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Public Assets Institute Workers were ready for change last fall. About 13,000 Vermonters quit their jobs in November—an all-time high and more than double the pre-pandemic monthly average. We don’t know why: Vermont data don’t tell us how many left the workforce altogether and how many took new jobs. In either case workers were in high demand, with more than 23,000 unfilled jobs in November. National data and reporting show that many workers are leaving for jobs with better pay, better hours, or perhaps less COVID-19 risk. Voluntary leaves were highest among workers in restaurants and hotels, both public-facing, low-paying sectors.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health today is reporting 420 cases of COVID-19 for Monday. Cases the last week were down 27 percent and for the last two weeks were down 37 percent. There were two additional deaths reported for 523. While Vermont was slower to get the Omicron variant than the rest of the Northeast, it is showing a similar trend with a spike followed by a decrease in cases.

Vermont Business Magazine The Federal Emergency Management Agency will be sending more than $1.6 million to the State of Vermont to reimburse the costs of providing emergency meals for residents in need during the COVID-19 pandemic. The $1,613,025 Public Assistance grant will go to the Agency of Commerce and Community Development for providing meal preparation and delivery service to high-risk populations under the the state’s emergency feeding program “Vermont Everyone Eats” between October and November 2021.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Labor today reported that the state’s unemployment rate fell another tenth to 2.5 percent for December 2021. However, there was very little change in the major metrics from November: The labor force was down a little, as was the number of unemployed and the number of employed was up a smidgen. The numbers are much stronger when compared to a year ago, when the jobless rate was a full-point higher. The comparable United States rate in December was 3.9 percent, which was a decrease of three-tenths of one percentage point from the revised November estimate. Vermont is tied for fifth lowest. Nebraska is lowest at 1.7 percent and California is highest at 6.5 percent.

Vermont Business Magazine OVR Technology, a leader in multisensory VR/AR, has won the AUREA Award for Excellence in Impact in augmented, virtual or mixed reality. Started in 2018, the AUREA Awards are an industry-leading event honoring the world's best innovations that demonstrate the potential of this sector for technology and immersive entertainment. OVR Technology was one of 10 selected finalists. Jury members included thought leaders Cathy Hackl, Athena Demos, Kathleen Cohen, Frank Govaere, and Thomas Wagner. Award categories included innovation, creative, experience, impact, and interaction.

Vermont Business Magazine Southwestern Vermont Health Care’s (SVHC) Medical Matters Weekly with Dr. Trey Dobson welcomes Lorna Mattern at noon on January 26. Mattern is the executive director of United Counseling Service (UCS) in Bennington.

The show is produced with cooperation from Catamount Access Television (CAT-TV). Viewers can see Medical Matters Weekly on facebook.com/svmedicalcenter and facebook.com/CATTVBennington. The show is also available to view or download a podcast on www.svhealthcare.org/medicalmatters.

Vermont Business Magazine State Auditor Doug Hoffer released a new investigative report examining the quality and usefulness of the Vermont Annual Outcomes Report, which is designed to tell policy makers and the public whether state government is doing a good job serving all Vermonters. His report suggests it is not. "The magnitude of the issues that surfaced in our analysis ranged from fundamental to technical; they all pointed to the need to reassess whether the Outcomes Report is serving its purpose."

Pfizer vaccine available for those 5 to 11 years old

Vermont Business Magazine Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC) will host a special children’s COVID-19 vaccination clinic for 5 to 11 year olds 1 – 5 p.m. Friday, January 28 at its COVID Resource Center, the gymnasium on the former Southern Vermont College campus at 982 Mansion Drive in Bennington. No appointment is needed and walk-ins are welcome.

by John McClaughry Some years ago, faced with the many competing spending demands before the Senate, I would say “all this state needs is a diamond mine”. That is, with an inexhaustible supply of dollars in the till, all worthwhile projects and programs could be funded - and a quite a few that weren’t worthwhile – without laying higher taxes on our voters.

Last week in his budget message Governor Scott announced that, in effect, Vermont has at last found its diamond mine. It arrived in the form of half a billion in unspent American Rescue Plan funds, plus another $2.2 billion in the Congressional infrastructure bill. In addition, despite COVID, our own tax base has produced a $320 million surplus across the three major funds.

​Vermont Business Magazine PCV applauds the Vermont Senate’s vote to approve Senate Bill 74, which updates and improves Vermont’s Act 39, the state’s Patient Choice at End of Life Law. Act 39 gives adult Vermonters who are terminally ill and who can make their own decisions, the option to receive self-administered medical aid in dying in order to bring about a peaceful death, if and when the patient chooses. Participation in the law is completely voluntary. Vermont is among eleven states that have similar laws providing end-of-life choice for the 22% of Americans.

Vermont Business Magazine Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC) Foundation Northshire Regional Advisory Board welcomes two new members: Regina Downer and Parker Rice. “We are delighted to have Regina and Parker join our family of compassionate volunteers,” said Northshire Regional Advisory Board Chair Keith Michl, MD. “Each of them has all of the qualities we look for in a member of the Regional Advisory Boards, most importantly, a deep commitment to this community.”

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health today is reporting 525 of COVID-19 for Sunday (1,004 on Saturday; 1,516 cases on Friday; 1,766 Thursday, 1,115 Wednesday; 1,344 Tuesday and 715 Monday). There were seven additional deaths reported for 521, including one in the 40-49 age band. There were 49 COVID-19 related fatalities in Vermont in September 2021, and 47 deaths in October, which had been the second- and third-worst months on record (December 2020, 71). There were 42 fatalities in November, 62 in December, and 41 so far in January 2022.