Current News

Vermont Business Magazine NBT Bank, with branches in Northwestern Vermont, has expanded its services to include full branch lobby access with the implementation of protocols to protect the safety of its employees and customers. Appointments are no longer required for customers to visit a branch lobby.

Vermont Business Magazine Emily Mulherin has always loved working with children. She’s currently an assistant teacher in the infant room at Brattleboro Centre for Children; in addition to her full-time job, she’s a student at CCV, pursuing an associate degree in early childhood education, and she has her sights set on finishing her degree and becoming a lead teacher. “She’s so determined,” said her CCV advisor, Leigh Marthe, “and so committed to working with kids.”

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott announced today that Vermont's K-12 public schools will open in the fall with in-person instruction. Scott said it is important for the intellectual, emotional and social development of children to be back at school. He said the health data indicate that children are far less likely transmitters of COVID-19. School districts will be given as much flexibility as possible to tailor their school reopening plans to their local needs, with assistance from the state. Health guidance includes a mask mandate. As for the possible Manchester region COVID-19 outbreak, so far there are only two positive cases confirmed with over 400 people tested.

Public Assets Institute Four months into the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly 50,000 Vermonters are relying on unemployment benefits each week. As of July 4, regular state unemployment insurance (UI) was paying about 40,000 weekly claims; in addition 9,500 people were collecting federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), a program for workers, including self-employed, who don’t qualify for regular jobless benefits. Meanwhile, Vermont’s unemployment rate fell to 9.4 percent in June, as 10,000 more Vermonters went to work last month.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Weekly unemployment claims fell slightly last week after a spike the week before. After a steep decline as the economy began to reopen in April, initial unemployment claims for the last several weeks have flattened and are holding at just under 2,000 claims.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont’s Killington Resort, the largest mountain resort in Eastern North America, is partnering with Vermont Community Foundation and NeighborWorks of Western Vermont to launch the Play It Forward Business Relief Fund, which will award a total of $130,000 in grants up to $2,500 each to eligible businesses in the Town of Killington.

Vermont Business Magazine The current pandemic and necessary resulting public safety measures have taken a toll on businesses of many kinds in the State of Vermont, including Sole Proprietors. In order to provide some relief to the economic pain that Sole Proprietors have had to endure, the launch of an economic relief grant program has been announced which will provide grants of $5,000, $7,500 or $10,000 to qualifying Sole Proprietors through a Lottery draw. The program is funded through $1.5 million from the U.S. Housing and Urban Development's CDBG Program, and passed through the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD).

Senator Patrick Leahy We write today to urge you to withdraw your confusing and harmful changes to hospital reporting requirements for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). In the midst of a global pandemic, these changes pose serious challenges to the nation’s response by increasing the data management burden for hospitals, potentially delaying critical supply shipments, compromising access to key data for many states, and reducing transparency for the public. The Trump Administration’s mismanagement of the COVID-19 response and refusal to heed public health expertise continue to put the country in a dangerous position.

UVM Director of Athletics Jeff Schulman As you may have heard, the America East Conference today announced the postponement of all fall sport competition and championships for the duration of the first semester. At UVM, this includes our teams in men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s soccer, and field hockey. Decisions about winter and spring sports and the shifting of fall sports to spring semester will be made at a later date.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Vermont’s unemployment rate continues to fall along with worksite restrictions as the state’s economy re-emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic. The seasonally-adjusted statewide unemployment rate for June was 9.4 percent. This reflects a decrease of three and four-tenths percentage points from the prior month’s revised estimate of 12.8 percent. The Vermont Department of Labor released the data Friday morning. The comparable United States rate in June was 11.1 percent, a decrease of two and two-tenths percentage points from the revised May estimate.

Vermont Business Magazine Currently, more than 50 people have tested positive through antigen testing performed at the Manchester health center. Protocol calls for those positives to undergo a PCR test also. So far, the Health Department has received PCR results on 10% of the 59 people who had a positive antigen test. Of those, 2/3 tested negative by PCR and only 1/3 tested positive. The news of a possible outbreak has led to two pop-up testing sites in southern Vermont with more than 300 people tested. Results will take a few days to come back. Commissioner Dr Mark Levine is expecting more positive tests in that region.

Vermont Business Magazine The University of Vermont will enhance partnership and support efforts throughout the state with the creation of a new Office of Engagement. The office, which builds upon the University’s land-grant mission, will act as a “front door” to the University for private, public and non-profit entities and communities looking to access UVM’s many strengths and capabilities. To increase its effectiveness in partnering with the state in the areas of workforce development, retention, and growth, UVM received $2 million in funding from the Vermont Legislature.