Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced that parents and caregivers of Vermont’s K-12 children will be able to pick up one free rapid antigen test kit per student this week at sites around Vermont. The state is encouraging parents to use these kits to test kids before they return to school next week, but a test is not a requirement for returning to school. Families with children in kindergarten through grade 12 will be able to pick up one kit per child at one of 51 Agency of Transportation sites around the state on Thursday, December 30 or Friday, December 31.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health on Wednesday reported a record 940 COVID-19 cases. The previous record was 739 cases set on December 9. The state expected a surge in cases for the holidays, driven by the new Omicron variant.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, Democratic Candidate for Congress Molly Gray announced her first campaign hires and key advisors. Samantha Sheehan will serve as Campaign Manager and Liz Brown will serve as Deputy Campaign Manager. Owen Milne will serve as Finance Chair, and Dr. Sefakor G.M.A. Komabu-Pomeyie joins the team as a Special Advisor to the campaign on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

“Our campaign has continued to build strength and momentum,” said Gray, “that is in large part thanks to the hard work of this incredible team. I’m so proud to introduce this talented group of Vermonters who are committed to using their skills and experience to build a brighter future for our state. Together, we’ll build a bold and inclusive campaign that reaches every corner of Vermont.”

Vermont Business Magazine Casella Waste Systems, Inc (NASDAQ: CWST), a regional solid waste, recycling and resource management services company based in Rutland, announced that on December 22, 2021, it entered into a $650 million Amended and Restated Credit Agreement with Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent and swing line lender, Bank of America, N.A., Citizens Bank, N.A., JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. and Comerica Bank as joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners, and certain other agents and lenders (the “Credit Facility”). The Credit Facility matures on December 22, 2026, and replaces Casella’s prior $550 million credit facility.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Corrections detected a new incarcerated individual case of COVID-19 during intake quarantine at Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility (CRCF) in South Burlington. Vermont DOC conducted the test on December 25, with results returned December 27. Vermont’s unified system – in which detainees and sentenced individuals are housed in the same facilities – necessitates protocol that new entries from the community be cleared of COVID-19 prior to entering general population. All new entries from the community are held in intake quarantine pending three COVID tests on days 0, 7, and 12. The individual must also be clear of symptoms.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health on Tuesday reported 416 COVID-19 cases. The state expects a surge in cases for the holidays, driven by the new Omicron variant. The VDH also reported on Tuesday four additional deaths for 465 statewide. Vermont has yet to see a surge from Omicron that has already hit New England the rest of the US.

Vermont Business Magazine Nothing is more important to GlobalFoundries Inc (GF) than the safety and well-being of our worldwide team, their families and communities. Just as our feature-rich semiconductor chips enable technological innovation, as a company we aim to be a catalyst for driving positive social impact at home and around the world. GF is pleased to share that on behalf of our generous Fab 9 employees, GF has donated a total of $25,000 to the Vermont Foodbank. This joyful outcome was a result of our GlobalFoundries GlobalGives Holiday Gift Campaign.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health on Monday reported a relatively low 239 COVID-19 cases. The state expects a surge in cases for the holidays, driven by the new Omicron variant. Cases over the Christmas break were low and the positivity rate was relatively high as testing was low. Case counts were also relatively low over the holiday.

Vermont Business Magazine The Radiology Department at Mt Ascutney Hospital and Health Center (MAHHC) has received American College of Radiology (ACR) designation as a Lung Cancer Screening Center. The designation makes MAHHC Radiology notable “as a provider of safe, effective diagnostic care for those considered at high risk of lung cancer,” according to ACR. MAHHC is one of only three sites with this designation in a 25-mile radius, and one of nine within 50 miles.

by Olga Peters, Vermont Business Magazine The Northeast Kingdom is open for business. In many ways, it never closed, despite a global pandemic. Economic development projects have continued across the region, new businesses have opened in Newport and St. Johnsbury, and home sales have remained steady. The pandemic has yet to finish with Vermont. The NEK has experienced some of the highest rates of new COVID infections in the state, according to the state Department of Health’s COVID-19 dashboard. In October, a quarter of new COVID cases recorded in Vermont were in Orleans County despite making up only four percent of the state’s population.

by Olga Peters, Vermont Business Magazine “It was a wonderful summer,” said Kingdom Trails Executive Director Abigail Long. With state travel restrictions lifted, more neighbors from New Hampshire, New York, and Maine returned to use more than 100 miles of trails open to non-motorized activities, she said.

​by Olga Peters, Vermont Business Magazine Shawn Tester feels like the Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital in St Johnsbury avoided the worst of 2020 only to be slammed this year with COVID cases. The 25-bed hospital had eight COVID-positive patients the evening Tester, the Chief Executive Officer, spoke with Vermont Business Magazine.