Current News

Vermont Business Magazine There was one new case of COVID-19 reported by the Vermont Department of Health today for 934 total statewide. There were no new deaths, which held at 53. Governor Phil Scott on Friday announced new guidance for the reopening of lodging establishments and cross-border travel. Lodging operations, short-term rentals, campgrounds, and marinas may accept overnight reservations for stays after May 22, 2020 from Vermont residents or those who have met the 14-day quarantine requirement.

​Vermont Business Magazine What do you get when you combine creative skate culture and the chunks and swirls of Ben & Jerry's? A partnership made in heaven, resulting in a one-of-a-kind sneaker dubbed "The Chunky Dunky." It's all part of Nike SB's Dunk Low Pro. Even to Ben & Jerry's fans, that's a mouthful. The undertaking was an initiative by the Nike SB (skateboarding) team, who was inspired to work with the iconic ice cream maker known for its fun and funky flavors, creative visual identity, and socially progressive agenda. The themed shoes feature an eye-popping and colorful Ben & Jerry's-inspired vibe, from the black and white Holstein cow pattern to the dripping Nike Swoosh logo resembling melting ice cream.

Vermont Business Magazine University of Vermont English professor Emily Bernard has been named a 2020 Andrew Carnegie Fellow by the Carnegie Corporation of New York. Recognized as one of the highest honors for faculty in the humanities and social sciences, the Carnegie Fellowship awards $200,000 to scholars to support research that addresses important and enduring issues confronting society. Bernard is one of 27 fellows selected from this year’s 322 nominations.

by Jonathon Podolsky For months now, I have watched and worked with others to engage like-minded individuals in support of the continued operation of Marlboro College with some success. Much to my amazement, many think that saving Marlboro is a lost cause--I know it is not. I was deeply involved with the Save Hampshire College movement. Why? Because I understood the importance of offering alternative educational opportunities to students interested in a smaller, more flexible learning environment.

After having been part of the effort that succeeded in changing the administration and direction of Hampshire College, giving it a strong chance for continued operation into the future, I heard about what was happening at Marlboro College.

Leonine Public Affairs Governor Phil Scott continued the cautious reopening of the state this week while extending the stay at home order that was set to expire on Friday to June 15. In the legislature the House took the first key step toward addressing the budget challenges created as a result of the COVID-19 crisis and the Senate resumed work on non-COVID-19 related bills for the first time since the pandemic hit. The governor noted on Friday that Vermont now has the lowest growth rate of COVID-19 cases in the United States.

Vermont Business Magazine The Peck Company Holdings, Inc (NASDAQ: PECK), a leading commercial solar engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) company based in South Burlington, has announced the company’s financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2020.

​Vermont Business Magazine For more than 150 years, Community Bank, NA has been dedicated to the communities it serves. From annual celebrations such as Good Neighbor Day and Random Acts of Kindness Day, where the bank gives donations of time and money to members of the community, to annual giving of more than $2.6 million in 2019, the bank continues to give back during this trying time. In April 2020, the bank donated $45,000 to local nonprofits that are continuing to serve its neighbors during this time of need.

Vermont Business Magazine For the past three years, Community Bank NA has been a proud sponsor of the EDD Adaptive Sports Dream Big 5K in Essex, Vermont. Due to restrictions, this year’s race went virtual and Community Bank was again honored to sponsor the cause.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today signed a new order — Be Smart, Stay Safe — to extend Vermont’s State of Emergency to June 15, and reflect re-openings and eased restrictions announced in recent weeks. State data and modeling indicates spread of COVID-19 continues to slow and Vermont now has one of the lowest 3-day and 7-day growth rates in the country. Governor Scott and Health Commissioner Mark Levine, MD, however, continue to caution that we must also consider neighboring states where the virus is much more prevalent and outbreaks are still occurring. As of today's VDH report, there is only one new case of COVID-19 and there have been no new deaths since May 7. As of today there are 933 cases of COVD-19 and 53 deaths. Currently there is only one person statewide in the ICU for COVID-19. There currently only three hospitalized with COVID-19.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Patrick Leahy (D), Senator Bernie Sanders (I), Representative Peter Welch (D), and Governor Phil Scott (R) Friday announced that the State of Vermont will receive $55,078,471 from the federal government to support COVID-19 testing, including $3.9 million in funding specifically to support testing at community health centers throughout the state. The funds are a part of the $25 billion for COVID-19 testing funding and strategy included in the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act. The Department of Health and Human Services will award the funding through a cooperative agreement to the Vermont Department of Health (VDH).

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today signed Addendum 14, a Be Smart, Stay Safe order to extend the State of Emergency to June 15 and update previous emergency orders to reflect re-openings and eased restrictions announced in recent weeks. State data and modeling indicate the spread of COVID-19 continues to slow and Vermont now has one of the lowest 3-day and 7-day growth rates in the country. The Governor and Department of Health Commissioner Mark Levine, MD, however, continue to caution that the state must also consider neighboring states where the virus is much more prevalent and outbreaks are still occurring.

Lawsuit Is First to Enforce Governor’s Executive Order

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General TJ Donovan today filed a civil lawsuit and motion for preliminary injunction to stop a Rutland-area fitness center from operating in violation of Governor Scott’s Executive Order and Addendums. The State of Vermont alleges that Club Fitness of Vermont and its owner, Sean Manovill, are operating a fitness center in violation of Executive Order 01-20, Addendum 4. In seeking the preliminary injunction, the state is asking the Court to shut down the facility, as required under the governor’s executive orders. The lawsuit was filed in the Civil Division of the Rutland Superior Court. The judge signed the order late Friday afternoon.