Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The University of Vermont Medical Center is adjusting its visitation policy to reflect current COVID-19 conditions in the area and protect the health and safety of patients, staff and the community. This new policy will go into effect on Wednesday, December 8. The following policies apply to everyone entering UVM Medical Center: Masks must be worn at all times when in the building, this includes visitors who are sleeping while staying overnight. Inpatient waiting rooms are now closed. UVMMC will allow a maximum of 2 designated support people to visit per hospital stay. For adult inpatient units: Two healthy designated support people are permitted per hospital stay. Only 1 may visit per day. No visitors are permitted if patient is COVID+ or PUI unless in end of life care. Every effort will be made to facilitate remote visitation.

Vermont Business Magazine United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Under Secretary for Rural Development Xochitl Torres Small today announced the Department is investing $15 million to reduce the impacts of climate change on rural communities in New Hampshire and Vermont. With the enactment of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and as part of the broader Build Back Better agenda, the Biden-Harris Administration has made investing in rural communities, creating good-paying jobs and combatting the climate crisis top priorities.

Vermont Business Magazine Today the Champlain Housing Trust announced the organization received a $500,000 grant from NeighborWorks America to support its signature shared equity homeownership program. The grant, just one of two made nationwide, will support Champlain Housing Trust’s efforts to expand affordable homeownership opportunity to 40 households and keep those homes affordable for subsequent buyers over time. The program was recognized with a United Nations World Habitat Award for its ingenuity and sustainability, and was recently featured in TIME Magazine, and has delivered on its promise of many benefits.

Vermont Business Magazine Well-documented natural gas pipeline constraints, coupled with global supply chain issues related to deliveries of oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG), are placing New England’s power system at heightened risk heading into the winter season, according to ISO New England Inc., operator of the region’s power grid. The ISO expects to have the resources needed to meet consumer demand if the winter is mild, but a severe prolonged cold snap could necessitate emergency actions if power-producing resources lack access to the fuel they need to operate. NOAA is expecting a warmer than average winter. ISO New England anticipates demand for electricity will peak at 19,710 megawatts (MW) during average winter weather conditions of 10°F, and 20,349 MW if temperatures reach below average conditions of 5°F. These projections are both about 2 percent lower than last year’s forecasts.

Vermont Business Magazine Burlington School District (BSD) invites students, staff, family members, and members of the greater Burlington community to apply to be a member of BSD’s LGBTQ+ Task Force. The group will meet biweekly beginning in January 2022 to better understand the District’s strengths and areas for improvement in supporting the LGBTQ+ community, and create and implement a set of recommendations that will inform actions in the District’s new strategic plan. Applications to join the Task Force are being accepted now.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, Lieutenant Governor Molly Gray (D) announced her campaign to represent Vermont in the US House of Representatives. Congressman Peter Welch (D) previously announced he would seek the US Senate seat of retiring Patrick Leahy (D). Gray is the first declared candidate for the state's lone seat in the House.

Vermont Agency of Agriculture Food & Markets The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets hosts the Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-DBIC), which serves dairy businesses in the ten-state Northeast region. We are excited to announce the center's third round of funding through the USDA Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives (DBII) program. This $6,133,333 award allows the NE-DBIC to keep investing in catalytic projects that advance community- and climate-forward dairy production across the region and right here in Vermont.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health on Sunday reported that the state set another one-day record for COVID-19 cases with 643. Case counts were especially high in Rutland County, with 97, and Windsor County, with 80. 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.

Senator Patrick Leahy “Bob Dole was a giant of the Senate. I remember the large number of Republican and Democratic Senators gathering on the Floor to praise him when he stepped down from the Senate. Traveling with him, working with him and writing legislation with him are among my fondest memories of the Senate. Marcelle and I were honored to be with him when he received the Congressional Gold Medal and I was humbled to be asked to speak along with Senator Pat Roberts about Senator Dole. Marcelle and I send sincere condolences to his wonderful wife Elizabeth.”

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott: "To have had a mask mandate we would have had to continue the state of emergency. I don’t think that that was necessary or appropriate to continue that form of government. It can be so easily abused."

Vermont Business Magazine The fourth quarter is the busiest time of the year for local chocolatier Lake Champlain Chocolates (LCC). And like a lot of businesses locally and around the country, hiring seasonal staff to make, package, and ship the chocolate has been harder than ever before. Step in Rhino Foods, another long- time Burlington South End business to save the day. Rhino Foods’ slowest time of the year is the fourth quarter (being a manufacturer of ice cream and frozen dessert inclusions) and due to annual facility maintenance and installation of new equipment they have extra staff available for work. Instead of turning employees away for those weeks, Rhino is lending them to Lake Champlain Chocolates.

​Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Nuclear Decommissioning Citizens Advisory Panel (VT NDCAP) will hold its fourth meeting of 2021 on Monday evening, December 6, 2021 from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM. While this meeting will be conducted primarily as a webcast and teleconference, in accordance with Vermont Open Meeting Law, the following physical location will be available for those wishing to attend and participate in person: