Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Manufacturing Extension Center (VMEC) has announced the results of its December 9, 2021 annual election of VMEC Advisory Board members. Newly elected to the VMEC Advisory Board for two-year terms were Janette Bombardier, PE, Chief Technology Officer and Chief Operating Officer, Chroma Technology/ 89 North (Bellows Falls) and Gina Akley, President, Trow & Holden (Barre).

by Jeff Tieman, President & CEO VAHHS As we close the door on 2021 and look to the new year, here’s what I sadly cannot tell you—that COVID will be gone and life will return to how it was in January of 2020. We are never going back. COVID is here to stay in one form or another.

by John McClaughry The Department of Public Service has just released its 2022 Comprehensive Energy Plan (CEP). Aside from the “stakeholders”, it’s probably fair to say that very few Vermonters - and very few of their legislators – will be able to penetrate the CEP’s acronym-ridden complexities. Like the Vermont Climate Council’s Climate Action Plan, the CEP is determined to drive down 80 percent of today’s level of carbon dioxide emissions by persuading, subsidizing, or forcing Vermonters to use much less – or no - fossil fuel for electricity, vehicles and heating, until by 2050 90percent of all energy use qualifies as renewable.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), Governor Phil Scott, and Senate President Pro Tempore Becca Balint came together Monday to discuss Vermont’s nursing workforce crisis. Estimates suggest that Vermont needs to add approximately 9,000 nurses to the state’s workforce in the next seven years. However, Vermont’s nursing schools are currently only able to graduate between 500 and 600 nurses each year – less than half of the number needed to keep up with retirements and those leaving the workforce.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Corrections detected an incarcerated case of COVID-19 during intake quarantine at Northwest State Correctional Facility (NWSCF) in St Albans. Vermont DOC conducted the test on January 1, with results returned January 3. This is the first positive incarcerated case detected at the Franklin County facility since December 14; that case was also found through intake quarantine testing. There are currently three positive incarcerated cases throughout the state’s facilities.

Vermont Business Magazine Community Bank System, Inc (NYSE: CBU) announced today the appointment of Matthew K Durkee as Senior Vice President and New England President of Community Bank, NA. Durkee will join Community Bank, NA’s team in Vermont and will be based at its New England headquarters located in Williston.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott issued the following statement on the FDA’s announcement that children 12-15 years old are eligible for a Pfizer booster shot: “Today’s news that the FDA has approved booster shots for 12–15-year-olds is another important step forward. With cases expected to increase across the country over the coming weeks, the best way to keep Vermonters who are most vulnerable to severe illness out of the hospital is through vaccination and booster shots. Expanding eligibility for boosters will have an important impact and reduce disruptions."

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health today reported 245 cases of COVID-19 on Sunday. The VDH did not report cases over the New Year's holiday. On Thursday, December 30, it reported a record 1,471 cases. Cases on Friday were 577, on Saturday 473 and Sunday 245. The record for cases was broken three times last week. Over the New Year's break, the VDH also reported there were nine total COVID-related fatalities for a statewide total of now 480.

Vermont Business Magazine United Van Lines released the company’s 45th Annual National Movers Study today, which indicates Americans were on the move to lower-density areas and to be closer to their families throughout last year. The annual study, which tracks the company’s exclusive data for customers’ state-to-state migration patterns, determined Vermont as the state with the highest percentage of inbound migration (74%) with United Van Lines. Topping the list of outbound locations was New Jersey (71%), which has held the spot for the past four years. Additionally, Burlington earned a spot in the top 25 inbound metropolitan statistical areas with 66% inbound.

Vermont Business Magazine Migration to southern states continues to be magnified by the lingering pandemic, and no state netted more U-Haul customers during the last year than Texas. However, Vermont rose from 26 to 12 and Maine jumped from 29 to 8. The Lone Star State earned bragging rights as the leading growth state of 2021, narrowly besting Florida for tops honors, according to transactional data compiled for the annual U-Haul Growth Index.

The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food, & Markets has received funding from the Northern Border Regional Commission to expand market access and capacity for Vermont’s nonprofit food hubs through critical infrastructure investments. We are pleased to award $300,000 through a competitive grant process, aimed at helping food hubs support more farm and food businesses, expand their workforce, and advance their ongoing efforts to access larger metropolitan markets.