlington and Chittenden County, Mayor Miro Weinberger today extended his call for Burlingtonians to exercise extra caution and shared key updates. Weinberger also shared the following key updates. Limit gatherings: The Vermont Department of Health continues to strongly encourage all Vermonters to limit gatherings to 10 or fewer people and with a very limited number of trusted households, and avoid unnecessary travel. New guidance: On Sunday evening, the Vermont Department of Health also issued new guidance that all Burlingtonians should be aware of, including: “If you have attended an event with people who are not in your usual social circle, please avoid close contact with others and consider obtaining a test now as well as 7 days after the event or gathering.”

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott and the Department of Labor today marked the sixth annual National Apprenticeship Week in Vermont with a virtual proclamation signing. Administered by the Department of Labor, the Vermont Registered Apprenticeship Program brings together businesses, job seekers, students and educators to develop apprenticeship opportunities to upskill the labor force to meet the needs of employers. These apprenticeships provide career pathways for Vermonters through an “earn while you learn” model, with a guaranteed 25% wage increase over the course of the program.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (VBSR) is honoring three outstanding individuals and businesses who are leading by outstanding example and developing successful socially responsible business models. VBSR’s 19th Annual Awards Ceremony will recognizing: Dave Barash (1955-2020) with the Terry Ehrich Award for Lifetime Achievement, Working Fields with the VBSR Innovation and Inspiration Award, and Marina McCoy of Waste Free Earth with the VBSR Young Changemaker Award.

Vermont Business Magazine It all started with a cookie. Well, nine of them. Plus three creative, forward-thinking local organizations: one large business, one small business and one nonprofit. Now, 10 years and over 300,000 cookies later, Cookies for Good has raised more than $100,000 for the Committee on Temporary Shelter’s homeless shelter and prevention programs.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Community Loan Fund has announced the launch of the Northern Vermont Recovery Loan Fund (NVRLF), a new loan program serving Northern Vermont businesses and organizations negatively impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Business owners from Vermont’s six northernmost counties of Caledonia, Essex, Franklin, Grand Isle, Lamoille and Orleans Counties may be eligible for these loans. The NVRLF provides flexible terms and low- to no-cost debt financing, along with business coaching services and other supports, thanks to grant support from the US Economic Development Administration.

Vermont Business Magazine Norwich University has been awarded a $20,000 grant from the TD Charitable Foundation, the charitable giving arm of TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank, to fund the development of a construction management plan to create Vermont’s first tiny house community. This grant supports the development of the next generation of affordable tiny houses by students and faculty in the College of Professional School’s School of Architecture + Art through Norwich’s Design+Build Collaborative.

by Secretary Anson Tebbetts The year 2020. What a year. The pandemic has forced all of us to look closely at our place in the world. Last year at this time, we only saw masks at the dentist or in the operating room. Today, a mask is part of our wardrobe. A year ago, we were shaking hands, hugging and there were no issues with big crowds.

Vermont Business Magazine The employee-owners of PC Construction prioritized hunger-fighting organizations in their 2020 corporate giving to help combat food insecurity across Vermont, totaling well over $90,000 in donations since March. According to a recent news report, Before COVID-19 arrived, one of every 10 Vermonters struggled with food insecurity. Now one in every four residents in the state struggles to obtain adequate nutrition.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health on Sunday reported 43 new cases of COVID-19. This is the largest one-day new case report since early last spring. On Saturday, health officials reported the state’s 59th death associated with COVID-19, the first since July 28, 2020.