Current News

Vermont Business Magazine With Orleans Superior Court Judge Mary Miles Teachout presiding, the court today ruled for the state on the final merits of its enforcement action against HNR Desautels LLC, currently doing business as Derby Port Press, and its owner, Andre “Michael” Desautels. Judge Teachout accordingly ordered the defendants to stop violating Governor Scott’s Executive Order and Addenda. “Specifically, Defendants shall not employ any persons or open any premises for business without compliance with EO 01-20 and its addenda and ACCD’s Phased Restart Work Safe Guidance,” ordered Judge Teachout in today’s decision.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Regular weekly unemployment claims last week fell by 13 to 990, which is still at a historically high level. Numbers were up somewhat nationally and remain at a relatively higher level. Economists suggest 2021 is off to a sluggish start, but is starting to spring back. The stock market is riding the wave of the new federal $1.9 trillion American Recovery Plan, signed into law by President Biden on March 11, 2021.

by Scott Giles, President and CEO, Vermont Student Assistance Corp VSAC has been here for Vermont students for more than half a century. We were founded in 1965 upon the belief that education and training lie at the heart of ensuring social and economic equity and opportunity in our society. Since our very first day, that principle has driven us to advocate for programs that we know make education and training more attainable, equitable, and achievable.

Vermont Business Magazine There’s snow place like Killington Mountain Lodge! MCR — the country’s fourth-largest hotel owner-operator — has acquired the 102-room winter wonderland located next to the largest skiing and snowboarding area in the eastern United States. MCR is operating the Killington Mountain Lodge as a Hilton Tapestry affiliate. The hotel will have a grand re-opening as a Tapestry in November 2021.

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.