Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Marlboro College and Democracy Builders today announced a signed contract for sale of the 500-acre college campus in Marlboro, Vermont in anticipation of the completion of Marlboro College’s alliance with Emerson College. Democracy Builders will use the campus for an innovative new model of higher education that will dramatically reduce costs and improve outcomes for low-income and first generation students in particular. Upon state Attorney General and Agency of Education approval, Democracy Builders’ Degrees of Freedom program will offer a hybrid degree that will bring cohorts of students to the campus for multiple residencies each year and continue the tradition of higher education on Potash Hill.

AccuWeather After Burlington and other nearby regions set record temperatures this week, May will finish on a much cooler note following the recent stifling heat that enveloped the Northeast. Millions across the northeastern United States will experience another round of weather whiplash this week as a sharp surge of cool air will wipe away the unseasonable heat that was ushered into the region over Memorial Day weekend.

Vermont Business Magazine Green Mountain Power (GMP) launched a new package of incentives and programs called Go, Save & Share Green with GMP to help customers save money and help small businesses get back on their feet following the COVID-19 economic shutdown. GMP is increasing rebates on heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, electric mowers and electric bikes now through the end of August, and will launch a solar credit sharing program in June, as well as a new way for customers to reduce energy use that also raises money for the Vermont Food Bank.

Vermont Business Magazine People's United Bank, NA, with branches across Vermont, today announced that is has registered and obtained approval for more than 16,000 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans through the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), delivering more than $2.5 billion to business customers. These loans supported the paychecks of more than 250,000 employees across the Northeast.

Vermont Business Magazine Trees are greening and insects are awakening as spring continues its slow and steady progress. One such insect is the emerald ash borer (EAB). This destructive, invasive forest pest has been identified in numerous towns in Vermont and is expected to continue to move across the landscape, likely killing most ash trees in its path. To manage the pest and mitigate damage to ash trees and the multiple values they provide, Vermont adopted a “Slow the Spread” strategy in 2018, similar to our current effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus, intended to buy time for development of control and mitigation measures.

Vermont Business Magazine ACCD hosted a series of webinars over the last week to explain the proposed $400 million dollar economic recovery and relief package and answer questions from impacted sectors. Recordings of those webinars will be posted to the Recovery Resource Center as they are available, for anyone who may have missed them live. The Legislature received Governor Scott proposal on Wednesday and will begin the process of developing legislation. The funding comes from the federal government's $1.25 billion COVID-19 relief CARES fund Vermont received.

Vermont Business Magazine Phil Scott this morning announced in an email from his campaign that he will seek a third term as governor of Vermont. He had to file by today's deadline. The announcement was expected. In the letter he said he is grateful for the sacrifice of Vermonters during this season of COVID-19, for their public service and he admitted that his least favorite part of being governor is the politics.

Vermont Business Magazine The Issues Committee of the Vermont Nuclear Decommissioning Citizens Advisory Panel (VT NDCAP) will hold a Special Meeting on Wednesday, June 3, 2020 from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM. In accordance with changes to Vermont Open Meeting Law in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, this meeting will be conducted via teleconference. The Committee will identify agenda items for the September 21, 2020 meeting of the full Panel. A potential Panel position on national spent nuclear fuel policy will also be discussed. Potential topics for future VT NDCAP meetings may also be discussed.

Like all VT NDCAP meetings, this Special Meeting is open to the public. Those wishing to join the meeting may do so using the following conference call line:

Phone number: (802) 552-8456 -or- (802) 738-0888

Conference Room Number: 359 989 491 (followed by the “#” sign)

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health reported today that there were four new cases of COVID-19 statewide, there were no deaths which hold at 54, and four the first time in weeks, no one was hospitalized with the coronavirus. However, they expect there will be new cases requiring hospitalizations imminently. The governor indicated that on Friday he may further relax social gathering restrictions and open them up from 10 people to 25 in the near future. Close contact businesses and gyms could also receive good news as to when they can reopen. The governor also said indoor restaurant service could open soon. All these reopenings will come with some level of restrictions, for instance with occupancy restrictions of 25 percent capacity. The governor also said he will announce his re-election plans Thursday. He is, of course, expected to seek a third term as governor.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Specialty Food Association (VSFA) will hold their Spring Meeting virtually on Wednesday, June 3rd from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, VSFA is pivoting this year’s meeting to a virtual event to continue strengthening and supporting its community during these challenging times. This 2-hour event will feature two informative presentations focused on business resilience, strategy, and adaptation for the future.

Vermont Business Magazine United around the slogans “Education is a Right,” “Fund our Future,” and “Put People First,” a coalition of faculty, staff, students and community members from across Vermont will hold a virtual press conference Thursday at noon. The coalition is protesting austerity measures in education at every level.

Vermont Business Magazine KeyCorp (NYSE: KEY) has released its 2019 Corporate Responsibility report, highlighting the company's ongoing legacy as a responsible bank and citizen. Included in the report are the results from the first three years of the National Community Benefits Plan, under which KeyBank has invested over $12.1 billion in communities. KeyBank executives said the investments exceeded the goals for the first three years of the plan by 48%. Here in Vermont, KeyBank has invested $83,116,663 in the local community in the last three years.