Current News

The Homeowner Assistance Program will award grants of up to $30,000 towards a variety of overdue housing payments

Devon Green, VP Government Relations, VAHHS At the State House, the House went hybrid last week. Even though witnesses remain remote, it was oddly comforting to see those tiny committee rooms on YouTube. I don’t know if we’ll ever want to cram into those spaces in the same way again, but I hope the legislature maintains some COVID practices, like allowing an emergency department physician from Brattleboro to testify over Zoom. Governor Scott also unveiled his FY 2023 budget with a focus on one-time funding as a lasting investment in areas like broadband, housing and workforce. While the governor and the legislature seem aligned on these broad goals for Vermont, we will have to see what emerges as they dig into the details in the upcoming weeks.

The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food, & Markets (VAAFM) announces $500,000 in grant funds to strengthen Vermont’s specialty crop industries and producer associations. Two funding opportunities are available: 2022 Vermont Specialty Crop Block Grant Program: Grant funds will enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops by leveraging efforts to market and promote specialty crops, assisting producers with research and development, expanding availability and access to specialty crops, or addressing local, regional, and national challenges for producers. Specialty Crop Producer Association Grant: This grant opportunity will support producer associations that serve specialty crop businesses.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health today is reporting 1,004 of COVID-19 for Friday (1,516 cases on Friday; 1,766 Thursday, 1,115 Wednesday; 1,344 Tuesday and 715 Monday). There were no additional deaths Friday or Saturday. The record daily high of COVID-19 cases was set January 7, with 2,975. Case rates appear to be declining in Vermont and in the Northeast. Hospitalizations today were 104 (down seven from yesterday). The record was 122 on January 19. ICU stays, which also had been elevated, were 22 (down three).

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health today is reporting 1,516 cases of COVID-19 for Friday (1,766 Thursday, 1,115 Wednesday; 1,344 Tuesday and 715 Monday). There were no additional deaths Friday. As of Thursday, COVID-related deaths increased seven to 514, which makes for 21 fatalities in the last week.

Leonine Public Affairs The Vermont Legislature convened in person this week for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Sort of… The House of Representatives returned to the State House for a hybrid in-person/remote format after almost two years of Zoom legislating. In some ways it was like little had changed, with lawmakers and staff roaming around the building, meeting in committee rooms and talking in the cafeteria. But for the most part the pandemic’s impact on safety and social protocols was evident. The Senate remained remote.

​Vermont Business Magazine This Sunday, the physicians and nurses of Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC) OB/GYN and the nurses of SVMC Women’s and Children’s Services will celebrate Maternal Health Awareness Day, which is observed every year on January 23. The aim is to raise awareness of issues that have led to increased rates of maternal mortality and launch two major projects focused on addressing the issue of maternal mortality locally.

Intake quarantine testing returns positive cases at two additional facilities

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Corrections is announcing 10 incarcerated individuals tested positive for COVID-19 at the Northeast Correctional Complex (NECC) in St. Johnsbury during testing conducted January 20. Nine of the incarcerated individuals reside in the work camp building where the outbreak was first detected on January 8. The tenth case was detected in general population at the facility’s second building.

Vermont Business Magazine Hopzilla, a legendary double IPA from Lawson’s Finest Liquids, is making its debut for the first time outside the state of Vermont beginning this week. The brew, made with monstrous quantities of high-alpha US-grown hops, is available through the end of February at retailers across Lawson’s Finest’s full nine-state distribution area. Notorious for its fiercely delicious bite and brawny character, the craft beer is known to delight fans’ taste buds, with a punch of hop flavor and enough malt backbone to offset its mighty beginnings. First brewed in 2009, this monster of an India Pale Ale has patiently awaited an opportunity to make itself known across the Northeast.

Vermont Business Magazine Applications are being accepted to compete to become the next Miss Vermont and Miss Vermont’s Outstanding Teen. The competition will be held on Sunday, April 24^th, 2022 at the Chandler Center for the Arts in Randolph, VT. The program is an official preliminary in the Miss America Organization.

Miss Vermont and Miss Vermont’s Outstanding Teen 2022 will receive scholarship packages, represent the state at the Miss America and Miss America’s Outstanding Teen competitions and spend the year making appearances throughout Vermont.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health today is reporting 1,766 cases of COVID-19 for Thursday (1,115 Wednesday; 1,344 Tuesday and 715 Monday). As of Thursday, COVID-related deaths increased seven to 514, which makes for 21 fatalities in the last week.