Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health today is reporting another spike today with 342 cases of COVID-19 (up 106 cases) after increasing by 85 on Friday. The three worst days for cases have all come since mid-September, as the Delta variant has taken over since early July. The VDH also today reported two additional deaths for 345 statewide.

Vermont Business Magazine Mayor Miro Weinberger, federal partners including Senator Patrick Leahy and Chris Nelson of TSA, and Airport leadership on Thursday met to celebrate the construction of the planned Terminal Integration Project at Burlington International Airport (BTV). The more than 30,000-square-foot expansion is on target to open to travelers next fall and will house five TSA screening lanes, an expanded queuing and, space for concessions.

Vermont Agency of Transportation This weekly report is a list of planned construction activities that will have traffic impacts on state highways throughout Vermont for the week of October 18. Please remember to drive safely in all work zones. Lives depend on it.

Vermont Business Magazine Norwich University’s School of Architecture + Art is accepting submissions from high school students for an architecture and design competition that offers scholarships to the university as prizes. Submissions will be accepted until November 7. This is the second year Norwich is offering the competition, and this year’s challenge is to design a “Pocket Place,” as the need for outdoors spaces for gathering has risen during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vermont Business Magazine The deadline (November 1) is fast approaching for K-12 schools to apply for an educational grant from Consolidated Communications (NASDAQ: CNSL) a top 10 fiber provider, through its grant program, Consolidated Connects. Technology-focused grants up to $5,000 are available for schools in Vermont and its entire service area.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Council on Rural Development is celebrating the graduation of 14 local leaders from the second class of the Climate Catalysts Leadership Program. Primarily through virtual convening, the program brings together local leaders from all walks of life and all corners of Vermont to build peer connections, strengthen leadership skills, and receive support in developing a local project or initiative that helps strengthen their local economy in a way that prepares for climate change.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced the appointment of Chris Herrick as the commissioner of the Department of Fish and Wildlife. Herrick will lead the department responsible for the management and conservation of fish, wildlife and their habitats. For the last five years, Chris has served as deputy commissioner at the Department of Public Safety (DPS) and prior to that he served two and a half years as director of Vermont Emergency Management within DPS.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department for Children and Families (DCF) announced today a new grant program that aims to support and stabilize the state’s child care industry — a sector hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. Child Care Stabilization Grants, funded through the American Rescue Plan Act, will help regulated child care providers: Cover unexpected business costs associated with the pandemic, and stabilize their operations so they can continue providing care.

Vermont Business Magazine The Acting United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that Craig Cowles, 53, of Richmond, Vermont, was sentenced today in United States District Court in Burlington to five years of probation following his guilty plea to federal income tax evasion. Chief District Judge Geoffrey Crawford ordered that Cowles pay restitution totaling about $262,000 to the IRS for unpaid taxes. Since pleading guilty, Cowles has already paid the IRS more than $80,000 toward this restitution obligation.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health today is reporting another swing today in COVID-19 cases, with 236 (up 85 cases) after falling by 176 on Thursday. In the last four days, the VDH reported two days with under 200 cases and two over, with one of those (327) just three off the all-time record. This continues a pattern of wild swings in the number of daily cases. Previous swings have been blamed on the timing on when results are returned to the VDH or on a super-spreader event, which does not appear to be the situation this week. The VDH also today reported one additional death for 343 statewide. There are 45 people hospitalized (down two) with 12 in the ICU (down seven).

Public Assets Institute The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), passed in March 2021, earmarked $76.6 million for Vermont’s local governments, and another $121.2 million for county government. Because Vermont counties have limited roles, the feds redirected the dollars to towns. Towns can use money through the end of 2024 to help pay for government services; direct assistance to households, small businesses, and non-profits for COVID-related costs; premium pay to essential workers; and infrastructure investments.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott announced today that construction of a new treatment center for Vermonters with high-level mental health needs has begun in Essex. The new facility, a 16-bed step-down recovery residence, will provide care for those who are no longer in need of inpatient care in a hospital, but who still need services in a secure setting that often exceed the capacity of community health providers.