Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health has confirmed that genomic sequencing of COVID-19 specimens has now identified two of the variants of concern circulating in the U.S. In addition to results earlier this month of the B.1.1.7 variant that originated in the UK, recent lab results now show the B.1.429 strain, first identified in California, is also in Vermont. The VDH is also reporting today 139 new total cases, which is an increase from recent days. However deaths are holding at 217 statewide. Total Vermonters who have received at least one dose of vaccine now exceed 160,000.

Vermont Business Magazine The Gap: A Shortage of Affordable Homes, a new report released today, March 18, 2021, by the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC), finds a national shortage of nearly seven million affordable and available rental homes for extremely low-income (ELI) renter households, those with incomes at or below the poverty level or 30 percent of their Area Median Income (AMI). Nationally, there are just 37 affordable and available rental homes for every 100 ELI renter households, and 70 percent of the poorest renter households are severely cost burdened, spending more than half of their income on housing expenses, with little left over for other basic necessities.

No state or metropolitan area in the nation has an adequate supply of affordable and available rental homes for the lowest-income families.

Vermont Research News Rural areas are especially prone to both Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) and intimate partner violence (IPV). New research examines these issues through interviews with 33 rural Vermont women experiencing both IPV and opioid use. Findings grouped into several categories, including; geographic isolation and transportation difficulties, inaccessibility of existing substance use treatment and domestic violence services and social isolation and stigma in rural areas.

by Shawn Shouldice & Richard Wobby On behalf of NFIB and AGC/VT members in Vermont, we are writing to express our opposition to S10, legislation that WAS intended to hold harmless small businesses from the historic event – pandemic unemployment in the magnitude of $1 billion. NFIB went on record in the Senate Economic Development committee on February 2, 2021, supporting legislation as introduced because it provided relief of charges from March 15 to December 31, 2020. Going into this historic pandemic the Vermont Unemployment Trust Fund was over-financed, so providing small businesses protection from a COST SHOCK certainly would have been appreciated.

Vermont Business Magazine On Thursday, March 18, Google released their Economic Impact Report, sharing that more than 45,000 businesses, publishers, and nonprofits in Vermont used Google products to increase their online presence and connect with the people and communities they serve -- generating $1.62 billion in economic activity in 2020.

Vermont Business Magazine With more people working from home during the pandemic and restrictions on in-person gatherings, keeping workers connected, positive and healthy can feel challenging. Vermont employers piloted innovative programs during the past year, from virtual group walks and mental health webinars to delivering healthy snacks to workers’ homes. On April 8, to shine light on these efforts and encourage more employers to try the best practices, 71 Vermont employers will receive honors at a virtual Governor’s Award for Excellence in Worksite Wellness ceremony.

Vermont Business Magazine Podcast producer Josh Crane and musician Myra Flynn will join VPR’s newsroom as engagement producers later this month, the station has announced. They will support the creation and community of Brave Little State, VPR’s award-winning, people-powered journalism project, as well as help incubate new engagement reporting efforts across the VPR newsroom.

EB-5 Regional Center Program will expire in June absent bipartisan integrity reforms

Vermont Business Magazine Today, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont), a senior member and former chairman of the Judiciary Committee, and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, introduced the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2021 to address fraud and national security vulnerabilities in the EB-5 investor visa Regional Center Program, which has been exploited and abused for years.

by Secretary of State Jim Condos COVID-19 has strained so many of our institutions over the last year. As our Vermont government agencies work to support our state through this crisis, we must always work to maintain the public’s right to know. Fortunately, in Vermont we have made great strides. Confidence in our public institutions is needed now more than ever. The misinformation and disinformation surrounding the 2020 Election has only served to further erode faith in government and our civic processes.

Vermont Business Magazine As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact revenues for small businesses across the state, Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation (BDCC) and Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission (TRORC) have announced a second round of the Vermont CDBG-CV economic relief grant program to support Sole Proprietors. The additional $1.6 million in funding will offer grants between $1,500 and $10,000 to qualifying Sole Proprietors on a first come, first served basis.

Vermont Business Magazine According to an Efficiency Vermont report, energy burden (energy spending as a percentage of income) is about 10% statewide. The greatest determinant of energy burden is income, not fuel cost, so in the Northeast Kingdom -- which has some of the lowest household incomes in the state -- households are likely to spend far more. In fact, in nearly every municipality in our region, energy spending exceeds 10% of household income. Obviously, those who are already struggling are far less able to invest in weatherization and cleaner fuel options that could save money in the long-run.

Vermont Business Magazine Green Mountain Power President and CEO Mari McClure was named one of Real Leaders Magazine Top 100 Women Impact Leaders for 2021. The 100 CEO’s and leaders on the list were honored because they have delivered results, building a brighter and more sustainable future. In naming McClure as one of the Real Impact leaders you should know, the magazine highlighted the transformational work she is leading using the latest innovative products and services, while continuing to build strong teams to ensure great service for customers.