Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Building on early fulfillment of its groundbreaking $16.5 billion Community Benefits Plan, KeyBank today announced it will increase its commitment to $40 billion. The investments will continue focus on economic access and equity for underserved communities and populations. This includes $107 million of investments in Vermont supporting small business and home lending in low- and-moderate income communities, affordable housing and community development projects, and philanthropic efforts targeted toward education, workforce development, and safe, vital neighborhoods.

Vermont Business Magazine Washington is the Best State in the country, according to the 2021 US News Best States rankings. Vermont was 11th overall, down from number 5 in 2019. Vermont ranks third in the Crime & Corrections category, it's highest ranking among the sub-categories. It ranks lowest (37th) in Fiscal Stability. US News & World Report, the global authority in rankings and civic journalism, evaluated all 50 states across a range of categories to capture how states best serve their citizens.

Vermont Business Magazine The annual School Breakfast Scorecard , released by the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) found that Vermont ranks 2nd in the nation, behind only West Virginia, for the ratio of low-income students eating breakfast to those eating lunch. Vermont and West Virginia were the only states to meet FRAC’s benchmark of 70 breakfasts for every 100 lunches. On an average pre-pandemic school day during the 2019–2020 school year, 55 percent of low-income children in Vermont participated in the national School Breakfast Program.

Vermont Business Magazine More than 8,100 Vermonters age 16 to 54 with high-risk health conditions signed up for COVID-19 vaccine appointments through the state’s registration system Thursday, the first day this latest group became eligible. Nearly 25 percent of the Vermont population has now received at least one dose. The VDH is reporting 128 new cases of COVID-19 and no deaths, which are holding at 211.

Vermont Business Magazine At meetings in December and January, the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board awarded $6,360,027 in State funding and $4,341,136 in federal funds to preserve, rehabilitate and create 91 affordable homes and to protect 2,412 acres of agricultural and recreational land, forestland, natural areas and historic resources in 17 towns.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Governor Phil Scott joined the owners of Templeton Farm in East Montpelier today, to recognize and celebrate Vermont’s maple industry. The annual first tree-tapping recognizes the start of the maple season with a ceremonial tree tap by the Governor, while also recognizing the cultural and economic importance of the tradition and agricultural crop.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today marked the one-year anniversary since the opening of the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC). The SEOC was activated by Governor Scott on March 10, 2020 and opened on March 11, 2020 to support the work of the Vermont Department of Health and expand the capacity of state government to coordinate the COVID-19 response. The Health Department opened its Health Operations Center on February 3, 2020.

Vermont Business Magazine Peter W Hall, a Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, a former United States Attorney for the District of Vermont, a prominent figure in the Rutland, Vermont, community, and a beloved colleague, family member and friend, died today in Rutland. He was 72 years old. His passing was announced by Chief Judge Debra Ann Livingston. He announced last week that he was going into semi-retirement by taking senior status.

Vermont Business Magazine Representatives Peter Welch (D-Vermont-At Large) and John Curtis (R-Utah-3) today reintroduced legislation that will more than double funding for the Recreational Trails Program (RTP). Since 1991, the RTP has provided funding to states to develop and maintain outdoor recreational trails, allowing millions of Americans and their families to enjoy activities such as hiking, bicycling, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling and 4-wheel driving.

Vermont Business Magazine The Securities Division of the Vermont Department of Financial Regulation today reminded investors to be on the lookout for investment schemes pitched through the internet and social media, particularly those involving precious metals, cryptocurrencies, promissory notes, and foreign exchange markets. Schemes related to these products were identified as the top threats facing investors this year in a survey by the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA), of which the Vermont Department of Financial Regulation is a member. The survey includes responses of enforcement officials with state and provincial securities regulators throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Agency of Natural Resources staff scientists were alerted last week that an aquarium plant sold within Vermont and throughout the country may contain an invasive aquatic animal species, zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha). The aquarium plant commonly known as moss balls, may be sold under names including “Beta Buddy Marimo Balls,” “Mini Marimo Moss Balls,” and “Marimo Moss Ball Plant” and were available to purchase in large department stores or through online sales. While the plant is benign, the plants may harbor zebra mussels within the plant, or within the packaging.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Department of Corrections (Vermont DOC) is reporting nine new cases of COVID-19 among incarcerated individuals and one new staff case in the outbreak at Northern State Correctional Facility (NSCF) in Newport. The cases were detected in testing conducted March 8. The outbreak began after one staff member and 21 incarcerated individuals tested positive for the virus in testing conducted February 23, 2021. There are currently 115 positive incarcerated cases and 12 positive staff cases at the facility.