Current News

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.”

Vermont Business Magazine The 21st Century Business Forum shares critical strategic insights for planning your company's future in March, featuring Blue Ocean Shift and Blue Ocean Strategy co-author Renée Mauborgne. This webcast, hosted by best-selling author Jon Gordon, will broadcast at noon Wednesday, March 10. Registration is free.

Vermont Business Magazine New England Federal Credit Union (NEFCU) is accepting applications for its 2021 Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Scholarships. Three scholarships of $3,000 each will be awarded. To be eligible for NEFCU STEM Scholarships, applicants must be New England Federal Credit Union members.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott announced today that Phase 5 of the state's COVID-19 vaccination effort will begin March 8 with those with serious medical conditions allowed to make an appointment. Because of the size of the group, it will be split into a Phase 5A of 5B. The 5A group will be comprised of those 55 and older (starting March 8) and a Phase 5B (starting March 15) for those 16 years or older. He also announced that school staff and teachers, as well as an expanded group of first responders will be able to sign up starting the week of March 8.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today signed H138, An act relating to fiscal year 2021 budget adjustments. This annual budget adjustment includes technical mid-year adjustments to the current fiscal year (FY21) budget, but also includes important funding for ongoing Coronavirus response and relief needs as well as other priorities, including education and modernization of policing. It also includes support for the Everyone Eats Program; $3.5 million from ESSER II federal funds to provide a Burlington High School facility renovation grant; and $2.8 million from the Coronavirus Relief Fund to pay the 1,500 applications from landlords waiting for back rent from November and early December.

Vermont Business Magazine The union representing school employees today applauds the decision to vaccinate educators beginning next week, saying the move validates pleas from front-line educators and administrators. Governor Scott today announced that along with those with severe chronic health conditions, in-school staff and teachers and those in emergency services will be able to receive the new Johnson & Johnson one-shot vaccine at school or some local clinics or can sign up for the two-shot vaccines available through Walgreens (federal pharmacy program). They will be able to sign-up starting March 15. Vermonters with high-risk medical conditions who are over 55 can begin signing up starting March 8 and those over 16 with medical conditions can begin March 15.

Vermont Business Magazine Today marks the beginning of National Weights and Measures Week, a time to recognize the important role of weights and measures regulatory programs across the country. The date of this year’s Weights and Measures Week is significant as it marks the signing of the first Weights and Measures law by John Adams on March 2, 1799. Throughout the country, thousands of weights and measures inspectors work diligently to enforce laws designed to not only protect consumers but to also develop a level playing field in commerce wherever a weight or measure is involved.

Vermont Business Magazine MBF Bioscience, a leading provider of bioscience image analysis tools based in Williston, announced Monday that it has completed the acquisition of Vidrio Technologies. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Based in Ashburn, VA, Vidrio is a fast-growing provider of software and hardware components for laser scanning and two photon microscopes.

Vermont Business Magazine​ The Davey Tree Expert Company has announced the addition of Chippers, Inc, of Woodstock, VT, to its family of brands. Employing over 90 people, Chippers has been serving northern New England since 1986, with offices in Woodstock, Enfield, NH, and Meredith, NH. Their areas of expertise are in arboriculture, turf and soil care, gardening, land enhancement, forestry and maple syrup. Davey is the 9th largest employee-owned company in the US, according to the National Center for Employee Ownership.

Vermont Business Magazine Union Mutual was proudly represented by over 40 employees, independent agency partners, vendors, friends, and family members in a virtual Penguin Plunge to benefit Special Olympics Vermont on Saturday, February 6, 2021. The Union Mutual Popsicles donned their best summer attire and creative costumes as they “Plunged” into the snow to create snow angels (#AngelsForAthletes) at their homes across New England and New York. With the widespread support of hundreds of donors, the Union Mutual Popsicles were able to set yet another impressive mark for the event’s fundraising with a grand total of over $63,000. The all-time team fundraising record was set by Union Mutual in 2020.

by Emma Harrigan, VAHHS Director of Policy Analysis and Development COVID-19 has challenged us as individuals and as a system of care in so many ways. As the pandemic wears on, it is prompting more anxiety and depression. Many people are using alcohol or other substances as a response to COVID-19 stress, and the effects are amplified for communities of color and essential workers. Meanwhile, people have had to adapt to new ways of supporting their recovery in a world that requires social distancing. The good news is there are resources and coping mechanisms to help everyone through these challenges.