Current News

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health on Wednesday reported 404 cases of COVID-19 (up 104 from yesterday). Hospitalizations, which have been increasing, broke its record today with 92 statewide, one more than the previous record set just Tuesday. ICU stays also are elevated at 28, three short of yesterday's 31, which is the record high. The VDH also today reported six additional COVID-related deaths, which stand at 425 statewide. This more than doubled the number of deaths in December, which are now 11.

Vermont Business Magazine US Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) Wednesday announced changes made by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to the dairy safety net program that will benefit Vermont’s small dairy farms. As it opens enrollment of the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program for 2022, changes to the program sought by Leahy will deliver additional payments to Vermont producers. A change in how feed costs are calculated will mean an additional $3.1 million in retroactive payments will be distributed to Vermont farmers who were enrolled in DMC in 2020 and 2021.

Vermont Business Magazine Evernorth, RuralEdge, New Depot Square Commercial Properties, LLC, funders, elected officials and community members were among those that celebrated the much-anticipated re-opening of New Avenue that is already bringing new life and vitality to downtown St. Johnsbury. Originally constructed in 1897 as the “New Avenue House,” the building was one of the grandest hotels of its day. The hotel stopped operating in 1970 and the upper floors were converted into apartments while the street level floor was converted to commercial space, all of which suffered from years of neglect thereafter.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced that he has appointed Kristin Clouser as secretary of the Agency of Administration and Douglas Farnham as deputy secretary. Clouser served as deputy secretary since November 2020, before being named interim secretary last month, following the retirement of Secretary Susanne Young. Farnham currently serves as chief operational officer of the Agency.

Vermont Business Magazine The Attorney General’s Consumer Assistance Program (CAP) today released a video and toolkit alerting Vermonters of the dangers of imposter romance scams—a scam involving the formation of a relationship or friendship followed by requests for “financial help.” Imposter scams continue to be among the top scams reported by Vermonters to CAP. In 2020, “phony relationships” were the fifth most reported scam, resulting in a total loss of $349,166. Today’s video and toolkit are the first to be released in a three-part series on imposter scams.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott has been invited by President Joe Biden to virtually address the Summit for Democracy being held December 9-10. The Summit, hosted by the President, will bring together world leaders, heads of state, advocates for human rights and democratic values, and others to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing democracies in the 21st Century.

Vermont Business Magazine Burlington voters on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved the $20 million Net Zero Energy Revenue Bond for Burlington Electric Department with 70% of voters supporting the ballot measure. Largely cost neutral to ratepayers, the Net Zero Energy Revenue Bond will allow Burlington Electric Department to continue and expand the Green Stimulus incentives that have helped hundreds of Burlingtonians switch from fossil fuel-burning cars and furnaces to electric vehicles (EVs) and cold-climate heat pumps. The bond also will support grid updates for reliability, technology systems to better serve customers, and new EV charging stations.

Vermont Business Magazine As Ulysses "Junior" Bridgeman approached the end of a solid 12-year NBA career in 1987 and pondered life as a restaurant franchisee, he wondered whether there was a secret that separated the business success enjoyed by team owners from the athletic success of the players who worked for them. He came to realize the answer was no, and that the secret of success in business and athletics wasn't really a secret at all.

Vermont Business Magazine The program, funded using federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, will invest a total of $5 million into the state’s aging housing stock. VHIP will provide grants of up to $30,000 per unit with a 20% funding match required to bring code non-compliant units back into habitability. This round of grants is dedicated to units serving renters who are exiting homelessness.

Vermont Business Magazine The federally-funded Talent Search program, which has made great strides connecting modest income Vermont high school students with opportunities for college and training, has received a six-year funding extension, according to the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation (VSAC), which has administered the grant program since 1969. The six-year, $2.6 million grant will allow VSAC to continue its work in 46 middle and high schools across the state. Each year, VSAC Talent Search counselors work with approximately 1,000 Vermont students, supporting them in areas such as study skills, career exploration, the college research and application processes, and selection of high school courses that will best prepare them for their post-secondary track.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott and Department of Financial Regulation Commissioner Michael Pieciak today announced an emergency regulation issued by the Vermont Department of Financial Regulation requiring health insurers to cover the costs of COVID-19 antigen at-home tests. The rule covers approximately 140,000 Vermonters who purchase commercial insurance in Vermont’s individual, small and large group markets as well as the Vermont Education Health Initiative. The emergency rule requires health insurers to cover the retail purchase of most FDA-authorized COVID-19 antigen tests without cost-sharing for home use.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health on Tuesday reported 300 cases of COVID-19 (up 54 from Monday). On Sunday the VDH reported a record 643 cases. On Saturday, the VDH reported 539 cases of COVID-19, which had been the third highest total since the start of the pandemic. There were 482 cases of COVID-19 Friday. The previous record was 635 on December 1.