Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) today issued the following statement on the passing of longtime champion for economic and community development, Bruce Seifer: "Bruce Seifer was nothing short of a visionary when it came to economic development. From his work as my assistant director at the Community and Economic Development Office in the mayor’s office, to his efforts to redevelop Burlington’s waterfront into the beautiful recreational area it is today, to starting the highly popular South End Art Hop, Bruce understood that revitalizing spaces was about more than money.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health reported November 30 that hospitalizations fell to 38 from 41 last week, as overall COVID-19 cases fell again to 273 from 293. COVID-19 infections remain at a "Low" level for the fifth week, according to the VDH, after increasing hospitalizations had sent them to "Medium" a few weeks ago (from a low of 30). There were no COVID-related deaths last week, for 11 so far in November and a pandemic total of 770

The Vermont State Police is investigating a fatal shooting that occurred late Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022, in the town of Eden. The investigation began at about 10:20 p.m. when police received a report of shots fired at a home on Griggs Road. Responding troopers located a deceased 66-year-old man at the scene. Preliminary investigation indicates the parties involved fled the location following the shooting. No one is in custody at this time. The incident appears to be targeted, and there is no indication of a general threat to public safety.

Vermont Business Magazine The Agency of Education announced today the creation of a Family Engagement Council to advise Secretary of Education Dan French on education policy and topics of interest to parents in Vermont. The council will consist of between 10 to 15 parents, guardians and family members of students enrolled in Vermont schools. The agency is seeking applications from parents and guardians interested in being appointed to the council. The group will focus on education policy, envisioning a 21st Century education system, and discussion how education can support the future success of our students and our state.

Vermont Business Magazine The federal government has authorized the Vermont Department for Children and Families (DCF) to provide temporary food benefits to households who: Receive 3SquaresVT benefits and have children under 6 years old in the household. Benefit amounts per eligible child are: $32.31 each month in September, October, November, December and January; $33.55 each month in February, March, April, May and June; $391 lump sum summer benefit. Eligible households will receive a letter explaining the benefit, and all eligible households should have received their benefit by November 30, 2022. Approximately $4.5 million in benefits has been issued to 6,942 Vermont households for September 2021 through August 2022. This covers 9,746 children under the age of six.

Vermont Business Magazine ANR Secretary Julie Moore today announced that Commissioner Michael Snyder will be leaving his role leading the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation (FPR) at the end of this month. Commissioner Snyder was first appointed to this role by Governor Peter Shumlin in January 2011; Governor Scott extended his appointment when taking office in 2017. Prior to serving as commissioner, Snyder spent 14 years working as the Chittenden County Forester with FPR.

VermontBiz A life-long student of elite performance—with the passion and drive to help individuals and organizations maximize their potential—Tim Kight founded Focus 3 in the mid-’80s in Southern California.

Following his freshman year at Ohio State, Tim transferred to UCLA to run track. It was at UCLA that he witnessed John Wooden win his 9th and 10th national championships. This unprecedented achievement by Coach Wooden and the UCLA basketball team triggered a great curiosity in Tim as to what distinguishes elite performers from average performers, a quest he has been pursuing ever since.

Vermont Business Magazine US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Under Secretary Xochitl Torres Small today announced that USDA is accepting grant applications for the Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) program to help people in rural and tribal communities access remote education and health care resources. The DLT program helps fund real-time, interactive distance learning and telemedicine services in rural and tribal areas to increase access to education, training and health care resources that are otherwise limited or unavailable.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Financial Regulation posts this alert to remind Vermont investors to exercise extreme caution when deciding to invest in cryptocurrency. Cryptocurrencies are not functional equivalents of traditional banking, securities, or insurance investment products. There is no lender of last resort, little to no financial disclosures, and usually no insurance protection for losses arising from market fluctuations, theft, or scams. The initial filing claimed between $10 billion and $50 billion of estimated assets and liabilities. FTX operated as a cryptocurrency exchange on which many other companies depended on for, among other things, their asset deployment activities. FTX had also expressed an intent to buy the assets of other distressed cryptocurrency companies. As a result, its bankruptcy creates systemic risk to the cryptocurrency industry.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today issued the following statement following Wednesday’s major law enforcement action in Springfield: “First of all, I want to express my sincere appreciation to our law enforcement officers, including our partners in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, FBI, DEA, ATF, Homeland Security Investigations, as well as the Vermont State Police, Windsor County State’s Attorney and Springfield Police Department, for months of hard, intelligence-based investigative work that will weaken a network of criminal activity in the region. Operations like this disrupt the supply of deadly and addictive drugs, take illegal guns off the street, and hold drug dealers accountable for poisoning Vermonters for profit. They also create an opportunity to help those suffering from addiction get back on the right path through our social service systems."

Vermont Business Magazine New unemployment claims decreased by 6.6% week-over-week on November 21 amid high inflation and the threat of a recession. To help add some context to these statistics, WalletHub just released updated rankings for the States Where Unemployment Claims Are Decreasing the Most, Vermont's unemployment claims were among those states that decreased the least, but which also has the third lowest unemployment rate in the nation at 2.3 percent. Initial claims for unemployment insurance in Vermont have been edging up since the beginning of October in Vermont, from below 300 (very low) to now near 500. This is more than 200 fewer than the same time last year. In addition, the holiday season typically brings much volatility in hiring and firing in the retail sector.

Vermont Business Magazine The SHRM Vermont State Council has elected Mara Neufeld Rivera, SHRM-SCP, Head of People & Culture with Chroma Technology Corp to serve as State Council Director beginning January 2023. Mara had previously served on the council as Director-Elect and Diversity Director. Rivera succeeds Ross Gibson, Chief of Operations, Employee Benefits Division with The Richards Group, who led the Council for the past two years. Other appointments of the statewide human resources organization include Michele Granitz, Head of Benefits, Total Rewards with National Life Group as Treasurer. Returning officers are Lisa Barron, HR Director with Gifford Hospital as Secretary and Elisabeth Harris, Chief People Officer of VEIC as Membership Director.