Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Secretary of State Jim Condos and State Archivist Tanya Marshall announced today that the Vermont State Archives and Records Administration (VSARA), a division of the Secretary of State’s Office, has been awarded a $40,000 grant to support initiatives of the State Archives’ Vermont Historical Records Program.

Vermont Business Magazine As Vermonters continue working to end a pandemic that exposed health inequities worldwide and here at home, The University of Vermont Medical Center and more than 25 community organizations are asking the community to help identify priorities that will impact the health and well-being of our community now and into the future.

Vermont Business Magazine The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is changing the way flood insurance is priced. Starting on October 1, 2021, FEMA will unveil Risk Rating 2.0. FEMA says Risk Rating 2.0 will transform the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) by bringing more equitable pricing to flood insurance. While Vermont has 3,330 policyholders with flood insurance (third fewest in the nation), about two-thirds of those will see a rate increase. There are over 5 million flood policies in the US.

by Brenda Siegel, et al Our most vulnerable Vermonter residents were given a reprieve from the threat of losing their shelter when the governor extended the GA Motel program for thirty days. However, the federal government has provided funding for this program through December 31st. We need to extend these supports for Vermonters experiencing homelessness through the end of the year to give elected leaders and advocates time to build on the known long-term solutions that will ensure that all of our community members are safely and consistently housed.

Vermont Business Magazine Brett Smith, President and CEO of One Credit Union, shared the achievements of the South Barre Branch. Led by Branch Manager, Jodi Pecor, the team recognized the needs of many children in the community that were not well prepared to start school. “Especially with COVID, getting kids ready for school and ready for learning can be tough for many families.” Jodi added, “By working together with our membership, we can help to make a difference, not only with the kids, but also with the teachers. Teachers have their hands full with lesson plans; we don’t need to add to their worry about basic supplies!”

Vermont Business Magazine iSun, Inc (NASDAQ: ISUN), announced today that Fusion Renewable has selected the company for turnkey professional, development, and EPC services for an Alabama solar project, valued at $7 million. iSun, based in Williston, is a leading solar energy and clean mobility infrastructure company with 50 years of construction experience in solar, electrical and data services.

Vermont Business Magazine National Clean Energy Week (NCEW) is celebrated this week with proclamations from more than half of the nation's governors recognizing September 20-24, 2021 as Clean Energy Week in their respective states in conjunction with the fifth anniversary of NCEW. Twenty-six governors as well as the mayor of the District of Columbia have issued proclamations with more states expected to join them throughout the week.

Vermont Business Magazine Dozens of electric car drivers will converge in South Burlington this Saturday to show their cars and speak about their ownership experience as part of a ‘National Drive Electric Week’ event. The event is organized by SunCommon who has hosted an annual ‘Sun CARnival’ since 2014, bringing thousands of people together to celebrate Vermont’s transition to electric transportation options.

by Julie Moore, Secretary of the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources Climate change is all around us and yet, at times, can be hard to see clearly. The Earth’s climate is a complex, noisy system and is influenced by many factors, including human activities. Because of this, changes in our climate can feel small, or far away, while other threats feel more imminent. But the simple fact of the matter is the earth’s climate is changing, and Vermont’s climate is changing. These changes are complicated further by the fact that they are slow-moving and at times, hard to directly observe.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health today reported 121 new cases of COVID-19 (129 Tuesday). While many regions of the country and world experienced a sharp increase and sharp decline of Delta variant cases in a 7-9 week window, Vermont is now into its 10th week and has shown a slower ascent and still no plateau in new cases. The VDH also reported today no deaths, which remain at 301 statewide. There are 42 people hospitalized (down six from yesterday) and 14 in the ICU (down five).

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont State Auditor Doug Hoffer released an analysis of the Agency of Commerce and Community Development’s implementation of the Economic Recovery Grant (ERG) program. The ERG program was established to provide emergency assistance to businesses in need. In total, the Agency disbursed $117 million to 2,278 businesses through the ERG program in 2020. The award levels in some cases, the auditor found, were greater than the firm's losses.

Vermont Business Magazine Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) issued the following statement Wednesday on upcoming votes regarding infrastructure and reconciliation legislation.