Current News

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health today is reporting 174 cases of COVID-19, up from 98 Wednesday (Tuesday 195; Monday, 48; Sunday 57, Saturday 95 and Friday 131). The 7-day case average is 140 (see modeling update below). Hospitalizations and ICU stays have fallen dramatically the last few weeks. There has been only one COVID-related death since last Friday.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) on Friday applauded the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s recent announcement that, this year, a record $740 million will be released to the National Housing Trust Fund (HTF) to build, preserve and rehabilitate affordable rental housing for low-income families – $29 million more than was allocated in 2021. The National Housing Trust Fund, which Sanders helped create in 2008, delivered $3.1 million to Vermont last year.

Vermont Business Magazine The US Senate overnight Thursday/Friday passed the comprehensive government funding bill negotiated by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Leahy has listed more than $167 million in funding for specific Vermont projects across the state that are the fiscal year 2022 Omnibus Appropriations bill, which funds the federal government for the rest of this fiscal year. Leahy has headed the arduous Senate negotiations on the Omnibus Appropriations bill for the last several months. The bill now goes to President Biden, who will sign it.

by Roxanne Vought of Weybridge, executive director of Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility Talk to any business owner today and you’ll likely hear the same refrain: they’re struggling to find workers. They’ve tried everything: raising wages, sign-on bonuses, creative recruitment strategies, and they still can’t fill their openings. Some are eliminating product lines or reducing their manufacturing runs, others are cutting back hours. How did we get here?

Vermont Business Magazine On Friday, March 11th, from 1-1:20 pm, Vermont students will join thousands of peers across the nation in what could be the largest LGBTQ+ youth led walkout in history. They are protesting the recent wave of anti-LGBTQ+ actions that queer youth advocates say will further endanger a population already at elevated risk of bullying, violence, and suicide. All students are strongly encouraged to participate, and adult supporters to stand in solidarity with youth. Outright Youth Organizers - a cohort of Vermont teens working with Outright Vermont to lead social justice initiatives in their communities - are rapidly mobilizing to support Vermont students’ participation in this national action.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Secretary of Administration Kristin Clouser today released Vermont’s revenue results for February, which showed a steep decline in personal income tax receipts. The PI is the most important General Fund revenue source. She suggested that this could be a net number reflective of early tax refunds. Overall, General Fund (-$12.5 million, -10.93%) and Transportation Fund (-$2.55 million, -13.2%) revenues were below targets for the month, while Education Fund ($2.6 million, 5.3%) revenues exceeded expectations for the month.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health today is reporting 98 cases of COVID-19 for Wednesday, down from Tuesday's 195. Hospitalizations today were 22 (up 4). The record was 122 on January 19. Health officials have focused on this as a key indicator. They had been running over 100 in early February. ICU stays, which also had been elevated and have now fallen, were 7 (up 3). The one-day record there was set December 7, 2021, (31).

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont had the lowest gender-based wage gap of any state in the United States. But still, women on average were paid $4,600 less than men. Wyoming was the highest at $21,676. When all entities were included, Puerto Rico had the lowest wage gap (statistically insignificant, but women in any case had a slightly higher wage) and Washington, DC, had the highest ($16,032). Overall, the gender gap in the US has narrowed in recent years, but disparities remain: national median earnings for civilians who worked full-time, year-round in the past 12 months was $53,544 for men compared to $43,394 for women.

Vermont Business Magazine Average gasoline prices in Vermont rose to $4.34 per gallon today, according to national tracking service GasBuddy.com. This is an increase of 52 cents from last week, 80 cents from last month and $1.63 from last year. The national average is $4.33, up 57 cents since last week, up $85 from last month and up $1.51 since last year. "We've never been in this situation before, with this level of uncertainty. As we lose a major global producer under the weight of deserving bipartisan sanctions for invading a sovereign country, the cost is high. Americans will be feeling the pain of the rise in prices for quite some time, with little good news foreseen."

Vermont Business Magazine Mission Hill Hospitality, a KSL Capital Partners portfolio company based in Denver, announced Wednesday it has acquired the Killington Mountain Lodge, Tapestry Collection by Hilton. Terms of the deal are undisclosed. This is the 15th property added to the Mission Hill Hospitality portfolio since the company was launched in March 2021. Killington Mountain Lodge is located less than one mile from the Killington Ski Area, the largest and most visited mountain in Vermont, drawing nearly 1 million visitors annually.

Vermont Business Magazine In recognition of National Consumer Protection Week, Attorney General T.J. Donovan announced the top 10 consumer complaints received by the Consumer Assistance Program (CAP) in 2021. CAP, a partnership between the Attorney General’s Office and the University of Vermont, offers a free mediation service for Vermont consumers, including small businesses. In 2021, CAP received 1,173 complaints and recovered more than $240,000 for Vermont consumers. Claiming the list’s top spots are complaints involving vehicles, retail, and home improvement, respectively – representing approximately 44 percent of all complaints filed.

Vermont Business Magazine Integrated Solar Applications (ISA) has announced a limited opportunity to join a new community solar array entitled “ISA Exit 1 Solar”. The array is located on 13.8 acres owned by the company, on Canal Street in Brattleboro, serviced by Green Mountain Power. It will provide direct access to renewable energy, enabling members to reduce their electricity bills and carbon footprint, without having to install or own a solar array on their property.