Current News

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.

Vermont Business Magazine Human Services Secretary Mike Smith and Public Safety Commissioner Mike Schirling today again tested negative for COVID-19. As their last exposure was 7 days ago, on Friday, January 15, they are no longer in quarantine. There is no change in status for Governor Scott, Health Commissioner Mark Levine, M.D., or Financial Regulation Commissioner Mike Pieciak, whose last exposure was Tuesday, January 19. None are experiencing symptoms and will continue to quarantine. They will be tested again on Tuesday, January 26.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health is scheduling vaccinations for those 75 and older starting Monday. While they expect some bottlenecks in the first few days of registration, (Vermonters age 75 and older) WILL be able to get an appointment during the weeks they are scheduling. The VDH also reported today that there were 174 new cases of COVID-19 and one more death for a statewide total of 169.

Vermont Business Magazine In large clinical trial conducted worldwide, full dose anti-coagulation (blood thinner) treatments given to moderately ill patients hospitalized for COVID-19 reduced the requirement of vital organ support—such as the need for ventilation. A trend in possible reduction of mortality was also observed and is being further studied. With large numbers of COVID-19 patients requiring hospitalization, these outcomes could also help reduce the overload on intensive care units around the world. Dr Mary Cushman, at the University of Vermont's Larner College of Medicine, is a lead investigator on one aspect of the trial.

by Jack Hoffman, Public Assets Institute Federal stimulus funds clearly have been a godsend for Vermont and other states. Through the first round of relief—direct payments to state government, supplemental unemployment benefits, or aid to businesses—more than $5 billion flowed into Vermont to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic and to offset some of the economic damage it has caused.

Vermont Business Magazine iSun, Inc (NASDAQ:ISUN), formerly The Peck Company Holdings, Inc, a leading commercial solar engineering, procurement and construction company and iSun Energy LLC, a provider of innovative solar power, electric mobility and smart city solutions for government, commercial, retail, academic and data-center projects, today announced that they have closed on the acquisition of iSun Energy LLC, announced on January 5, 2021.

Vermont Business Magazine In December, the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development and the US Small Business Administration partnered with the Vermont Chamber of Commerce and US Commercial Service to host a delegation representing Vermont’s aerospace, aviation, and defense sectors at a reinvented 100 percent virtual edition of the 2020 Aerospace Innovation Forum by Aéro Montréal, with the theme of “Smart Travelling Rethought.”

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont House Committee on Appropriations is seeking public input on the Governor’s Recommended FY 2021 Budget Adjustment and will hold a public hearing on Monday, January 25, 2021 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. (1:30 p.m.) via videoconferencing.