Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that a federal grand jury returned an indictment on June 18, 2020, which charged Eike Blohm, 38, of South Burlington, Vermont, with one count of production of child pornography. The indictment also includes notice that, in the event that Blohm is convicted of production of child pornography as charged in the indictment, the government intends to seek forfeiture of real and personal property owned by Blohm. Blohm made his initial appearance in federal court on May 22, 2020.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont House today approved an additional $95 million of Coronavirus Relief Funds in the Broadband, Connectivity, and Housing bill (H.966). The passage of H.966 includes $43 million for broadband, connectivity, and cybersecurity initiatives and an additional $52 million for housing initiatives.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont has received a $2 million federal emergency grant to make sure people with mental health and substance use disorders can access care during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Departments of Health and Mental Health will use the funds from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to expand services and supports for Vermonters who need them. The grant will also allow for increased access to mental health care for health care workers. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted many essential services, such as in-home supports and interventions, in-person recovery support, overdose prevention, detoxification and treatment, such as receiving medication assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder.

Vermont Business Magazine The Farm to Plate Network, managed by the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund (VSJF), just launched a public survey that will help develop a new vision for farming and food, and prioritize how we support and develop food and agriculture in the next decade. Your input is needed in order to update the Farm to Plate Strategic Plan (Vermont’s legislatively enabled statewide food system plan) and determine how the Farm to Plate Network supports and develops food and agriculture in the decade to come.

Vermont Business Magazine New data released by the US Energy Information Administration shows renewable energy use exceeded coal for the first time since 1885. Vermont and New England mirror the national trend toward increased reliance on renewable electricity. Across New England, tens of thousands of consumers have been inspired to adopt solar for their homes, farms, schools and town buildings. There are more than 180,000 small-scale solar systems in New England. These are concentrated in southern New England and Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine In response to the ongoing urgent needs arising from COVID-19 challenges to Vermont’s Working Lands businesses, the Working Lands Enterprise Board (WLEB) has announced that 16 businesses will receive over $250,000 in COVID-19 Response Business Development Grants within the sectors of agriculture and forestry. These awards will focus on business response, shifting marketing strategies, or other activities that may improve business recovery.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) and Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) Wednesday welcomed the Senate passage of the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) to fully and permanently fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and address long overdue maintenance backlogs on our public lands and waters. The bill now heads to the US House of Representatives for passage before becoming law. Since its passage in 1965, the LWCF has provided over $140 million for Vermont parks, athletic facilities, recreational areas, and other public projects, conserving more than 275,000 acres. Passage of this bill will bring an additional $7.6 million to Vermont next year alone, and will double Vermont’s average annual LWCF funding going forward.

​Vermont Business Magazine The State of Vermont’s Brownfield Initiative has awarded the Town of Hardwick over $36,000 for remediation at the former Greensboro Garage site. Vacant today, this property had a 30+ year history of operating as an automotive repair and body shop. The site characterization and initial environmental investigation was completed with technical assistance and funding from Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission and Northern Vermont Development Association. Once remediated, the commercial redevelopment will be home to the Yellow Barn Business Accelerator, an $8.6 million project that is expected to create approximately 50 jobs.

Vermont Business Magazine University of Vermont Geography professor Lesley-Ann L. Dupigny-Giroux, PhD, the Vermont State Climatologist, has been elected to serve a two-year term as the president of the American Association of State Climatologists. The AASC serves the nation by providing timely expertise, outreach and communication about climate and climate-change issues to all members of the public, state agencies, private sector and the federal government.

The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department is again urging Vermonters to leave wildlife in the wild where they belong. The department is receiving calls and emails from individuals who are temporarily caring for wildlife, mostly young skunks, woodchucks, raccoons, foxes and other mammals, only to find wildlife rehabilitation facilities are full and not accepting additional animals.

Vermont Business Magazine The Agency of Education and the Health Department have released A Strong and Healthy Start: Safety and Health Guidance for Reopening Schools, Fall 2020. This guidance document provides essential information for school administrators and personnel as they plan and implement the reopening of our schools for the 2020-21 school year in the context of COVID-19. This document is focused on safeguarding student and staff health while operating in-person instruction. It is one among many that the Agency and other governing and advisory entities are creating to support schools as part of the state’s pandemic response and recovery efforts.