Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Government of Canada is prioritizing the health and safety of everyone in Canada by taking a risk-based and measured approach to re-opening our borders. Vaccinated Vermonters will be allowed to cross starting August 9.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced a series of new pop-up walk-in vaccination clinics available across Vermont beginning this week. Vermont leads the nation in COVID-19 vaccination rates. 83.2 percent of the eligible population has already received at least one dose of vaccine. This week one more person died from the disease, which was the first this month. Overall, 259 Vermonters have died from COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic. Daily cases, while still low, have about doubled to an average of 13 over the last week. The VDH is reporting 11 cases today.

Vermont Business Magazine Cyanobacteria blooms, an unwelcome staple of summer, have been forming in Vermont waters. These blooms can produce toxins that are harmful to humans and animals, and health officials want you to know what cyanobacteria blooms look like so you can avoid them while enjoying Vermont’s waters. Some swim areas in Burlington have recently been closed due to blooms.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Auditor of Accounts today released his audit of Barre’s tax increment financing (TIF) districts. The audit found some glitches, as in the city slightly overpaid the state through a miscalculation and didn’t account for all properties within the district. These were fairly minor issues and did not result in much pushback from the city.

Vermont Business Magazine This fall, the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets and the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing are partnering to celebrate the maple industry with a list of special events, specialty products and exciting activities all across the state. First introduced in a limited fashion in 2020, the Vermont Maple 100 is designed to promote the many ways to use and enjoy Vermont maple syrup and specialty products by connecting consumers, tourists, travelers and maple enthusiasts to the landscape of Vermont maple. This industry spans far beyond the iconic sugar house in the woods, to include many businesses across Vermont, value added products, artisans and of course, Vermont maple syrup.

Vermont Business Magazine Southwestern Vermont Health Care’s (SVHC) Medical Matters Weekly with Dr. Trey Dobson—a weekly interactive, multiplatform medical-themed talk show—will feature Rosalind Case, PhD, a psychologist at Monash University in Australia on its July 21 program. The show will air at noon. Dr. Case will discuss the psychological factors involved in changing one’s mind, especially as it relates to changing one’s mind about getting the COVID-19 vaccine.

by Rob Roper Lawmakers recently passed a bill that begins the process for a major expansion of state-subsidized childcare for birth to five-year-olds rolled out over the next few years. The new law, crafted and pushed by the special interest group Let’s Grow Kids, could have major negative consequences for children, families, and taxpayers.

Let’s Grow Kids’ goals are, in a nutshell:

1) Capping payments to ensure that no family pays more than 10% of their income for childcare. This sounds nice but reduces the amount of money entering the system.

2) Establishing a central bureaucracy and infrastructure to oversee the program. This, of course, will require more money coming into the system. And

3) Ensuring that childcare workers are “compensated on par with their colleagues in similar professions” (read, “unionized public school teachers”), which will require a lot more money coming into the system.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott and Senator Patrick Leahy issued statements today in response to the Canadian Government’s announcement that it will ease travel restrictions for fully vaccinated Americans, effective August 9.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Amtrak returned to Vermont today with a splash. The literal splash was provided by ongoing rain that stopped just in time for passengers to board in Essex Junction. The festive atmosphere was a backdrop to what Amtrak officials say is the biggest ridership day in Vermont since the Vermonter (previously the Montrealer) began operating in 1995. Over 600 passengers were scheduled to ride the rails Monday after the pandemic shut down the service in March 2020.

Vermont Department of Tourism & Marketing The Economic Recovery Bridge Program is open and now accepting applications for any business that can show continued revenue loss due to COVID-19. Previous priority was given to those businesses who had yet to receive any state or federal funding. Applications are now being accepted and processed for any business that can show additional loss beyond funds already received.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Department of Corrections is partnering with 15 community organizations to provide reentry housing and services to incarcerated individuals released from correctional facilities. Effective July 1, 2021, Vermont DOC is funding 274 beds/apartments with 15 housing providers, including two new Community Justice Centers. Housing will be offered in every district, including in Lamoille and Orange Counties, where DOC housing has not existed before.

Vermont Business Magazine At meetings on June 23 and July 8, the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board committed $31,447,000 in state funding and $22,364,574 in federal funds to preserve, rehabilitate and create homes and to expand shelter capacity. A total of 389 homes will be created, with 221 reserved for previously homeless households and those at risk of homelessness.