Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Selected from a nationwide pool of applicants, Union-32 Middle & High School in Montpelier has been named one of 75 Semi-Finalists in the 11th annual Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest, a program that encourages 6th-12th grade students to solve real-world issues in their community using classroom skills in STEM. Each Semi-Finalist school will receive $15,000 to be redeemed on DonorsChoose.org as well as a Samsung Galaxy Note20 to execute their project this school year.

Vermont Business Magazine Northern Vermont University (NVU) is excited to announce it was awarded a Grand Gold Award in the CASE District I Excellence Awards in the Special Event Pivot category for its reimagination of the NVU May 2020 Commencement into a Virtual Celebration for the Class of 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, NVU, like so many universities, was unable to hold its normal commencement ceremonies and needed to develop a virtual celebration for its graduates. In all, CASE District I received 250 entries for the 2021 awards, and awarded just seven Grand Gold distinctions.

Vermont Business Magazine Statement Of David Carle, Spokesperson For Senator Patrick Leahy, 8:40 pm January 26, 2021: The Capitol Physician suggested that Senator Leahy go to George Washington University Hospital this evening for observation, out of an abundance of caution. After getting test results back, and after a thorough examination, Senator Leahy now is home. He looks forward to getting back to work. Patrick and Marcelle deeply appreciate the well wishes they have received tonight.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott, Health Commissioner Mark Levine, MD, and Financial Regulation Commissioner Mike Pieciak have tested negative for COVID-19, 7 days after their last exposure, ending their quarantines. Since the potential exposure to a COVID-19 positive individual was learned, no one in attendance at the two impacted coronavirus briefings has tested positive, underscoring the importance and effectiveness of the safety protocols used.

Vermont Business Magazine The Health Department continues to work with the Agency of Digital Services to quickly address issues they’ve heard about from some of people who went online or called to make appointments. For example, the web portal now includes a field to confirm your email – which will help prevent errors when entering an email address to receive registration and appointment information – in addition to other adjustments. The VDH is also reporting 115 new cases of COVID-19 but no deaths.

Vermont Business Magazine Mayor Miro Weinberger and Burlington Electric Department (BED) today jointly announced that the Burlington Green Stimulus program is working and that program incentives have been extended into 2021 and will remain available through year’s end or until funding is exhausted. The Green Stimulus significantly increased incentives to help Burlingtonians heat their homes and power their vehicles with BED’s 100 percent renewably-sourced electricity.

Vermont Business Magazine Several community and business organizations have weighed in on Governor Scott's budget address, in which he outlined his plan for spending $6.8 billion. The governor has proposed using $210 million in one-time money on one-time initiatives. Much of that funding is going toward state technology upgrades, housing investments and economic opportunity.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont is one of 10 states and the District of Columbia to be awarded $90,900 each to strengthen state-level Farm to Early Childhood (FTEC) initiatives for a one-year project period. Similar to Farm to School, farm to early childhood programs enrich young children’s health and lives through greater access to nutritious foods and a hands-on approach to learning about food, health and agriculture. 73% of children under 5 in VT (that is 22,000 kids) receive care outside of their homes every day. FTEC is shown to improve nutrition with our youngest children at a time when their brains and tastes are developing.

Vermont Business Magazine Before getting to the substance of his budget, Governor Scott addressed the state of nation: "It is my hope that every American − those who voted for President Biden and those who didn’t − will come to the table; put the progress of our country ahead of partisanship; and not let this opportunity pass because the future of our nation truly depends upon our ability to come together."

Vermont Business Magazine In a press conference today, incoming Senate Budget Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) joined incoming Senate HELP Committee Chair Patty Murray (D-WA), House Committee on Education and Labor Chairman Bobby Scott (D-VA), Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), and Representative Stephanie Murphy (D-FL) to announce the introduction of legislation raising the federal minimum wage to $15 by 2025.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont jobless rate went up last month for the first time since the high point of the Great Recession in May 2009, when it went up one-tenth to 7.0 percent. It fell the next month to 6.9 percent.The Vermont Department of Labor announced today that the seasonally-adjusted statewide unemployment rate for April was 3.1 percent, an increase of one-tenth of one percentage point from the revised March rate. All three major metrics were off slightly: the labor force and number of employed fell, while the number of unemployed rose. The national rate in April was 4.4 percent, down one-tenth from March.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermonters age 75 and older began booking appointments for their COVID-19 vaccine Monday. On just the first day, more than 21,100 appointments were scheduled for the coming weeks – a rate state health officials called greatly encouraging. The vaccinations will take place at Health Department clinics, Kinney Drugs and other locations around the state beginning January 27.