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Vermont Business Magazine Recovering from this week’s flooding event will be a challenge for many Vermonters across the state. Cleaning up and disposing of items damaged by floodwaters is yet another painstaking task. Unfortunately, along with the damaged belongings from your home or business lurks hazardous items, such as paint, chemicals, oil, gas, pesticides, caustic cleaners, and other materials.

Vermont Business Magazine Casella Waste Systems, Inc (Nasdaq: CWST), one of the largest recyclers and most experienced fully integrated resource management companies in the Eastern United States, recently honored six of its customers for their leadership in sustainability as part of Casella’s annual Sustainability Leadership Awards. The Casella Sustainability Leadership Awards represent innovation and commitment to creating a better tomorrow by showcasing each recipients’ sustainable material management practices. Recipients were selected from a range of segments, including municipalities, colleges and universities, industrial manufacturers, food and beverage producers, and more.

Vermont Business Magazine Champlain College Online has launched four new career-focused online programs available to students, expanding its existing catalog of more than 80 undergraduate and graduate degrees and certificates. The new Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programs are designed to empower students to accomplish their career goals in innovative and accessible ways.  

Vermont Business Magazine ATTOM, a leading curator of land, property, and real estate data, has released its Midyear 2023 US Foreclosure Market Report, which shows there were a total of 185,580 U.S. properties with foreclosure filings — default notices, scheduled auctions or bank repossessions — in the first six months of 2023. That figure is up 13 percent from the same time period a year ago and up 185 percent from the same time period two years ago. Vermont ranks 49th in the nation at 0.02% foreclosure rate per housing unit, only South Dakota is lower. The US average is 0.13%. However, Vermont has seen a rise in foreclosures over the last six months, with an increase of 61.3% (US average 12.76%).

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott has made a formal request to President Joseph R Biden for federal disaster funds to assist individuals and communities recover from the historic flood from July 7-12, 2023. The Major Disaster Declaration would provide relief to individuals and communities. The declaration request asks for funding under the federal Public Assistance (PA) and Individual Assistance (IA) programs. A Public Assistance disaster declaration, if approved, would allow communities in declared counties to receive at least 75% reimbursement for storm response and recovery, including repairs to public infrastructure.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today signed an addendum to his Emergency Declaration (Executive Order 03-23), which directs state agencies and departments to provide specific and temporary regulatory relief to expedite the state’s response to damage resulting from the severe storms continuing to impact the state.

Vermont Business Magazine As a result of the widespread flooding across Vermont, many municipal wastewater treatment plants and private septic systems have become inundated with high flows of water and wastewater resulting in partially treated or untreated discharges of sewage into the environment. As a result, rivers and flood waters could contain pathogens such as viruses and bacteria that may cause illness. Though these areas may not be posted with notices to avoid contact, recreation, wading, boating, swimming, or fishing should be avoided for several days until flows return to normal levels.

Vermont Business Magazine On behalf of the Rutland City Police Department, the Vermont State Police is sharing the following information about the funeral for Officer Jessica Ebbighausen, who was killed in a vehicle crash with a fleeing suspect last week. The public will have two opportunities next week to pay their respects to Officer Ebbighausen, who was hired as a patrol officer with the Rutland City Police Department on May 25, 2023: Monday, July 17 and Tuesday, July 18.

Vermont Business Magazine As the State of Vermont continues its floodwater response and recovery efforts, the Department of Health is urging people to know how to keep healthy and safe outside and when returning to flooded homes. If you’re in a flooded area and get your water from a well or spring, assume your water is contaminated. Private water systems exposed to flood water can become contaminated with bacteria, microorganisms and other pollutants from sewage, heating oil, agricultural or industrial waste, chemicals, and other substances that can cause serious illness. Do not use well water for drinking, cooking, baby formula, washing food or brushing teeth until you have it tested.

Vermont Business Magazine In light of serious allegations of misconduct leveled against architect David Adjaye, Shelburne Museum will no longer be engaging him or his firm, Adjaye Associates, as design architect of a building planned to house the Museum’s collection of Native American art. The accusations were reported in the media earlier this month prompting Adjaye to voluntarily withdraw from many of the firm’s projects and to resign from several advisory positions.

by Sergeant Denis Nunez, Vermont National Guard The Vermont National Guard Soldiers’ quick reaction force worked with North Carolina and Massachusetts urban search and rescue teams to rescue and relocate 27 people and their pets in Cambridge. U.S. Army 1st Lt. Paul Pennoyer and Staff Sgt. Neils Huisman, Vermont National Guard, used Light Medium Tactical Vehicles to aid flood-affected residents; their efforts resulted in the successful rescue and relocation to safer areas away from the flood zone.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) addressed the Senate floor yesterday on the urgent need to deliver federal support to Vermonters recovering from severe storms that produced up to 9 inches of rain in some parts of the state and caused catastrophic flooding in many communities. In his remarks, Senator Welch described the damage he saw on a tour of the state yesterday with FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Congresswoman Becca Balint (D-VT).