Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the June schedule of the Green Mountain Care Board is more susceptible to change. Please check the GMCB website for the updated press release and agendas.

Vermont Business Magazine On a cool, sunny Saturday afternoon, the Middlebury College community gathered to celebrate a historic Commencement for 481 members of the Class of 2021. Graduates and their guests assembled at six separate outdoor venues to comply with pandemic health and safety regulations, each with a stage and large video screen. At an event that was hard to imagine just a few months ago—and one that required careful planning without the benefit of a rehearsal—joyful bursts of applause and cheering could be heard all over campus.

Vermont Business Magazine Since launching in October 2020, the Vermont Startup Collective has seen unexpectedly strong engagement and rapid growth. With a focused virtual space to advance business ideas, learn new skills, and connect with the community, entrepreneurs are able to get the support they need, when they need it most. With over 750 members today, the online community is becoming a center of gravity for entrepreneurs, startups, remote workers, small business owners, freelancers, investors, and mentors in Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine In addition to recognizing fallen soldiers on this Memorial Day, we must also recognize the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre. On May 31st, 1921 a white mob who were deputized and given weapons by city officials, stormed the Greenwood District, a black neighborhood of Tulsa Oklahoma, becoming one of the worst incidents of racial violence in American history.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today issued the following statement: “Today, we pause to mourn, remember, and honor the brave men and women who lost their lives defending our country, our way of life, and the freedoms and liberties we hold dear."

Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets Flowers are blooming. Birds are chirping. Tourists are coming. And, dare I say, the pandemic is waning here in Vermont. As more Vermonters get vaccinated and case counts continue to go down, many food, farm and forestry businesses have questions about evolving health guidelines and regulations.

Vermont Business Magazine SVMC ExpressCare, part of Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC) and Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC), will administer COVID vaccines noon – 5:30 p.m. from Tuesday, June 1 – Friday, June 4. ExpressCare is newly relocated to 120 Hospital Drive. It shares space with the Respiratory Evaluation Center, which features negative-pressure air exchange throughout. The new facility also has a dedicated parking area, a larger waiting area, larger and more exam rooms. As always, the practice offers X-ray and blood draw.

by Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) For all of us, Memorial Day is the ‘kick off’ of summer. Especially after the struggles we all have faced during the last year, this is a particularly welcome and highly anticipated day to gather with family and friends, have cookouts, shake off a long winter and Mud Season, and get on with our summer activities.

Vermont Business Magazine Green Mountain Power has announced that this summer it will bring back its popular tours at the Kingdom Community Wind Project in Lowell, Vermont, after suspending plans for public tours due to the pandemic in 2020. For seven straight years prior to the pandemic, hundreds of Vermonters and tourists alike saw the wind farm up close and learned more about how wind energy works. The tours are free and last about last about 90 minutes.

Leonine Public Affairs The Vermont General Assembly adjourned on Friday, May 21, ending the first fully remote legislative session in state history. The 2021 legislative session culminated in an FY2022 budget bill that invests $7.3 billion across state government. The bill, H439, includes nearly $600 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding, investing in economic recovery, fighting climate change, clean water, housing, broadband and state information technology infrastructure among other things.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott had several announcements including nearly $4 million in federal funds secured by Senator Sanders dedicated to expanded summer youth programs. He also was cautiously optimistic about ending the pandemic mitigation measures by the end of next week. But starting today, he is lifting the curfew imposed on bars, restaurants and social clubs, which can all now go back to regular hours. The Agency of Education also announced that guidance is being developed that outline school plans for the fall semester. Essentially, the fall semester is expected to be back to normal with full, n-person education. The governor is reminding Vermonters to honor our fallen heroes this Memorial Day weekend. And as the pandemic emergency winds down, Scott is cutting back his press briefing to once a week starting this Tuesday.

Vermont Business Magazine On Monday night at the Bennington Select Board meeting the Southwestern Vermont Chamber of Commerce announced that they would be bringing their annual “Garlic Fest” to downtown Bennington this Labor Day Weekend as “Garlic Town, USA.” On Saturday, September 4th Bennington, Vermont will transform into “Garlic Town, USA” once again in celebration of all things garlic and agriculture!