Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont House today advanced an additional $300 million Coronavirus Health and Human Services Recovery bill. The passage of H965 makes the total Health and Human Services Coronavirus Recovery package nearly $355 million to date. The bill now moves onto the Senate.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Patrick Leahy (D), Senator Bernie Sanders (I), and Representative Peter Welch (D) announced Wednesday that two Vermont-based entities, the Abbey Group and Willing Hands, have secured extended contracts through the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to continue the delivery of food boxes throughout this summer through the end of August. These two contracts will bring an additional $8.5 million in nutrition assistance to Vermont and the Upper Valley community in New Hampshire, most of which will go toward buying produce and dairy from local farms.

Vermont Business Magazine As part of its ongoing mission to support the communities in which it operates, New England Federal Credit Union (NEFCU) is contributing $250,000 to a number of regional organizations.

Vermont Business Magazine Since the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, calls for police reform and an end to systemic racism have echoed across the country, including Vermont. What do Vermonters make of recent calls for police reform? What does reform look like at this moment? Join VPR and Vermont PBS for a virtual community conversation on Thursday, June 18 at 7 pm. Co-hosts Peter Hirschfeld (VPR) and Traci Griffith (St Michael's College) will lead a discussion about issues of race, injustice and policing in Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced several measures to gradually ease restrictions on Vermonters in long-term care facilities, hospitals and those over the age of 65. Starting June 19, Long-Term Care Residential facilities can allow for up to two (2) visitors per resident, per day. The visits must be conducted outside only and adhere to guidance issued by DAIL around social distancing, temperature checks, facial coverings and record keeping of all visitors. Visitors are still not allowed inside. But the new guidance allows congregating by residents outside, but outside only.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will resume commercial vehicle learner’s permit (CDP) testing on Thursday, June 18. Customers may begin scheduling appointments for their permit tests now by calling (802) 828-2000 or completing the online appointment scheduling form on the DMV website.

Vermont Business Magazine With protests against racial inequality taking place all across the nation and the black unemployment rate consistently above the rate for white people, financial adviser WalletHub today released its report on the State Economies with the Most Racial Equality, along with accompanying videos and audio files. According to WalletHub, Vermont’s economy has the 8th most racial equality in the US.

Vermont Business Magazine In response to the financial crisis and economic downturn faced by Vermont consumers as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Vermont credit unions have provided nearly $385 million in support since the first virus cases were documented in the Green Mountain State.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) announced its phased restart plan to resume motorcycle permit and endorsement testing is under way. Testing began on Monday, June 15.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has partnered with the Department of Disabilities, Aging & Independent Living (DAIL) and Vermont State Police (VSP) to create visor cards to help people who are deaf or hard of hearing communicate with law enforcement officers if they are pulled over while driving.

Vermont Business Magazine For a second year in a row, NBT Bank has earned a spot on the Forbes World’s Best Banks list released on June 8, 2020. NBT is one of only 75 banks in the United States to be included on this list, out of the tens of thousands of financial institutions globally that are able to be considered for the recognition.

Vermont Business Magazine The Health Department reported today that there were no new cases associated with the COVID-19 outbreak that first emerged in Winooski. The total remains at 83 cases as of Monday evening. They continue to test residents and trace contacts of cases to contain the outbreak. Nearly 3,000 people have been tested to date at the Winooski and Burlington sites. There have been no deaths or hospitalizations associated with the outbreak. Statewide there were three new cases reported, with no deaths in over two weeks and only two hospitalized.