Current News

Public Assets Institute Working parents with school-age kids struggle to find child care every summer, some coming up so short that they’re forced to work less. But the lack of child care is a year-round problem that has gotten worse since the pandemic. From September 2019 through April 2022, the number of spots for preschool and school-age children dropped by nearly 7.5 percent—more than 1,800 spots, about half in licensed centers and half through registered home providers.

Vermont Business Magazine Burton Snowboards is partnering with The Venture Out Project to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community this month, and beyond. Now through July 1, 2022, Burton’s “Design Your Pride” initiative will call on LGBTQ+ artists from across the globe to submit a piece of their work (any medium) for the snowboarding brand’s first-ever Pride Collection that will launch in 2023. One artist will be selected to collaborate with the team at Burton HQ in Burlington, VT, where they will implement their design and oversee the production from start to finish.

Vermont Teddy Bear Company Partners With Outright Vermont

Vermont Business Magazine As of June 1st, Vermont Mittens – a sister brand of the Vermont Teddy Bear Company – proudly announces a partnership with Outright Vermont – an outstanding organization that helps LGBTQIA+ youth find connection, validation, and celebration while strengthening families and transforming the schools, systems, and communities with which youth engage. For every pair of mittens sold, a portion of proceeds will be donated to Outright Vermont, so all young people have hope, equity, and power.

Vermont Business Magazine This weekly report by the Vermont Agency of Transportation is a list of planned construction activities that will have traffic impacts on state highways throughout Vermont starting on June 20. Please remember to drive safely in all work zones. Lives depend on it.

Vermont Business Magazine The calming nature photography of Carol Langstaff of Sharon, VT, and the vibrant mural work of Kathryn Wiegers of Rutland, VT, will help to create a welcoming and tranquil environment when their publicly commissioned artwork is installed at the new Vermont Department of Mental Health Recovery Residence in Essex. The commission is part of the Art in State Buildings Program, a partnership between the Vermont Arts Council and the Vermont Department of Buildings and General Services.

Vermont Business Magazine Phil Scott to run for reelection, Personal income tax blows past projections by over $117 million in April, House Fails to Override Governor's Veto of Clean Heat Measure, Vermont’s unemployment rate decreased to 2.5 percent in April, Burlington Electric Department outlines 3.95 percent FY 2023 rate hike, Legislators issue resounding override of pension veto, more.

Vermont Business Magazine As temperatures start to climb, more people are visiting Vermont’s lakes, rivers and swimming holes. And with mixed weather in the forecast, state health officials are reminding everyone that when in and around these natural waters – especially swimming holes – it is important to take precautions, check the weather and be aware of the conditions. Tragically, each year there is at least one accidental drowning at a swim hole or other recreational water spot.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, the Vermont Department of Labor reported that the seasonally-adjusted statewide unemployment rate for May was 2.3 percent, according to household data. This reflects a decrease of two-tenths of one percentage point from the prior month’s revised estimate. The civilian labor force participation rate rose to 61.5 percent in May, as all three major metrics showed improvement. The labor force increased, the number of employed grew and the number of unemployed fell. The comparable United States rate in May was 3.6 percent, which experienced no change from the revised April estimate.

Vermont Business Magazine Mass. Bay Brewing Company (parent company of Harpoon Brewery) announced today that it has reached an agreement in principle to acquire Long Trail Brewing Company, producers of award-winning hand-crafted ales under the Long Trail, Otter Creek, and Shed brands. As part of the agreement, Mass. Bay Brewing Company will continue to operate the Long Trail facility in Bridgewater Corners, but will begin brewing Long Trail, Otter Creek and Shed beers in its own brewery in Windsor. WhistlePig Whiskey, based in Shoreham, will assume ownership of the Otter Creek and Shed brewery in Middlebury. After a transition period, WhistlePig will convert production capabilities to bottling and distilling and continue to use the extensive brewing capabilities in Middlebury.

Vermont Business Magazine The University of Vermont Health Network is proud to participate in the City of Burlington’s Juneteenth celebrations, and encourages our patients, families, staff and community to join us. Juneteenth is a commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States. The UVM Health Network will also have an outreach table at Battery Park for anyone who wants to learn more about health sciences education and careers in health care. The Black Experience 2022 (BX22) is a free holistic celebration of Vermont’s Black lived experience (cultural, communal, educational), and a welcomed new addition to Burlington’s Juneteenth celebration. The event, on Saturday June 18th from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., will be headlined by a panel discussion with iconic Black activist, educator, and author, Angela Davis.

Vermont State Police At about 3:30 p.m. Thursday, search crews located Donald Gurney in a wooded area near Knapp Pond in Cavendish. He was dehydrated but otherwise appeared to be in fair condition. Crews placed Mr. Gurney on a litter and carried him from the woods, where he was checked by medical personnel and then transported by ambulance to Springfield Hospital. Mr. Gurney was located about 1.5 miles from Parker Hill Road in Cavendish, where crews had previously located his truck. Investigators believe Mr. Gurney was out for a drive when he became disoriented, ultimately parking his vehicle on Parker Hill Road and setting off on foot before being reported missing early Tuesday morning, June 14.

Vermont Business Magazine As officials announced last month, Vermont’s state-run COVID-19 testing sites will close by June 25. The closure of statewide testing sites signals that the tools available to prevent COVID-19 have grown and evolved. The state opened its first test sites in the spring of 2020 as part of the emergency response to slow the spread of a novel coronavirus. These sites, which grew statewide and included a network of partners, relied on PCR testing, where samples are taken from patients by health care personnel and sent to a lab. State sites began offering rapid, take-home tests at the end of 2021, as the highly transmissible Omicron variant led to a surge in cases.