Current News

Public Assets Institute Vermonters can stop sounding the alarm about a dwindling population. The state gained 17,336 people in the last decade, according to the 2020 US Decennial Census. While Vermont’s 2.8 percent growth is lower than the 7.4 percent national increase, it is not the slight population drop suggested by estimates made yearly by the Census.

Vermont Business Magazine Green Mountain Power (GMP) is reminding customers to pay attention to the forecast over the weekend as Tropical Storm Henri heads north along the Atlantic Coast. A possible shift further west may increase the potential for heavy rain and wind, especially in southern Vermont, on Sunday. GMP tracks multiple forecasts and works with meteorologists who analyze data specifically looking for potential impacts to utility infrastructure, to ensure crews are ready to respond for customers.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Labor is reminding claimants the federal expansion of unemployment insurance benefits created under the CARES Act will end September 6, 2021. This includes Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC), and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC). As of the week ending August 14, there are 14,850 people on regular UI benefits or one of the federal pandemic UI benefits plans. At $300 a week, the federal stipend goes to all claimants and comes to an additional $4.5 million a week for Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine Emily Hawes, Commissioner of the Department of Mental Health (DMH) announced today that plans are moving forward for the construction of a 16-bed secure, step-down recovery residence in Essex. On August 18th, the Green Mountain Care Board approved the Certificate of Need that is required for the project to advance.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Transportation has announced a funding opportunity to provide financial assistance to municipalities in an ongoing effort to improve the quality of water statewide. Potentially eligible project types include planning studies (stormwater inventories, low restoration plans, phosphorus control planning), salt/sand sheds, bank stabilization, culvert replacement/re-sizing, stream bank stabilization, detention ponds, check dam, swirl separators, permeable pavers, infiltration basins, gravel wetlands, subsurface detention systems, bio filters, and bio retention systems.

Vermont Business Magazine Lamoille Housing Partnership (LHP) and Evernorth have announced construction is underway on Village Center Apartments, 24 new energy-efficient affordable apartments for low and moderate income residents in the heart of downtown Morrisville. Construction is expected to take 12 months. Funding totaling $7.9 million from several public and private resources was raised to finance the total development costs.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Today, the Vermont Department of Labor reported that the seasonally-adjusted statewide unemployment rate for July was 3.0 percent. This reflects a decrease of one-tenth of one percentage point from the prior month’s revised estimate. The comparable United States rate in July was 5.4 percent, which was a decrease of five-tenths of one percentage point from the revised June estimate. Vermont has the fifth lowest rate in the US.

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General TJ Donovan announced that Gregory Kelly, 55, of Burlington, Vermont, was arraigned yesterday on twelve felony counts of Possession of Child Sex Abuse Materials – Second Offense. The charges brought against Kelly are the result of a criminal investigation – including the execution of a search warrant on electronic devices – conducted by the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (VT-ICAC), including personnel from the Attorney General’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, Burlington Police Department, and with the assistance of the Burlington Probation & Parole Office of the Vermont Department of Corrections.

Vermont State Police Both lanes are now back open. At 9:11 am Friday 8.20.2021 VT RT 7A in the area of Dutch Ln in the town of Arlington is closed at this time due to a traffic incident. This incident is expected to last for an extended period of time.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD) has officially launched a new relocation program that offers reimbursement grants, up to $7,500, to workers across the country who move to Vermont after July 1, 2021. The application portal opened today, and the program will be overseen by the Vermont Department of Economic Development. This new program builds upon Vermont’s previous successful recruitment initiatives and aims to attract new residents to the state, grow the workforce, and support employers facing workforce challenges due to low unemployment or finding qualified candidates.

Vermont Business Magazine The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is recommending that people whose immune systems are moderately to severely weakened receive an additional dose of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. At this time, CDC recommends the third dose for people who have compromised immune systems and have received either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. An additional dose is not currently recommended for those who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. The VDH on Thursday reported 169 new cases of COVID-19, which is the highest one-day total since the Delta variant came to Vermont in early July. There is one additional death for 268 total statewide. There are also 21 people hospitalized with 9 in the ICU.

Vermont Business Magazine GlobalFoundries (GF), the global semiconductor manufacturer with a plant in Essex Junction, today announced its goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent from 2020 to 2030, as the company expands its global manufacturing capacity. Building on GF’s history of environmental responsibility and ongoing greenhouse gas emissions reduction, this new Journey to Zero Carbon initiative reinforces the company’s commitment to sustainable and environmentally efficient manufacturing operations. GF is based in Malta, NY.