Current News

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.

Vermont Business Magazine Law enforcement agencies including the Vermont State Police, Montpelier Police Department, Capitol Police Department and the Washington County Sheriff’s Department are continuing to plan for any potential protests, disruptions or other eventualities that might occur in the Capital Region of Vermont in the days ahead.

Police agencies are unaware of any specific, credible threats directed toward the Statehouse, Montpelier or elsewhere in Vermont. www.vtips.us

Vermont Business Magazine Christopher & Banks, on January 13, 2021, filed for Chapter 11 reorganization and authorized store closing sales to be conducted by Hilco Merchant Resources. The store closing process has begun at more than 400 stores nationally. These include the three Vermont stores at the Essex Outlets, at Rutland's Green Mountain Plaza and at the University Mall in South Burlington.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Army National Guard will support Operation Capitol Response in Washington, DC. According to the Guard, the time line is fluid, but soldiers will depart Vermont to arrive in Washington by Tuesday. Approximately 100 Vermont Army National Guard soldiers will support operations in Washington, DC, ahead of the Presidential Inauguration on Wednesday January 20. The Vermont Soldiers are predominantly from 1st Squadron, 172nd Cavalry, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain).