Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Global Campuses Foundation (GCF) recently received a $5,000 Economic Justice Program grant from the Ben & Jerry's Foundation in support of its work facilitating equitable post-secondary education for adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Thanks to this generous donation, GCF participants will continue to teach classes, learn from peers, decide how their campuses operate and deliver learning content, and collaborate with and provide service to community partners and neighbors.

Vermont Business Magazine "What did the bourbon say to the almonds? Am I drunk or are you nuts?" ​That is just one of the many jokes Wanda Sykes riffed when she learned about Punch Line, the newest Ben & Jerry's flavor in partnership with Netflix's comedy brand Netflix Is A Joke. Good for the belly and good for a belly laugh, the new flavor is a comedic duo of brown butter bourbon and almond ice creams with roasted almonds and chuckles of cherries. That's a mouthful of mirth.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) issued the following statement on the Manchin-Romney COVID19 legislative proposal: “Given the enormous economic desperation facing working families in this country today, I will not be able to support the recently announced Manchin-Romney COVID proposal unless it is significantly improved."

Vermont Business Magazine The Department of Labor is reminding individuals receiving unemployment insurance benefits of the upcoming changes to a number of federal unemployment benefit programs, including Extended Benefits (EB), Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC). PUA and PEUC, funded through the CARES Act, are set to expire at the end of the calendar year with the last payable week being the week ending December 26, 2020. Additionally, Vermont will likely trigger off its Extended Benefits program in the coming weeks, as the unemployment rate continues to drop. The loss of both PEUC and EB will significantly reduce the number of payable weeks under the regular UI program.

Vermont Business Magazine As the pandemic stretches on, state officials asked Vermonters at Friday’s press conference to tune into their mental health and wellness right now, and to look out for one another. This comes after the VDH reported over 200 cases of COVID-19 on Thursday and two more deaths Friday and reported another two on Saturday, for a statewide total of 79. Like most places in the US, Vermont has seen a post-Halloween spike in cases.

Vermont Business Magazine Walmart today announced an additional $700 million in cash bonuses to its US-based associates bringing its total 2020 quarterly and special cash bonuses for its US-based associates to more than $2.8 billion. The company’s latest bonus announcement includes $120,000 in quarterly bonuses paid to Vermont associates in their November 25 paychecks following strong third quarter business performance and an estimated $250,000 in special cash bonuses to be paid to Vermont associates on December 24 in recognition of associates’ sustained commitment to customers during the pandemic. Full and part-time associates are eligible for both bonuses.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Weekly unemployment claims fell last week after the previous week's spike, but have been trending up consistently the last two months. After being near their lowest levels since the beginning of the pandemic, claims have increased beyond the usual seasonal slowdown. Claims fell 224 to 1,255 last week (up 131 from the same time last year).

Vermont Business Magazine On Wednesday evening, the City of Burlington received its first readings from the COVID-19 Wastewater Monitoring Program since the Thanksgiving holiday. The readings show a major increase in the marker of COVID-19 in wastewater across the city, indicating significantly higher prevalence of the virus in Burlington. Wastewater surveillance for COVID-19 is a leading indicator, and increased levels of COVID-19 RNA can show up in wastewater monitoring up to seven days earlier than testing results.

New Report Quantifies Energy, Public Health, & Climate Cost Savings of Local Solar

Vermont Business Magazine Newly available data demonstrates the enormous benefit of local solar power to everyone in New England. From 2014 to 2019, small-scale solar in New England saved utilities and their customers more than $1.1 billion in wholesale electricity costs. Notably, these savings were enjoyed not only by people with solar, but everyone with an electric bill. Vermont saved $17 million in 2019 and $79 million since 2014.

Vermont Business Magazine The Health Department reported a single-day record 178 cases Thursday, which Health Commissioner Mark Levine, MD, described at a press conference as significant, but not unexpected at this point in the pandemic. “What I do want is for all Vermonters to be reflecting and thoughtful,” Dr. Levine said. “One day does not represent a trend, but this one day should give us pause and allow us to again reexamine the factors that go into higher case counts and reexamine our own recent behaviors.”

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont House Republican Caucus unanimously re-elected its leadership on Monday. Representative Pattie McCoy (R-Poultney) will return as House Minority Leader, while Representative Rob LaClair (R-Barre Town) will return as House Assistant Minority Leader.

"I am honored to have the support of my constituents and fellow House Republicans," said McCoy. "I look forward to working with returning and new members to partner with Governor Scott so we can rebound from COVID-19, grow our economy, and reduce the cost of living."

Vermont Business Magazine Three Vermont communities have each received $3,000 in grants from AARP Vermont to jump start Winter Placemaking Demonstration Projects that focus on creating public spaces and streets that are safe and accessible for everyone. Proposals from Burlington, Wilmington and Poultney were selected from a host of applications for the initiative. This is the third year of AARP’s Placemaking Grant Program. The program aims to help communities build social capital that can help lead to permanent change that supports healthy, active lifestyles for people of all ages and abilities