Current News

Vermont Business Magazine As Health Commissioner Mark Levine, MD said earlier this week, we are in the very first stages of vaccine production and distribution to the states, and there will likely be a limited supply of vaccine early on. Meanwhile, cases of COVID-19 continue to increase in Vermont. The VDH reported today 105 new cases of COVID-19 statewide in Vermont, with one more death for a total of 86.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott and the Department of Buildings and General Services (BGS) today announced the recipients of this year’s Building Communities Grants for Facilities. These grants will fund $600,000 in construction and capital improvements for 68 projects across Vermont, which contribute to strong communities.

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General TJ Donovan and a bipartisan coalition of 47 other attorneys general today filed a lawsuit against Facebook Inc, alleging that the company illegally stifles competition to protect its monopoly power. The lawsuit alleges that, over the last decade, the social networking giant illegally acquired competitors in a predatory manner and cut services to smaller threats, depriving users of the benefits of competition and reducing privacy protections and services along the way — all in an effort to boost its bottom line through increased advertising revenue.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott, the Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD) and the Vermont Community Foundation today announced $90,000 in grant funding to launch Better Places, a statewide initiative that aims to speed economic recovery by creating places in downtowns and village centers to safely serve residents and visitors this winter and into the coming year.

by Bill Schubart While a taskforce of educators and consultants works to envisage and create a new and sustainable Vermont State College System this winter, the dialogue about our public grade schools continues in the wake of Act 46. The demographic shifts driving consolidations, school governance, pandemic closings and inequitable broadband, and the loss of a community resource are all issues swirling about the future of El-Hi public education in Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine The Department of Health (VDH) and the Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD) will host their weekly webinar series again Wednesday, December 9 at 3:00pm focusing on health and commerce pandemic updates for the business community. Decision makers from ACCD, VDH, and the Department of Public Safety will provide updates and be available to answer your questions. Businesses can submit questions ahead of time via an online form.

Vermont Business Magazine The vast majority of Eastern US voters support the multi-state Transportation & Climate Initiative (TCI) as a way to jumpstart the struggling economy in the wake of the COVID-19 epidemic, according a scientific survey of more than 3,800 voters after the November election. The massive poll was conducted by Climate Nexus and the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication (YPCCC) on behalf of the Our Transportation Future (OTF) coalition. Vermont respondents also supported it, with 37 percent saying they "strongly support" it and 33 percent saying they "somewhat support" it; 18 percent "opposed" and 13 percent were "unsure."

Vermont Business Magazine Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) urged Senate Democrats today to recognize the enormity of the economic and public-health crisis posed by COVID-19 and join them “in demanding that any new COVID-19 relief proposal includes a $1,200 direct payment to adults and $500 to their children,” while rejecting provisions “to give a liability shield to corporations who threaten the health and safety of workers and customers.”

Vermont Business Magazine The US House of Representatives Tuesday passed legislation by Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) granting protections to whistleblowers who shine a light on violations of antitrust laws. The Criminal Antitrust Anti-Retaliation Act, which unanimously passed the Senate last year, must now be signed by the President to become law.

Vermont Business Magazine CVFiber, the communications union district representing 20 municipalities in Central Vermont, has launched a community engagement campaign to assess the needs of 4,500 underserved homes and businesses. The locally-owned and governed community network has teamed up with the Vermont company Last Mile Community Connections, LLC, to conduct a survey of residents prior to rolling out 129 miles of fiber in 2021.

Vermont Business Magazine Mayor Miro Weinberger announced on Tuesday the opening of the Bike Path from Oakledge Park to Roundhouse Park, reconnecting the South End to the downtown. This completed section features significant improvements to path width and safety, and with its reopening, the city has now completed seven of the eight miles of the multi-year Bike Path rehabilitation project.

Vermont Business Magazine The VDH reported another 100 cases of COVID-19 today with four more deaths for 85 total statewide. The VDH said the total number of active cases (new and ongoing) is at its highest point since the beginning of the pandemic last March. There were 100 cases reported today with four more deaths for a statewide total of 85. Also, the Health Department this week will launch a new text notification system for certain people who have been identified as close contacts by someone who has COVID-19.