Current News

Vermont Business Magazine In December, Community Bank NA challenged the community to help low-income Vermont families heat their homes in conjunction with Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity’s (CVOEO) WARMTH program. The bank pledged to match WARMTH donations dollar for dollar during the month of December, up to a total of $17,500. Statewide, overall donations equaled $163,323, which is more than $30,000 above last year’s campaign total.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Senators Patrick Leahy and Bernie Sanders joined Oregon’s US Senator Jeff Merkley and Representative Jared Huffman (D-CA-2), who are leading a bicameral group of 21 lawmakers in introducing the Keep It in the Ground Act—urgent legislation to stop new fossil fuel leases and put an end to nonproducing leases for extraction of coal, oil, gas, oil shale, and tar sands extraction on public lands and in public waters. The combustion of fossil fuels that have been extracted from America’s public lands and waters currently amount to more than 20 percent of America’s total carbon dioxide emissions.

by Jane Stromberg This earth day, let’s focus on taking steps that will protect the unique traits that keep Vermont, well, Vermonty. Whether it’s the quaint covered bridges or the thriving local farm scene, climate change is eroding the character of the Green Mountain State through more swings in extreme temperatures, severe storms, frequent flooding, and invasive species. With so much richness at stake, our day-to-day decisions have never been more important. One of the most impactful choices you can make is where your power comes from and people can rest assured that when they decide to go solar, this decision is followed by a multitude of environmental benefits.

Vermont Business Magazine The Health Department continues to reach out to reschedule people who had appointments through the state registration system for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine through Friday. If you receive a voicemail from the Health Department, please return the call. If you are having trouble finding a new appointment online, we may be able to help you find an earlier one by calling 855-722-7878. Also, the VDH is reporting today 100 new cases of COVID-19 and four more deaths for a statewide total of 237.

Vermont Business Magazine The Federal Emergency Management Agency has awarded $46,669,040 to the Vermont Agency of Human Services for the state’s Hotel/Motel Vouchers Program for individuals who were high risk populations and required non-congregate medical sheltering. The approved participants in the state program were able to stay in hotels and motels statewide.

Vermont State Police Shortly before 3:30 pm Wednesday, April 13, 2021, Harley Breer surrendered peacefully to a uniformed Vermont State Police trooper in Marshfield. He was taken into custody without incident. No further information is currently available. The Vermont State Police had been investigating an assault that occurred Friday evening, April 9, 2021, and sought Breer since that time.

Vermont Research News A recent study of a random selection of patients at the Community Health Center of Vermont in Burlington examined how well Vermonters sleep. Seven of the 30 respondents reported having a formal diagnosis of sleep apnea and about half (16/30) reported having trouble falling asleep at least several times each week. The most common barriers to sleep included the use of electronics in the sleep environment (60% ), caffeine use and co-sleeping arrangements. Other high barriers included insomnia due to COVID-19 worries and financial concerns.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont business organizations and advocates, representing cumulatively more than 9,500 employers with more than 200,000 employees, are urging the Vermont Legislature to conform with the federal treatment of forgiven Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans in the tax year 2021, just as they did in tax year 2020.

Vermont Business Magazine The Burlington International Airport (BTV) announced today that American Airlines will be offering service to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) beginning in July 2021. The new service complements American’s service between Burlington and its hubs in Philadelphia (PHL), Chicago (ORD), Charlotte (CLT) and Washington National (DCA). Service to Dallas/Fort Worth provided by American will be seasonal, with weekly Saturday service beginning July 3rd, 2021.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Housing & Conservation Board has awarded $846,500 in state funding and $2,588,327 in federal funds for projects in Windham, Windsor, and Lamoille Counties. The VHCB awards will help to create and rehabilitate 30 homes and apartments affordable to low- and moderate-income Vermonters and will conserve 270 acres of farmland.

Vermont Business Magazine In 2016, The Vermont Futures Project set a target for 5,000 new and retrofitted housing units per year to meet the critical need for homes across Vermont. This was a need five years ago, and as we strive to recover from the pandemic-caused economic downturn, the health of Vermont’s housing market is under more stress than ever.

Vermont Business Magazine Bob Zider, Director & CEO of the Vermont Manufacturing Extension Center (VMEC), has publicly announced his plans to retire on June 30, 2021 after 25 years with the Center.

At a VMEC Board meeting held on April 13, VMEC Assistant Director Patricia Giavara received a unanimous vote of approval to succeed Bob Zider as Interim VMEC Director & CEO effective July 1.

VMEC’s federal stakeholder partner, the National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), was represented in the April 13 VMEC Board meeting by Acting MEP Director Dr. Rob Ivester and MEP Resource Manager Tom Williams. Patricia Giavara has been part of the VMEC team for more than 18 years, and she has served as VMEC Assistant Director since 2009 while also delivering a range of client services and support in the areas of innovation, growth, process improvement, coaching and more.