Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Leaders of both chambers in the Vermont legislature, and the relevant committee chairs, sent a letter to the US Department of Labor last week seeking to clarify legislative intent around Vermont Act 51 of 2021, which included a change to increase benefits to Vermonters receiving unemployment. The letter also asked the Department to reconsider its August 24, 2021, letter stating the increased benefit did not conform with guidance. The USDOL said Vermont could not use UI Trust Fund dollars to pay the extra $25 a week benefit, as Act 51 intended.

Act 51 of 2021 authorized a $25 per week supplemental benefit for all unemployment claims beginning October 3, to individuals receiving unemployment benefits in the regular state unemployment insurance program.

Vermont Business Magazine After months of bargaining, staff and management of Planned Parenthood of Northern New England (PPNNE) have reached an agreement on a first contract. The agreement has been ratified by the union membership.

The staff union made significant economic progress including raising the minimum wage from $15/hr to $17.50, including $18/min for all existing employees.

Bargaining team member Dana Keyes-Gibbons from Vermont said, “We are thrilled to have reached an agreement that makes significant progress towards our goals of raising the minimum wage, increasing pay equity, and encouraging staff recruitment and retention--though we know we have more work to do to ensure compensation keeps up with the rising cost of living.”

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced that Vermonters 75 years of age and older are now eligible to schedule and receive COVID-19 vaccine boosters and can register starting today. Beginning on Wednesday, that eligibility expands to any Vermonters 70 years of age and older, and then to people aged 65 and older on Friday. Additionally, starting on Friday, those aged 18 to 64 with underlying medical conditions or who work in certain occupational settings will become eligible for boosters. Also, the Vermont Department of Health today reported 197 cases of COVID-19 (up 10 from Sunday), and no deaths, which held at. 310 statewide. There are 36 people hospitalized (unchanged) and 7 in the ICU (unchanged).

by Mike Donoghue, Correspondent, Vermont Business Magazine With the three primary criminal defendants awaiting sentencing in federal court in Vermont for their part in the massive EB-5 investment scandal in the Northeast Kingdom, now attention turns to trying to confirm reports whether key state officials knowingly sat on Vermont's largest fraud case and chose not to make it public for at least one year. Defense lawyers Brooks McArthur and David Williams, on behalf of William Stenger, are hopeful that some, if not all, records, including FBI and IRS reports and interviews that are currently under seal, will be made public before their client is sentenced later this year.

10-year Vermont DOC employee to oversee budget, human resource and contract management

Vermont Business Magazine Matt D’Agostino will soon assume the post of Interim Deputy Commissioner for the Vermont Department of Corrections (Vermont DOC), bringing ten years of Corrections experience and financial experience to the role.

D’Agostino currently serves as the Vermont DOC financial director and is a member of the department’s senior staff. In this new role, D’Agostino will continue overseeing the budget, as well as human resource management and managing more than $30M in contracts to include a $20M health care system.

D’Agostino has worked for Vermont DOC since 2011, starting as a financial manager before taking his current role as financial director in 2013. He holds a degree in finance from Rutgers University.

The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets (VAAFM) has announced and released a Request for Proposals for a consultant to help the Agency build upon work initiated by Agency staff relating to inclusion, diversity, equity and accountability. Since the summer of 2020, VAAFM staff have engaged in internal discussions focused on individual and collective learning; internal Agency policies, practices, and culture; and the Agency’s approaches to serving and interacting with constituents, partners, and the public.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health today reported 187 cases of COVID-19. The VDH also reported today six more deaths from Friday, for 310 statewide. There are 36 people hospitalized (down six from Friday) and 7 in the ICU (down eight). Vermont began offering Pfizer vaccine booster "third shots" to those 80 and over starting Friday (September 24). This is only for those who already received two doses of the Pfizer vaccine. Shots for those 75+ begins Monday.

by Danny Monahan, Small Business Administration Vermont District Office Active sitting sounds like a contradictory term. An oxymoron along the lines of open secret or bittersweet. Besides how can one be sitting down and still moving? Yet it is the entire concept of QOR360, a small business in Burlington that designs ergonomic chairs. Before he was an inventor, Osler was a surgeon for 30 years with the University of Vermont Medical Center. When he retired from operating on patients, Osler moved on to become a research epidemiologist with the University of Vermont. That is when the pain started.

Vermont Business Magazine Agency of Natural Resources Secretary Julie Moore invites the public to join her on Thursday, October 7 from 4 to 5 pm to discuss a variety of environmental topics. The meeting will start with a conversation about the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding, where Secretary Moore will talk about ANR’s plan to invest approximately $100 million in ARPA funding in a variety of water infrastructure projects.

Vermont Business Magazine With the clock ticking ahead of the October deadline when State grants for past due utility payments will end, VGS is urging its customers who have had difficulty paying their bills during the Covid-19 emergency to apply for financial assistance available through the Vermont Public Service Department. The Vermont COVID-19 Arrearage Assistance Program (VCAAP II) provides grants to eligible Vermonters who may have past due balances that may result in disconnection. VCAAP II residential assistance is available for up to $10,000 and businesses can receive up to $50,000 in assistance.

Vermont Business Magazine Emerge Vermont, the state’s premier organization for recruiting and training Democratic women to run for office, announced today that former Vermont Speaker of the House Gaye Symington is the recipient of the 2021 Governor Madeleine M. Kunin Achievement Award. The award, bestowed in honor of Governor Kunin, is given annually to a Democratic woman in Vermont with significant political achievements.

​Vermont Agency of Transportation This weekly report for September 27, 2021, is a list of planned construction activities that will have traffic impacts on state highways throughout Vermont. Please remember to drive safely in all work zones. Lives depend on it.