Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health is reporting 115 new cases of COVID-19 and one more death for a statewide total of 207. The Department of Corrections is reporting a major outbreak at the prison in Newport, with 100 new cases for a total of 127 positive incarcerated cases and 10 positive staff cases at the facility. Meanwhile, the VA Medical Center will be holding a one-day only vaccine clinic for veterans of any age on Friday at the Essex Fairgrounds. The VDH separately has expanded its vaccination and testing sites.

Vermont Business Magazine As claimants begin to receive their new 1099-G forms, the Vermont Department of Labor (VDOL) is reminding Vermonters of the following guidance issued by the Department last week. Many Vermonters will receive more than one 1099-G, reflecting the different benefit programs available in 2020. Claimants can identify the program their 1099-G is for by using the code in the bottom left-hand corner of the tax document. All claimants fall into one of two base programs, which are either Unemployment Insurance (UI) or Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA). From there, many claimants also received additional benefits from a variety of supplemental programs.

Vermont Business Magazine The White River Junction VA Medical Center announced today that it will be hosting a COVID-19 Vaccine Walk-In Clinic for VA enrolled veterans of all ages with existing medical conditions. The clinic will take place at the Champlain Valley Exposition – Gate B, 105 Pearl Street, in Essex Junction, on Friday, March 5 from 9 am to 1 pm.

Vermont Business Magazine Hub International Limited, a leading global insurance brokerage, announced today that it has acquired the assets of Finn & Stone, Inc. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Finn & Stone is a full-service independent insurance agency with locations in Manchester and Springfield, Vermont. They have been providing personal and business insurance solutions to the Southern Vermont community for 60 years. Chip and Jonathan Ams, the Principals of Finn & Stone, and the Finn & Stone team will join Hub New England.

Vermont Business Magazine Montpelier Alive and the Montpelier Development Corporation today announced the launch of the Welcome to Montpelier Program, aimed at attracting new businesses to Montpelier. The Welcome to Montpelier Program offers wraparound business support and grant opportunities for new businesses who open in Montpelier. Three $5,000 grants will be awarded to eligible businesses. The Welcome to Montpelier Program provides support for new businesses, including technical assistance from a trained business counselor, promotional opportunities, a business mentor, and special funding opportunities.

Vermont Business Magazine Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital (NVRH) has announced that the DiaSorin Simplexa Analyzer, which analyzes lab specimens for COVID-19, is now up and running. This analyzer helps patients who are receiving care within the hospital and those who have scheduled appointments by decreasing their wait times to as little as three hours.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont National Guard will expand the state's vaccination capacity by providing vaccines starting today through March 7. Task Force Coyote, a unit that has served Vermont from the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic nearly one year ago will administer the vaccines at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Burlington. Locations in Barre, White River Junction and Springfield will be added over the next two weeks.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Department of Corrections (Vermont DOC) reported Tuesday night that 100 new cases of Covid-19 among incarcerated individuals and eight new staff cases in the outbreak at Northern State Correctional Facility (NSCF) in Newport. The cases were detected in testing conducted March 1. The outbreak began after one staff member and 21 incarcerated individuals tested positive for the virus. The 22 total cases were detected in testing conducted February 23, 2021. There are currently 127 positive incarcerated cases and ten positive staff cases at the facility.

Vermont Business Magazine Is your home or business ready for a heating update in 2021? Ready to opt out of oil and do your part to help the state meet its goal of 90 percent renewable energy by 2050? Many rebates and incentives are available to Vermonters interested in switching to wood heat this year. Heating homes or businesses with locally sourced wood fuel displaces fossil fuels, keeps dollars in Vermont, and keeps woodlands intact through sustainable local forest markets and management.

Vermont Business Magazine The Small Business Administration has some key changes to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) which will be available for a limited amount of time to ensure America’s smallest businesses get exclusive access. If you are a small business owner with 20 employees or less, or are self-employed; there is new information for you. Please join us for a series of webinars hosted by the U.S. Small Business Administration, Public Private Strategies Institute, & other stakeholders to hear about:

• What steps you can take now to take advantage of this special opportunity, which closes at 5:00 P.M. EST, Tuesday, March 9th, 2021.

• Additional changes and recent policy announcements made by Biden-Harris Administration

• Have your questions answered by SBA Leadership

Schedule

Vermont Manufacturing Extension Center In this free, hour-long forum, we will look at how three Vermont-based manufacturing leaders have actively and continuously stayed connected to their employees. This includes making significant adjustments to everyday life in their work environments, supporting local eating establishments, giving credit for well-being initiatives, donating to local charities and ongoing employee communications, just a few examples of the positive changes embraced in our “new world.”