Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The 2020 Census, the once-a-decade count of everyone who lives in the United States, is underway, and it is easy, safe and important to respond. Responses inform decisions on how hundreds of billions of dollars in federal funds are allocated every year for the next 10 years for critical public services to communities across the country, including in rural areas.

Vermont Research News Vermont, along with Montana and Idaho, showed the greatest improvement in reducing the spread of COVID-19, according to a new report analyzing data after March 24th and before April 21st. The study reports that how much improvement states showed could not be attributed to the density of infections around March 24th, nor to the population size of the state. Vermont can meet its ambitious energy and emissions-related goals with less than 1% of its land area occupied by wind and solar PV infrastructure using a wide variety of infrastructure ratios and siting strategies, according to a recent article.

Vermont Business Magazine The Lake Champlain Chamber announced two upcoming webinars designed to help guide businesses through the slow reopening of the economy. The first addresses the unique challenges the hospitality industry has faced in the COVID-19 crisis. The second provides an overview of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health today reported that there have been six new cases of COVID-19 since Friday for a total of 940 cases statewide. One more person died for a total as of Sunday of 54. Hospitalizations remained at three. Governor Scott's updated state of emergency and Be Smart, Stay Safe order on Friday allows the next step in reopening the state's economy. This includes starting tomorrow, May 18, limited general retail. There is also funding for child care centers available. PUA unemployment insurance claims should be largely resolved this week. And if health trends remain positive, hair salons and some other personal services will reopen June 1. However, dental offices and other close-contact services will have to wait longer.

Vermont Business Magazine The University of Vermont honored the graduating class of 2020 on Sunday with a online celebration featuring a video with remarks from university and state leaders, a montage of photos of graduates, announcements of student awards and the conferral of degrees. The online celebration was held in place of UVM’s traditional May commencement, which has been postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

by Aly Richards I’ve always loved Vermont’s state motto: Freedom and Unity. We Vermonters take our freedom and independence seriously. It gives us the kind of true grit required to withstand snowstorms in October and May. But our independence has never been challenged like it is being challenged now. In the face of this pandemic, our fates are now inextricably linked. Your choices now impact my health, and my choices impact your health.

We’ve had to shift our mentality from one of independence to interdependence. And it’s working. After all, the second half of our state motto is “unity.”

By adhering to health and safety measures together, we have managed to dramatically slow the spread of COVID-19 throughout Vermont. This week, only three new cases were reported across the state and we now have the lowest rates of infection in the country.

Vermont Department of Labor Call-center volume is decreasing, and call-center staffing is increasing. At the highest point, there were well over 500,000 call attempts into the various lines in one day. Two weeks ago, there were 60,000 call attempts and as of yesterday they were down to 5400 attempts (75% of which were answered). To be clear, attempts are not unique callers -- that number is much lower. As we have scaled up staffing in the call center, nearly 250 on the phones now, we are able to answer, on average, 4,500 calls per day. ​

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General TJ Donovan will partner with Orleans County State’s Attorney Jennifer Barrett and Vermont Legal Aid to host a “virtual” expungement clinic on Friday, May 22 from 10 am to 2 pm. Expungements wipe from your record specific convictions and dismissed charges after a certain period of time has passed. Under Vermont law, many misdemeanors, 14 different felony offenses, and all dismissed charges can be expunged. The clinic will focus on expunging criminal charges and convictions from Orleans county and will be open to the public by telephone appointment.

Vermont Business Magazine NBT Bank, with branches in northwest Vermont, has secured approval for approximately 3,000 loans and over $540 million in relief through the SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), helping businesses and organizations in the communities served by NBT to retain more than 61,000 workers. The average amount of NBT’s PPP loans was $185,000, and each loan is supporting an average of 20 jobs.

Vermont Business Magazine Southwestern Vermont Council on Aging (SVCOA) today announced the development of a new professional caregiver registry designed to counter the growing, unmet need among older Vermonters in Bennington and Rutland counties for caregiver services.

Vermont Business Magazine Designed to support professionals in a post-COVID-19 world, Norwich University’s College of Graduate and Continuing Studies (CGCS) is offering six free 45-minute webinar sessions as part of the Norwich University Online Virtual Education Fair Thursday, May 21, 2020, from 1:30 – 5 p.m. Participants may sign up for more than one of the six webinars, and the webinar series boasts panelists with years of experience in a range of fields.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, the US Small Business Administration, in consultation with the U.S Department of the Treasury, released the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan Forgiveness Application and detailed instructions for the application.

The form and instructions inform borrowers how to apply for forgiveness of their PPP loans, consistent with the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). SBA will also soon issue regulations and guidance to further assist borrowers as they complete their applications, and to provide lenders with guidance on their responsibilities.

The form and instructions include several measures to reduce compliance burdens and simplify the process for borrowers, including: