Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Transportation (AOT) today announced that it has received $581,201 from the US Department of Transportation's Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to conduct a research project on COVID safety for public transit. The grant awarded to AOT will fund efforts by Vermont transit providers to find solutions to cost-effectively and efficiently sanitize public transit vehicles to combat the spread of surface and airborne viruses. This project will test the efficacy of two UVC lighting products (far-UVC and UVC) to stop the spread of COVID-19 compared to current cleaning protocols.

Vermont Business Magazine Below is an open letter addressed to the Vermont Press Corps co-signed by a group of Vermonters - business and community leaders, advocates and activists, from across the state. The letter is also available online at vermonthasherback.com, where members of the public are invited to sign on.

Vermont Business Magazine Every year, the Vermont Agency of Agriculture offers several grant programs designed to support farm to school efforts at Vermont schools and early childhood education organizations. Applications for these programs typically open in the fall but, due to complications related to the COVID-19 pandemic, launch dates were delayed this year. The good news: the wait is over. Over the next two months, the Agency of Agriculture will begin accepting applications for three farm to school grant programs:

Vermont Business Magazine The 1st Squadron, 172nd Cavalry, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), is now authorized to recruit women directly into the unit. This marks the first time in the National Guard's 384 year history that a combat arms battalion sized unit can enlist women.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Weekly unemployment claims last week were virtually unchanged and continue to hold at a high level. This is happening in Vermont and nationally. This is generally explained by more people getting back into the system as the new federal economic relief plan has both extended the unemployment insurance benefits and increased the payout. However, economists also suggest the new year is off to a sluggish start.

Vermont Business Magazine The Agency of Human Services and Department of Health has announced that the portal for people 75+ to schedule an appointment to be vaccinated will open on Monday, January 25th. A link to make an appointment and a phone number will be announced on Monday morning. Also, you must quarantine if you travel into or back to Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine The Board of Trustees of Vermont Law School (VLS) on Saturday named Beth McCormack interim president and dean. Interim Dean McCormack is the first woman to hold the position in VLS’s history and succeeds Dean Thomas McHenry, who announced his intention to step down last November. McHenry assumes the title of President and Dean Emeritus.

Vermont Business Magazine Community Bank N.A. officially opened its new location at 28 Cottonwood Drive on Route 2 in Williston. The brand-new office space offers retail, municipal, business and trust services and now adds the Williston community to the bank’s extensive branch network. The new Williston location has 4 teller stations, a 24-hour ATM, 2 drive-thru lanes, a night depository and safe deposit boxes, however, due to COVID-19 precautions it is currently open as a drive-up only.

Vermont Business Magazine The Woodstock Inn & Resort has been recognized among the 10 top hotels in North America by Preferred Hotels & Resorts 2020 I Prefer Members’ Choice Awards. It is one of just 38 hotels honored globally across four regional categories within Preferred Hotels & Resorts more than 750 hotels, resorts, and residences worldwide.

These awards celebrate hotels around the world that are best-of-the-best in delivering high quality standards and exceptional, personalized experiences to members of the brand’s I Prefer Hotel Rewards program, as determined by votes from I Prefer Members. For the full list of I Prefer Members’ Choice Awards winners, visit IPrefer.com/MembersChoice.

Leonine Public Affairs On Tuesday, Vermont became the last state to reach a grim milestone, recording its 10,000th case of COVID-19. Department of Financial Regulation Commissioner Mike Pieciak noted in a press conference that while some recent projections have indicated Vermont reaching up to 300 cases per day by mid-February, it now appears the numbers will be lower. Although there were hints of optimism in Commissioner Pieciak's update, state officials were reluctant to offer further insight into when Vermont might expect to ease restrictions on multi-household gatherings.

Vermont Business Magazine Omega Optical Holdings, LLC, a leading precision optics platform backed by Artemis Capital Partners, announced today that Dr. Michael J Cumbo has been appointed President and CEO of the Brattleboro firm, effective February 1. Dr Cumbo brings more than 30 years of leadership experience in the optics and photonics industry to Omega.

Artemis formed Omega Optical Holdings, LLC in August 2020, upon the acquisition of Omega Optical, LLC, a manufacturer of precision optical filters and coatings, and plans to target further complementary acquisitions. Dr. Cumbo will lead all strategic and operational initiatives to position the platform for long-term growth.

Dr. Cumbo is an experienced optics and photonics industry leader with a successful track record of building world-class optical technology companies in the life science, defense & aerospace, semiconductor, and industrial OEM markets.

Vermont Business Magazine Old Mill Road Media and WEQX are thrilled to present CLEAN Jams, a new radio show hosted by Benjamin Lerner. CLEAN Jams is a new 60 minute program that shines a spotlight on Rap, Hip-Hop, and Recovery. The one hour show will be recorded at Old Mill Road Recording in East Arlington, VT – and broadcast on WEQX every Thursday night at 11pm, beginning January 28, 2021. In addition to Sober Rap & Hip-Hop music, each episode includes a guest interview with a health professional, musician, politician, lawyer or other recovery partner, discussing addiction and sobriety. Benjamin’s inaugural guest on CLEAN Jams is Vermont’s Health Commissioner, Dr. Mark Levine.