Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The US Small Business Administration has announced that the deadline to apply for the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program for the COVID-19 Pandemic disaster declaration is extended to December 31, 2021. The deadline extension comes as a result of the recent bipartisan COVID-19 relief bill passed by Congress and enacted by President Trump on December 27, 2020.

Vermont Business Magazine White River Junction VA Healthcare System began COVID-19 vaccination with the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine December 21, 2020, following the US Food and Drug Administration’s Emergency Use Authorization for this vaccine. Today marks White River Junction VA’s transition to the next phase, beginning to offer the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to veterans who are at the greatest risk for infection and severe illness based on the CDC’s guidelines.

Vermont Business Magazine In September of 2020 the United States Mint and the National Park Service officially launched the America the Beautiful Quarters Program coin honoring Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historic Park in Woodstock, Vermont, the only national park dedicated to telling the story of conservation history and the evolving nature of land stewardship in America.

Vermont Business Magazine Start the new year on the right foot with a hike in a Vermont state park. On January 1, 2021, Vermont State Parks is inviting everyone to celebrate the New Year by heading out on the trails at one of Vermont’s 55 state parks. Park entry is free on New Year’s Day (and all winter long), and this is a great opportunity to discover a whole new world outdoors in winter.

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.