Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health reported August 31 that COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations both increased but are still considered "Low." Total cases for the week increased by 28 to 545. Hospitalizations nearly doubled to 58 after falling to 30 the previous week. The BA.5 variant has become the predominant variant of COVID-19. As of August 30, there has not been COVID-related death in 12 days and the August total is holding at 11 in Vermont, for a pandemic total of 707 (the VDH report could be updated as more data becomes available). Vermont now has the lowest COVID death rate in the nation, at 113 per 100,000 population. With the approval on September 1 of the new Omicron booster, you can no longer get the existing boosters. The new Omicron boosters are expected within the next few days.

Vermont Business Magazine Engaged in renewable natural gas (RNG) development for over a decade, Énergir is investing and continuing to pursue its injection targets to reduce his carbon footprint to benefit its customers who are intent on reducing their emissions. For this reason, it welcomes the amendment to the Regulation respecting the quantity of renewable natural gas to be delivered by a distributor. Énergir is the parent company of Green Mountain Power and Vermont Gas Systems, the only distributor of natural gas in Vermont.

Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department The hunting season for gray squirrels begins Thursday, September 1. The season runs through Saturday, December 31, according to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department. The best habitat for squirrel hunting is stands of nut-bearing trees like oak, hickory and beech. Hunters can harvest four gray squirrels per day and can have up to eight squirrels in their possession—whether in their game bag or in their freezer—at a time.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Electric Cooperative (VEC) is offering a new bill credit for members purchasing induction cooktops. The new incentive, which adds to the list of several other VEC Energy Transformation incentives, is $100 for installed induction cooktops purchased on or after September 1, 2022. Induction cooktops are an efficient electric alternative to gas cooktops.

Vermont Business Magazine After a seemingly never-ending spring of price-hikes at the pump, gas prices gas prices have declined every week of the summer and are expected to be the lowest since March 3 and 20% lower than on July 4, at $3.79 per gallon nationally. As of today in Vermont, the average price of gasoline is $4.02/g, down 14 cents since last week, down 45 cents since last month and up 96 cents since last year. The lowest price is in West Dover ($3.73) and the highest is in Northfield ($4.39).

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott announced today the appointment of Dee Barbic, a retired Vermont State Police (VSP) lieutenant, as Vermont’s first director of violence prevention. The creation of this position was included in Governor Scott’s 10-point public safety enhancement and violence prevention action plan, announced on August 17. Barbic will report directly to the Office of the Governor. Barbic will lead the Violence Prevention Taskforce (VPT), which is set to be reconstituted by executive order. The VPT will include senior executive branch officials appointed by the governor and will bring focus and clarity to a longer-term prevention strategy that prioritizes early interventions.

Barbic’s appointment is effective immediately.

Vermont Business Magazine Today is the beginning of Hunger Action Month in Vermont. The COVID-19 pandemic caused food insecurity to reach record-high levels in Vermont, and with recent inflation, Vermonters continue to struggle to keep food on the table. In recognition of September as Hunger Action Month, the Attorney General’s Office, Vermont Bar Association, and Vermont Paralegal Organization have partnered with the Vermont Foodbank to hold the sixth annual Vermont Legal Community Fighting Hunger Food Drive. This two-week fundraiser will begin on Friday, September 2, 2022, and end on Friday, September 16, 2022.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont has expanded eligibility for the hMPXV (human monkeypox virus) JYNNEOS vaccine to certain groups at higher risk of contracting the virus and has increased vaccination opportunities, but officials caution that vaccine supply is still limited at this time. hMPXV can spread to anyone through close and often skin-to-skin contact with someone who is infected. At this time, gay, bisexual, and other men or trans people who have sex with men make up a high number of early cases and might be at higher risk of coming into contact with the virus. Vermonters who identify as gay, bisexual, and other men or trans people who have sex with men, who had or expect to have more than one sexual partner are eligible for vaccination. Anyone who has had an exposure to hMPXV or possible exposure should also get vaccinated. Vermont currently has three confirmed cases of hMPXV. There are more than 18,000 cases in the United States.

Vermont State Police On August 24, correctional officers working at Southern State Correctional Facility in Springfield, VT, observed an inmate climbing a fence/gate within the facility, and slipping between the top of the gate and the razor wire. This inmate was identified as Dustin Deberville and he was taken into custody by staff members moments after staff first observed his actions. When taken into custody, Deberville was still on facility grounds with 2 more fences that he would have needed to pass in order to completely exit the facility grounds.

Vermont Business Magazine Common Good Vermont announces the launch of a government grant & contracting survey for Vermont nonprofits to better understand the experience of nonprofits who contract with or receive grants from the state or federal government. The survey will be open September 1st through September 23rd and is open to all 501(c)(3) organizations in Vermont. In Vermont, and across the country, nonprofit organizations have been increasingly called upon to provide what have been traditionally government services. In fact, nonprofits employ 1 in 7 Vermont workers, making the nonprofit sector the largest industry in the state after the government.

by Matt Dunne, Founder and Executive Director, CORI A bit of news last month left me beaming with excitement and pride. So, you’re wondering, what’s this story? It’s the first round of funding announcements from the U.S. Treasury’s State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI), which will distribute $10 billion to states to expand access to capital for small businesses around the country. Reauthorized as part of the American Rescue Plan Act pandemic relief package, SSBCI aims to generate a further $10 in private investment for every $1 in initial funding.

Vermont Business Magazine Bennington College is now accepting submissions from high school students around the world for its 2022-2023 Young Writers Awards. This annual competition, which accepts entries in poetry, fiction, and nonfiction, is free to enter and open to all high school students in 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grades. A first-, second-, and third-place winner is selected in each of the categories, with cash prizes up to $1,000 awarded. Young Writers Award finalists and winners are also eligible for undergraduate scholarships at Bennington. YWA finalists who enroll at Bennington will receive a $10,000 scholarship every year for four years, for a total of $40,000. YWA winners who enroll at Bennington will receive a $15,000 scholarship every year for four years, for a total of $60,000.