Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Department of Financial Regulation (DFR) today released its weekly COVID-19 data and modeling update for Vermont. Governor Phil Scott said: "As we see concerning outbreaks across parts of the United States, we are fortunate the Northeast continues to move in the right direction. Here in Vermont, between June 26 and July 1, our seven-day average test positivity was 0.4 percent, the lowest in the United States."

Vermont Business Magazine In light of a “stunning lack of federal government action to protect passengers, flight attendants, pilots, and other aviation workers,” Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) wrote to the heads of the Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration, demanding that they “take immediate action to mandate that airlines protect passengers and employees and put safety over profit."

Vermont Business Magazine The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) announced nine Vermont arts and cultural organizations will receive $629,154 in highly competitive direct grants through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to mitigate the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Electric Cooperative (VEC) today announced the launch of a new electronic device incentive program in which VEC members who purchase certain types of equipment can be entered into a monthly drawing to win a $100 bill credit. VEC’s “ChargeItUp” program is a way for VEC members who buy electricity-powered tools such as yard care equipment and other devices that have been traditionally powered by fossil fuels, to have a chance to win the bill credit and share their experience with the equipment.

Vermont Business Magazine Join the Agency of Commerce and Community Development and the Department of Taxes for a discussion and presentation on the Economic Recovery Grants available for businesses starting on July 6, 2020. The Webinar will cover eligibility requirements, grant award calculation information, grant application processes, and what documents businesses will want to have prepared and on-hand when applying.

Vermont Business Magazine After many years of suffering from algal blooms, poor water clarity, and other challenges, Ticklenaked Pond will be removed from Vermont’s impaired waters list when the 2020 update is published in August. The Ryegate pond has experienced five consecutive years of water quality improvements and the upcoming delisting will make Ticklenaked Pond the first lake or pond in Vermont to be restored to EPA-mandated phosphorus reduction goals.

Vermont Business Magazine For the first time in Vermont Pub & Brewery’s history, two of their flagship beers were brewed outside of the pub and are available in cans. Today, July 2nd – just in time for the holiday weekend – Vermont Pub and Brewery (VBP) will release cans of their Burly Irish Red Ale and Forbidden Fruit beer.

Vermont Business Magazine The Department of Labor would like to encourage regular unemployment insurance and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) claimants to file their weekly claims by 6 pm on Thursday, July 2 to avoid delays in filing for next week due to the July 4 holiday. Claimants who are unable to file their weekly claim by Thursday, July 2 at 6 p.m. can still file their claim on Friday, July 3, but will see a delay in payment. More details about the impact of the July 4 holiday weekend can be found below.

Vermont Foodbank This July and August, Farmers to Families food boxes containing fresh produce, dairy products, and chicken will be available at multiple daily food distributions throughout the state. To keep wait times to a minimum, reservations will be required for the distributions. To register and see the dates and locations, please visit humanresources.vermont.gov/food-help or call 2-1-1 if you do not have access to the internet or are uncomfortable using it.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) on Thursday announced that the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (VAAFM) and Food Connects have received US Department of Agriculture Farm to School grants totaling $153,767. The grants will help Vermont farms increase their sales to local schools and promote lifelong healthy eating habits among Vermont’s students. Food Connects, based in Brattleboro, received $99,900 to increase local food purchasing, throughout Vermont and western New Hampshire. VAAFM received $53,867 to develop systems for tracking local food purchases by Vermont schools.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont's H.966 legislation provides economic relief to businesses and organizations using funds that Vermont received from the Federal CARES Act. This support is for eligible Vermont businesses and organizations who have suffered a 50 percent or greater reduction in revenue due to the COVID-19 public health emergency and economic crisis in a single month from March 1, 2020 to September 1, 2020, as compared to the same period in 2019.

Vermont Business Magazine Green Lantern Solar and Bee the Change have teamed up on a second New Haven solar project to plant and maintain pollinator-friendly ground cover. The roughly 4.5 acre site will feature dozens of species of plants designed to attract species of pollinator insects and other beneficial bird species. This project follows up on a successful 2017 pollinator program that was completed by Green Lantern Solar and Bee the Change at a different array in the town. That project has a completed “Scorecard” from the University of Vermont’s “Pollinator-Friendly Solar Initiative” and is featured on the UVM Agricultural Extension’s website.