Current News

Vermont Business Magazine VGS today filed its Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), reaffirming its commitment to act now on climate change and offer customers a decarbonized thermal energy future. The IRP addresses VGS’s commitment to meeting the thermal energy needs of current customers safely and affordably and creating a pathway to Net Zero by 2050. In addition to outlining the Company’s climate commitment, the IRP forecasts customers’ demand for energy services for the next 20 years and evaluates the resources and strategies available to deliver on safe, reliable, and affordable low-to-no-carbon energy.

Vermont Business Magazine Green Mountain Power (GMP) is reminding customers to be alert to the forecast, as meteorologists say there is a growing likelihood that precipitation heading towards Vermont may fall as heavy, wet snow with the potential to take down trees and power lines, causing scattered outages. Mid and high elevation areas along the spine of the Green Mountains from Washington County south are at risk with Southern Vermont currently in the bullseye of this winter storm, according to the latest weather models which increase the possibility of outages.

Vermont Business Magazine The Department of Human Services and the Vermont Health Department today updated the COVID-19 vaccine distribution schedule. Now: Health care personnel and residents at long term care facilities can be vaccinated. On January 25: Vermonters who are 75 years or older can register for appointments. The next phase will include 70+, then 65+. VDH estimates this will take until about the end of the winter. The high-risk health conditions group will be next, starting about the beginning of spring.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Weekly unemployment claims last week 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 Attorney General TJ Donovan announced today that his office has reached a settlement with Club Fitness of Vermont, Inc. and its owner Sean Manovill, resolving claims that arose from Manovill’s decision to open for in-person business in May 2020 against the Governor’s orders. At the time that Club Fitness reopened, fitness centers were required by Governor Scott’s Executive Order to be closed to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Vermont Business Magazine Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) issued the following statements regarding President-Elect Biden’s plan to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic and economic crisis. "I look forward to working with the incoming President and his administration to swiftly act on this proposal to provide relief to the American people."

Vermont Business Magazine Class of 1967 alumnus and longtime Trustee Barry Roy bequeathed $4 million to Saint Michael’s College through his estate, the largest single gift in the school’s 117-year history, college officials announced today. A larger-than-life figure on campus and within New England philanthropic circles, Roy died on August 9, 2019 at the age of 73.

Vermont Business Magazine Generator, Burlington’s makerspace, has announced the 9 businesses and entrepreneurs chosen for its 2021 JumpStart program. A collaboration with LaunchVT, Generator’s JumpStart features a 10-week, cohort-based business development program, specifically for makers with market ready physical products. Each JumpStart cohort member will receive over 30 hours of business development support, access to Generator’s high-tech fabrication facilities and free tool trainings.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Auditor of Accounts Doug Hoffer recently released a report on the progress of the Town of Hartford’s TIF progress. While the auditor has taken issue with TIF district’s in the past over whether they are truly beneficial to the local economy and/or too onerous to the state education fund – notably the one in St Albans City – the auditor found only a small and unintended error in the Hartford TIF.

Vermont Business Magazine The U.S. Small Business Administration, in consultation with the U.S. Treasury Department, will re-open the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan portal to PPP-eligible lenders with $1 billion or less in assets for First and Second Draw applications on Friday, January 15, 2021 at 9 am ET. The portal will fully open on Tuesday, January 19, 2021 to all participating PPP lenders to submit First and Second Draw loan applications to SBA.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health is reporting today 197 new cases of COVID-19 and four more deaths for a total of 162. The post-Christmas holiday has proven to be a more infectious period, like post-Halloween, than post-Thanksgiving was. Also, more than 28,000 people have now received the COVID-19 vaccine in Vermont, including 4,092 of whom have received both doses. Vermont plans to use age groupings to determine who can receive the vaccine next based on our primary goal with vaccination efforts – to save lives. Planning is still ongoing, but we expect the first age grouping eligible will be people 75 and older, then 70 and older, then 65 and older, as vaccine supply allows.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced organizational changes to modernize the state’s public safety and select permitting and regulatory functions to better serve Vermonters, increase efficiency and improve these systems. Through Executive Order 01-21 Governor Scott has created the Agency of Public Safety, effective April 15, 2021, though the Order is structured as a framework for the Agency with a gradual implementation. Governor Scott also signed Executive Order 02-21, to professionalize and modernize the Natural Resources Board and its district commissions, effective July 1.