Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Chittenden Solid Waste District has announced that Green Up Vermont will be receiving $79,834.60 for the third and final Supplemental Environmental Project (SEP), as approved by the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources. This project will fund a grant program to supply and install refillable water bottle stations in schools and high-use municipal properties across Vermont. Founded in 1979 to manage the efforts of Green Up Day, a successful litter cleanup effort first launched 1970, Green Up Vermont’s mission also includes working year‐'round to implement special awareness projects and build environmental stewardship throughout the state.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) has launched his twelfth annual State of the Union Essay Contest. The deadline for student essay submissions is January 11, 2022. Each year, the President of the United States delivers the “State of the Union” address to a joint session of Congress, which outlines priorities for the coming year. Senator Sanders knows that great ideas can come from everyone – not just those in power – which is why he created the State of the Union Essay Contest to encourage young people to become engaged in the political process. The contest is an opportunity for Vermont high school students to describe a major issue facing our country and propose what they would do to solve it.

Vermont Business Magazine Based on formula funding, Vermont is expected to receive $1.4 billion for federal-aid highway apportioned programs and $225 million for bridge replacement and repairs under this package over five years. Vermont also will receive $83 million over five years to improve public transportation options across the state and $21 million over five years to support the expansion of an Electric Vehicle (EV) charging network in the state. Vermont will have the opportunity to apply for the $2.5 billion in grant funding dedicated to EV charging in the bill. For broadband, Vermont will receive a minimum allocation of $100 million to help provide broadband coverage across the state.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health is reporting today that COVID-19 cases were 262 and fell by 115 from yesterday's second-highest pandemic record. Cases Friday were 377 and there were 487 cases on Thursday. The 11 worst days have all come since mid-September, following from the Delta variant surge that began in July. There was one additional COVID-related death, for 384 statewide.

Vermont Business Magazine Nine additional incarcerated individuals at Northeast Correctional Complex (NECC) in St. Johnsbury have tested positive for COVID-19. With a total of 16 positives, the situation is now considered an outbreak. The facility has been on full lockdown since October 31.

​Agency of Transportation This weekly report is a list of planned construction activities for the week of November 8 that will have traffic impacts on state highways throughout Vermont. Please remember to drive safely in all work zones. Lives depend on it.

Vermont Business Magazine The Best Western Plus Waterbury-Stowe in Waterbury, Vermont was recognized with the brand’s highest honor, the MK Guertin Award, for exceptional levels of service, quality, value and commitment to guests. The award was presented at an awards ceremony at Best Western Hotels and Resorts’ 2021 North American Convention held recently with hoteliers, corporate staff and senior leadership team in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Vermont Business Magazine Leaders from the Rutland Area NAACP visited the Castleton campus on Wednesday evening, bringing with them a $2,000 check to support the University's student chapter. Rutland Area Branch President Mia Schultz presented students with the generous check, which was made possible with some of the proceeds from their Freedom Fund Dinner in September. The Freedom Fund Dinner raises necessary funds and highlights the work of the NAACP. Much of this year's event was filmed at Castleton's Casella Theater. Raynolds Awusi, a 2021 graduate and a student in Castleton's MBA program, was honored at the Freedom Fund Dinner for his work to found the University's student chapter - the only of its kind in Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine Following a month's long effort to identify and recruit Burlington’s next permanent Police Chief, Mayor Miro Weinberger has notified the City Council that he has accepted the Police Search Committee’s recommendation that the current pool is insufficient for the appointment of a permanent chief, and that he is suspending the search pending future Council action needed to make this effort successful. Deputy Chief Jon Murad has agreed to stay on as Acting Chief.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health is reporting today that COVID-19 cases fell by 110 from yesterday's pandemic record but at 377 were still the second highest daily total. VDH reported 487 cases on Thursday. The 11 worst days have all come since mid-September, following from the Delta variant surge that began in July. There also were three additional COVID-related deaths, for 383 statewide.

Vermont Business Magazine On October 25, 2021, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Utilities Service (RUS) informed the Vermont Telephone Company, Inc (VTel) that a significant portion of their service area in Vermont will now be considered eligible for USDA ReConnect funding. VTel’s service areas that do not meet the current minimum broadband service speed threshold of 100 Mbps Download x 20 Mbps Upload will be removed from RUS Protected Borrower Status and considered eligible under the new ReConnect rules. Because VTel has a large USDA loan to provide WI-FI service in much of the state, that shut most providers in Vermont, public and private, out of this funding stream. Now they can access it. This could be a big boost for broadband in Vermont, especially when combined with ARPA and other funding.

Vermont Business Magazine Nedde Real Estate on Monday celebrated the groundbreaking of 79 Pine Street, known as “The Nest.” The 47,000 Square foot building will add 49 apartments in Burlington’s Downtown District and is the first new apartment project in the Downtown District in two decades. The Nest is scheduled for completion in the Fall of 2022.