Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Federal Emergency Management Agency will be sending almost $1.2 million to the State of Vermont to reimburse the costs of providing emergency meals for residents in need during the COVID-19 pandemic. The $1,193,662 Public Assistance grant will go to Vermont’s Agency of Commerce and Community Development for operating the state’s emergency feeding program “Vermont Everyone Eats” during the coronavirus pandemic between July and August 2021.

Vermont Business Magazine Phil Scott announced that starting today (October 1), many more Vermonters can now schedule and receive their Pfizer vaccine booster shots. Also today, the Vermont Department of Health reported 189 cases of COVID-19 (down 34 from Thursday), and one death for 318 statewide. There are 48 people hospitalized (up four) and 10 in the ICU (unchanged).

Vermont Business Magazine Central Vermont Medical Center (CVMC) today announced several initiatives underway to address the national pandemic-driven labor shortage that is particularly affecting health systems as increased COVID-19 cases and higher acuity drive demand for care. As of September 20, CVMC has raised its wage floor to $15/hr. This means that all CVMC employees now make at least $15/hr, coupled with differentials for evening, night and weekend shifts, paid time off and a generous benefits package. Current employees will see the wage bump retroactively applied to their paychecks. Additionally, applicants hired into certain positions ranging from food service workers, environmental service technicians to nurses, will also receive one-time sign-on bonuses.

Vermont Business Magazine US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and University of Vermont officials on Wednesday toured the future home of the Food Systems Research Center, which will be located in the Joseph L. Hills Agricultural Science Building on the UVM campus. The tour was part of a two-day visit to UVM. The research center—a collaboration between UVM and the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS)—focuses its work on understanding all facets of the regional food system, from production agriculture to food security, with a special focus on small- and medium-sized farms.

Vermont Business Magazine Green Mountain Power is partnering with local energy committees in Bethel and Essex to invite customers to check out electric vehicles at EVenture Ride and Drive events in Bethel on Saturday and in Essex on Sunday. EV drivers will gather in Bethel on Saturday to kick off the event there. GMP is visiting communities across the state with EVenture Ride and Drive events, which provide an opportunity for customers to talk with EV drivers and GMP experts in a no-pressure environment, ask questions, and learn about the benefits of electric vehicles – from the financial and carbon savings you get when you switch to driving electric, to the zippy ride that a battery-powered car offers on the road.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health today reported 223 cases of COVID-19 (up 119 from Tuesday), and no deaths, which are holding at 317 statewide. There are 44 people hospitalized (unchanged) and 10 in the ICU (down 2). You can now get a booster shot of Pfizer vaccine if you received your second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine six months ago or more and are age 65 or older. Starting Friday, October 1, anyone over 17 with certain medical conditions that put you at high risk of getting severely ill with COVID-19 can get the Pfizer booster if their second shot was six or more months ago.

Vermont Business Magazine New England Federal Credit Union (NEFCU) announced today the launch of a three-year, $6 million campaign to address the affordable housing crisis in Vermont. The NEFCU initiative will include three separate programs. One, in partnership with the Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA), will devote $3 million to affordable homeownership and multi-family rental projects. The second, with Champlain Housing Trust (CHT), will commit $3 million to advance BIPOC homeownership. The third will be NEFCU’s own Home Ownership Made Easier (HOME) program to help first-time homebuyers struggling with affordability.

Vermont Business Magazine The US Senate Thursday passed the Leahy Amendment to fund the government by continuing resolution through December 3rd with a strong bipartisan vote of 65 to 35. As Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) was the chief architect of the legislation to stave off a government shutdown that would have taken effect at midnight tonight (Thursday). In addition to funding the government through December 3rd, the Leahy Amendment provides $28 billion to address recent natural disasters around the country, and provides crucial assistance to support Afghan refugees and America’s Afghan partners.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Captive Insurance Association (VCIA) today announced that Richard Smith, President of the Association since 2009, has decided to step down from his post at the beginning of 2022. Smith expressed a desire to complete his tenure with VCIA in order to create space for new VCIA leadership to further advance the organization’s goals and serve its members. Though he has not detailed specific plans for the next chapter of his own career, he indicates he may pursue things closer to his own Vermont community.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, Speaker of the House Jill Krowinski and Senate President Pro Tem Becca Balint announced that they will make a public apology on behalf of the legislature for Vermont’s state-sanctioned eugenics program on Saturday, October 16th at 3 pm on the State House steps in Montpelier, Vermont. “This past session we passed J.R.H.2, a resolution formally and sincerely apologizing to all individual Vermonters, their families, descendants, and communities who were harmed as a result of State-sanctioned eugenics policies and practices."

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced funding to support 28 rehabilitation and revitalization projects in 22 of Vermont’s designated downtown and village centers. These awards will help generate over $83 million in building improvements and public infrastructure to support local businesses, create new housing opportunities and incentivize investments that will improve the resiliency and vitality of Vermont’s community centers.

Vermont Business Magazine The High Meadows Fund, the Vermont Community Foundation, and the Vermont Land Trust today announced a $6 million leadership gift to diversify farm ownership, accelerate the economic viability of farming, and advance natural climate solutions and ecological health on Vermont farms. $2 million of this gift will seed the creation of a new fund to expand land ownership and access among people who have been historically marginalized or oppressed based on their race or ethnicity. This is the largest gift of its kind ever made in Vermont.