Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health is reporting today two new cases of COVID-19, one hospitalized and no deaths. According to a Harvard study, Vermont was one of only four states doing enough testing to subdue the coronavirus. Public health officials agree testing is critical to bring new cases down to a low enough level to allow everyday life to return to some semblance of normalcy. (The other three states were Alaska, Montana and Hawaii.)

Vermont Business Magazine Four Burlington bars received written warnings from the State for violations of the Governor’s orders this past weekend. Those orders include limiting indoor operations to 50 percent capacity, having all patrons seated, prohibiting seating at the actual bar, properly spacing tables, limiting outdoor operations to a maximum of 150 people, having a designated health officer on site, and complying with other requirements.

Vermont Business Magazine Following the close of a two-week collective effort, Attorney General T.J. Donovan, Elizabeth Novotny, President of the Vermont Bar Association, and John Sayles, CEO of the Vermont Foodbank, announced the positive impact of the Vermont Legal Community Fighting Hunger Food Drive. For the past three years, the Vermont Foodbank, the Vermont Bar Association (VBA), the Attorney General’s Office (AGO), and many other law offices throughout the state have run the Lawyers Fighting Hunger Food Drive during Hunger Action Month each September.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont House Speaker Mitzi Johnson released the following statement: “Vermonters and Vermont businesses need relief now. The Coronavirus Relief Funds Recovery Package - H.966, H.965, and S.351 - were delivered to the Governor’s desk on June 30th. Vermonters need him to sign the bills now to ensure the money reaches the people and businesses that are waiting for it..."

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott, the Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD), and Department of Tax today announced Vermont’s Economic Recovery Grant Program will launch on July 6. The grant program was first proposed by the Administration in May and amended by the Legislature. It utilizes federal CARES Act funding to provide direct cash grants to Vermont businesses who have seen lost revenue because of COVID-19. The first wave of money is largely directed toward restaurants and retail, which were hardest hit by the COVID-19 shutdowns that began in March.

Vermont Business Magazine On July 1, Superintendent Tom Flanagan launched his first day in the Burlington School District (BSD) by announcing an ambitious 100 Day Entry Plan, focused on bridging opportunity gaps in equity, empowering student engagement, and deepening community learning. Phase two, the heart of the plan, will extend 100 days—from July 1 to October 9. Some activities include, but are not limited to, an equity and race workshop series for District and school leadership, a review of the BSD special education program, town hall meetings to engage families and the community, and the establishment of a professional development plan in collaboration with the BEA.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont State Colleges System (VSCS) announced that it has partnered with Vermont Electric Power Company (VELCO) to offer free Wi-Fi to the general public on the campuses of Northern Vermont University, Castleton University and Vermont Technical College. The move is designed to support Vermonters living in areas where connectivity is anything but universal and comes at a time when more Vermonters are working and learning remotely due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Vermont Business Magazine Cartographic Associates, Inc dba CAI Technologies (CAI), a municipal mapping and GIS services company located in Littleton, New Hampshire, has acquired Russell Graphics, a municipal mapping company that has provided mapping services to Vermont municipalities for more than three decades. It is based in North Carolina. This strategic acquisition further establishes CAI as the leader in municipal mapping and GIS services in Vermont and throughout New England.

Originally founded in 1985, CAI has grown to serve nearly 500 local, regional, and state governments throughout the eastern United States. CAI is a Silver Tier Esri Business Partner and recently completed a project that has received a Special Achievement in GIS (SAG) Award for ArcGIS Enterprise Implementation in recognition of outstanding work with GIS technology. CAI was one of the few selected for this award out of more than 100,000 applicants.

Vermont Business Magazine In February, Attorney General Donovan and Chief Stevens together called upon the Legislature to pass and the Governor to sign H.716. Because the benefit would extend to Native Peoples residing outside of Vermont, the new measure would also promote a much-needed influx of new sportspeople to Vermont’s hunting and fishing communities. In addition, the bill would help Vermont partner with Native Peoples to promote environmental, educational, and conservation initiatives.

Vermont Business Magazine US Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) on Tuesday spoke on the Senate floor to advocate for amendments he introduced to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would fundamentally overhaul the Pentagon budget, which exceeds $740 billion this year. Military spending, now higher than the next 11 nations combined, represents more than half of all federal discretionary spending. The Pentagon budget has exploded under President Trump, increasing by more than $100 billion in annual spending compared to military budgets under President Obama. In his floor remarks, Sanders called for a 10% cut to the Pentagon budget to invest the savings in distressed communities; the production and distribution of free face masks to every American household; and an independent audit of the Defense Department.

Vermont Business Magazine In response to the COVID-19 pandemic the SBA Vermont District Office is hosting a free webinar from 9 to 10 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays to discuss the Paycheck Protection Program, the Economic Injury Disaster Loan and Advance, and any pertinent updates. Also, The SBA Vermont District Office is hosting a free daily webinar from 9 to 10 a.m. Monday to Friday to discuss Paycheck Protection Program forgiveness and other changes.

Vermont Business Magazine For the first time since June 16, the Vermont Department of Health is reporting no new cases of COVID-19 in Vermont. Also, effective Wednesday, July 1, people from low-risk counties in additional states can travel to Vermont without having to quarantine. The broader allowances are based on detailed modeling and analysis of health and population data. The additional states include Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia, as well as the District of Columbia.