Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Education (AOE) has released an updated version of the Annual Snapshot. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s snapshot contains less data than previous releases. The AOE is unable to report many indicators of academic achievement, as the assessments on which they are based were not conducted during the 2019-20 academic year. However, indicators suggest that additional work is necessary to support the most vulnerable students. Also, English learners are making progress toward proficiency in English at lower rates than desired and those proficiency rates are declining.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Afterschool announces that the 2021 Summer Matters for All Grant Program is open to applicants. Established in partnership with Governor Phil Scott’s office and the Vermont Agency of Education, at least $1.5 million will be available through the grant program to expand access to summer enrichment opportunities for youth statewide.

Vermont Business Magazine Six nonprofit organizations in New Hampshire and Vermont will receive much needed funds to help those they serve make informed financial decisions through a set of grants announced by Citizens today. Under the bank’s Citizens Helping Citizens Manage Money program, these nonprofit organizations will receive a total of more than $107,000 to support work in this critical area across the states.

by Randolph T. Holhut/The Commons Vermont Bread Company in Brattleboro and Koffee Kup Bakery in Burlington abruptly shut their doors on April 26 and laid off hundreds of workers in Brattleboro and Burlington. According to the Vermont Department of Labor, 156 workers lost their jobs at Koffee Kup’s Riverside Avenue bakery on Riverside Avenue in Burlington and 91 workers lost their jobs at Vermont Bread’s bakery on Cotton Mill Hill in Brattleboro.

Vermont Business Magazine FirstLight is reminding customers by request of the Federal Communications Commission through Order (FCC 20-100) that seven-digit local dialing will transition to 10-digit dialing in Vermont, New Hampshire, and parts of New York. It began April 24 and will be required on October 24, 2021. The transition to 10-digit dialing is being implemented in order to establish a three-digit National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by July of 2022. The lifeline, similar to the way 9-1-1 works, will allow callers to dial 9-8-8 for suicide prevention assistance. The ten digits include area code and telephone number.

by Cody Morrison, Executive Director, Barre Area Development Barre Area Development, Inc. (BADC) turned 60 years old month. Since its founding in 1961, BADC has been involved in many activities that have improved civic pride and the economic, social, and cultural quality of life in Barre Town and Barre City. Made up of a volunteer board of directors and, since 2008, a full-time Executive Director, BADC has collaborated with local stakeholders to be a successful economic development force for the Barre area.

Agency of Commerce & Community Development The SBA's Shuttered Venue Operators Grant Portal opened Saturday. Also, ACCD, the Department of Health and the Department of Public Safety on Friday posted summer camp guidance for operations this summer. There are two sets of guidance: one for overnight camps effective June 1st, and another for day-based programs effective May 1st. And, the state is accepting applications from municipalities throughout Vermont for CDBG-CV funding through the Municipal Public Facility and Service Program for activities related to COVID-19.

by Bruce Edwards, Vermont Business Magazine How tough was last year for some of the state’s commercial contractors? For PC Construction, one of the largest, it was a year when the company took a significant hit – the direct result of the now year-old pandemic.

by C.B. Hall, Vermont Business Magazine While the Agency of Transportation's list of highway projects this year is prodigious, the agency does a lot more than replace worn pavement and fix bridges on Vermont's state, federal and interstate roadways.

by Bruce Edwards, Vermont Business Magazine Burlington has been holding its collective breath for a transformative housing, retail and commercial project in the heart of the downtown to literally get off the ground and get vertical.

Vermont Business Magazine Ahead of Wednesday’s presidential address to a joint session of Congress, 17 senators Sunday sent a letter to President Biden asking him to include proposals to expand Medicare in his forthcoming American Families Plan.

Vermont State Police Early Sunday morning at approximately 0304 hours, Vermont State Police dispatch received a report of a one-car motor vehicle crash with entrapment. Putney Fire Department, Rescue Inc., and State Police responded to the scene. The passenger was extricated from the vehicle and immediately transported to Brattleboro Memorial Hospital while receiving life saving measures, however, was pronounced deceased shortly after arrival. The operator was also transported to Brattleboro Memorial Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and was subsequently processed for suspicion of driving under the influence.