Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Signed by President Trump on Monday, December 28, the massive piece of legislation will extend the investment tax credit (ITC). The ITC was supposed to step down from 26% to 22% in 2021 and then completely disappear in 2022. Now, under the new bill, the ITC will be 26% for all 2021 and 2022 projects before stepping down to 22% in 2023. In 2024, the ITC will end for residential projects and fall to 10% for commercial projects.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health is reporting four more Vermonters have died of COVID-19. There were a total of 69 new cases, as infections remain stable and under 100. As of today, 11,157 Vermonters have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. You can now go to our new COVID-19 Vaccine Dashboard to get information on the number of people who have been vaccinated and the total doses administered.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, Maine Governor Janet Mills, Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo, New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu, Vermont Governor Phil Scott, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont and Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker announced an extension of the suspension of interstate youth hockey competitions for public and private schools and youth hockey leagues through at least January 31, 2021.

The prohibition will not impact interstate collegiate, professional or U.S. national team hockey activities, which will remain subject to existing health and safety protocols and/or restrictions.

Vermont Business Magazine On Sunday night, the President signed COVID-19 economic relief legislation which included provisions to extend the unemployment insurance (UI) programs created under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) programs have been extended, and the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) program has been reinstated, providing an additional $300 weekly benefit until March 14, 2021.

As previously announced and separate from the federal action, Vermont's minimum wage rate will increase to $11.75 per hour from the current rate of $10.96 per hour, effective on January 1, 2021. The federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour (as it has been since 2009). New Hampshire is the only New England state using the federal minimum wage.

Vermont Business Magazine University of Vermont Medical Center President and Chief Operating Officer Steve Leffler, MD, announced today that after a competitive national search and multiple town hall-style employee interviews with the final candidates, Peg Gagne, MSN, RN, has been selected as Chief Nursing Officer for the hospital starting January 11, 2021. Gagne has been serving as Interim CNO since September 2019.

Vermont Business Magazine Matthew Godnick Seager, Rutland City resident, educator, small business owner, entrepreneur and grandson of former Rutland City Mayor Gilbert "Gilly" Godnick, today announced his candidacy for mayor of the City of Rutland. Among Seager’s key priorities are workforce development, job retention and creation, and a commitment to continuing Rutland’s war on drugs.

Vermont State Police On December 25, 2020 at approximately 9:15 PM a 911 call was received about a fire in an upstairs apartment at 58 Pleasant Street in Newport City. The Newport City Fire and Police Departments were on scene within 4 minutes and learned there was a male still inside the apartment. Newport City Fire Fighters quickly extinguished the blaze, stopped the spread of the fire, and saved the rest of the apartment building. Unfortunately one of the occupants of the second floor apartment, Jonathan R. Coe (39) was unable to get out of the apartment and perished in the fire.

Vermont Chamber of Commerce It has been a challenging year for businesses across the country. Pandemic restrictions have significantly reduced occupancy and revenues. Small businesses in Vermont are struggling, and nearly every industry has been impacted. Some, like restaurants and lodging properties, were hit hardest. And the hits keep coming.

Vermont Business Magazine US Senator Patrick Leahy, US Senator Bernie Sanders, and US Representative Peter Welch will recognize 28 young Vermonters who are being nominated to the United States Service Academies, Class of 2025. Each year the Vermont delegation hosts a reception at the Vermont State House for the nominees. However, for everyone’s safety, this year’s ceremony will be held virtually on Wednesday evening.

by Agriculture Secretary Anson Tebbetts 2020 was the year of all years, so to speak. Last year at this time, Vermont was going about its business; we were toasting 2019, and we were looking forward to the start of a new decade. We made it through deep winter; then came March and our routines ended.

The pandemic forced us to close our schools, restaurants and workplaces. Grocery shopping, formerly mundane, became too much for many. Plans for parties, weddings, graduations and other celebrations that bring joy to everyday life were terminated with one fell swoop.

Our health care workers and first responders took care of us as we tried to weave our way through Covid-19. Lives were lost. We learned more about how to take precautions and treat people who were ill, but the virus did not go away.

Vermont Business Magazine Human Services Secretary Mike Smith said Tuesday that about 9,800 Vermonters have been vaccinated so far, including 8,000 health care workers, 900 emergency services personnel and 900 in long-term care facilities, though that number is likely larger due to a lag in reporting through the federal government. By the end of January, everyone in Phase 1A should have received at least the first dose of the vaccine, with many having received second doses, he said.

Vermont Business Magazine Last week, the City Council unanimously approved a motion in support of the advancement of the Railyard Enterprise Project to preliminary engineering. The City and the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) expect that design work could begin in 2021, and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and VTrans have committed to providing 90 percent of the funding.