Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Can schools safely remain open or reopen during periods of significant community spread of COVID-19? According to predictions from a model of SARS-CoV-2 transmission in the school setting, yes – if appropriate precautions are followed both in school and in the community.

by John McClaughry People seeking and using political influence to make themselves richer by enlisting government to their advantage has long been a deplorable practice in the history of this country. Enrichment techniques are legion. Outright cash grants and credits. Preferential taxation. Tariffs and quotas to block competing imports. Regulatory favoritism and obstructionism. Subsidized insurance and guarantees. Stringent occupational licensing. Government-sanctioned cartels.

Vermont Business Magazine Anyone who gathered should quarantine, get tested. Thanks to the many people who decided to stay home this Thanksgiving and over the weekend. We know it wasn’t easy, but we hope you were able to find ways to still make it special. If you did gather with people from other households, you can still lower the risk of spreading COVID-19 in case you have been exposed or are sick and don’t have symptoms. Please quarantine, get tested right away, and again on day 7 or later. Find free testing near you at healthvermont.gov/covid19testing(link is external).

Vermont Business Magazine Burlington Electric Department (BED) and the Department of Public Works (DPW) today jointly encouraged Burlington-based individuals, nonprofits, and businesses to apply for grants from the Vermont COVID-19 Arrearage Assistance Program (VCAAP) to pay their past-due electric, water, and sewer/wastewater bills.

Residential and non-residential utility ratepayers served by Vermont electric, municipal, community, or fire district water and sewer/wastewater, private water, or natural gas companies are eligible to apply until December 15, 2020.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont will receive $1,393,160 from FEMA for costs incurred by Vermont Department of Public Safety for the purchase of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and bulk supplies in response to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. The materials were stored in a warehouse and distributed throughout the state in an ongoing basis.

This grant is funded through FEMA’s Public Assistance (PA) Grant program which reimburses communities for actions taken in the immediate response and during recovery from a disaster.

Eligible applicants include states, federally recognized tribal governments, U.S. territories, local governments, and certain private non-profit organizations. The grant applications are submitted from the state, which coordinates the process with local governments.

Vermont Business Magazine Northern Vermont University (NVU) is thrilled to announce that it has received a gift of $3.5 million from Lyndon Alumnus Mark Valade ’78 (CEO of Carhart) and his wife Molly. The gift is in support of NVU’s Learning and Working Community and is by far the largest contribution ever received by the Vermont State Colleges System.

The gift will help build the NVU Learning and Working Community – a partnership between NVU and local businesses and organizations throughout northern Vermont to formalize career pathways and provide hands-on learning opportunities for students.

These partnerships will encourage students to stay and work in Vermont by providing advantages in professional networking and opportunities for future employment, helping to solve the acute Vermont workforce shortage.

Photo: Andre Cloutier hooks up the fuel lines as, from left, Evan Langfeldt (O'Brien Brothers), Jesse Jackman (co-owner of Jackman Fuels) and homeowner Lori Brinkman look on. The delivery was made Monday afternoon to deliver 230 gallons of heating fuel to the Brinkman home in Vergennes. This delivery was absolutely free; half was paid by the Split Fund and half by Jackman Fuels. Courtesy photo

Vermont Business Magazine O’Brien Brothers announces today that they will donate $20,000 to two Vermont organizations to help Vermonters in need to get basic necessities this winter. Vermont Fuel Dealers Association and Feeding Chittenden will each receive a $10,000 donation. These gifts are being given on “Giving Tuesday” with the hope that it will inspire others to help their neighbors.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Student Assistance Corp released a study this week that examines postsecondary enrollment and completion patterns among Vermont students at two-year schools. This follow-up study of the Vermont high school class of 2012 examines such themes as preparedness for college, full-time versus part-time enrollment, and barriers to degree completion. The study also identifies some significant areas of opportunity for future investment, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vermont Business Magazine Northern Counties Health Care (NCHC) and Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital (NVRH) are pleased to announce the grand opening of Northern Express Care – St. Johnsbury on Monday, November 30, 2020. Located at the corner of Eastern Avenue and Railroad Street, Northern Express Care will provide immediate, walk-in primary care access to community members requiring care.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health is urging anyone who attended Sunday services at New Hope Bible Church in Irasburg on November 22 to get tested for COVID-19. Health officials learned that at least one person attended services that day while infectious with COVID-19. The Health Department today reported 99 new cases of COVID-19, for a total 4,005 cases. To date, 67 Vermonters have died from the novel coronavirus, 8 in the last two weeks. As the state experiences a steady increase in cases, Vermonters are strongly urged to avoid unnecessary travel, including for the upcoming holidays, and avoid social gatherings with people you do not live with.

Vermont Business Magazine The University of Vermont Health Network said today that it has restored access to the MyChart online patient portal for existing users, as well as EpicCare Link, an interface that allows community providers to have read-only access to the health information of shared patients. These important milestones are critical steps forward in restoring normal operations for our patients and communities. MyChart was unavailable to patients following the recent cyberattack. All patients at the University of Vermont Medical Center, and most ambulatory patients at Central Vermont Medical Center, Porter Medical Center and Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital now have access once again to the system.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott is encouraging families and businesses to help show Vermont Lights the Way, an effort to literally brighten communities and neighborhoods around the state by decorating homes, businesses, trees or other creative ideas to help celebrate the holidays during the pandemic. In addition to decorating, Vermonters should share pictures of their displays - or favorites from around the community - on social media using the hashtag #VTLightsTheWay. This will allow those who are not able to tour the lights to take part in the holiday celebration.