Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott at his regular press briefing today, updated guidance issued a week ago on social engagement. He said these were "commonsense" changes predicated on feedback the administration had received. In particular, the governor had previously announced that individuals could no longer take a walk outside with a non-household member. He rescinded that today and is allowing people to be outside with one non-household member, while still maintaining the usual COVID-19 health protocols like social distancing and mask wearing.

He also is allowing someone living alone to engage with another household. Also, anyone who feels they are in danger or threatened can move into another household in order to stay safe.

Vermont Business Magazine The University of Vermont Health Network said in a statement today that it plans to begin restoring access this weekend to the Epic electronic health records system beyond the current “read only” status to all inpatient and ambulatory sites at UVM Medical Center. We are also working to restore Epic access to ambulatory sites at Central Vermont Medical Center (Berlin), Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital (Plattsburgh, NY), and Porter Medical Center (Middlebury) as quickly as possible.

The process is likely to take several days. We will only be moving forward as long as each step is achieved successfully, and patient safety and quality can be assured.

Vermont Business Magazine General Fund, Transportation Fund, and Education Fund tax receipts were $18.27 million, or 10.1%, above expectations in October. Personal income, the most important General Fund revenue source, was $17.7 million above target (26.3 percent). Corporate income, which tends to fluctuate because of when it is reported, was $13.1 million below or over 400 percent. As for the vital consumer taxes, the sales tax was up a robust 23.3 percent, while the rooms & meals tax, which has been especially hard hit during the pandemic, was up nearly 10 percent. Because of the pandemic, all revenue expectations were revised down by economists in August, but have generally been above those expectations since.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Weekly unemployment claims increased again last week. After being near their lowest levels since the beginning of the pandemic, claims have increased for five straight weeks. Claims increased by 55 to 860 (up 167 from the same time last year). The last week claims were under 500 was on March 7 when there were 446. As for the week's ongoing jobless claims, for the week ending November 11, 2020, the Labor Department processed 11,685 claims, down 329 from the previous week and 8,285 more than the same time last year.

Vermont Business Magazine On November 18, 2020 the US Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued tax guidance further clarifying that expenses paid with forgiven Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans do not qualify for a business expense tax deduction. The guidance also reconfirmed that Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans that have been forgiven or are expected to be forgiven shall be excluded from gross income tax.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont unemployment rate fell steeply in October as both the number of employed went up as the number of unemployed went down. That is tempered again, however, by another decline in the labor force. The seasonally-adjusted statewide unemployment rate for October was 3.2 percent. This reflects a decrease of one and one tenth percentage points from the prior month’s revised estimate of 4.3 percent. The comparable United States rate in October was 6.9 percent, a decrease of one percentage point from the revised September estimate. Vermont has the second lowest rate in the nation behind Nebraska.

Vermont Business Magazine This year Vermont Breakfast on the Farm shifted its approach to agritourism due to COVID-19. Instead of hosting in-person breakfast on the farm events, a virtual tour was held at Newmont Farm for 1,800 people in May. In addition, a new grant program was created to give Vermont farmers and industry organizations the opportunity to engage the public in learning about modern dairy farming in the Green Mountain State in creative ways.

Vermont Business Magazine Encore Renewable Energy and Greenbacker announced a new partnership today that will expand the deployment of solar and energy storage projects on underutilized property with a new source of development capital from Greenbacker’s Development Opportunities Fund, the companies announced Thursday.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health is reporting today 148 new cases of COVID-19, which is a state record and reflective of a recent surge. They are also reporting another death for 61 total (WCAX-TV is reporting another person in Rutland has died for a statewide total of 62). The VDH is urging not only that people observe health protocols to stay healthy, but also practice good mental health during these trying times.

Vermont Business Magazine Yesterday, the State of Vermont authorized Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) to move forward with its plan to support health care payment and delivery system reform by attributing the State Employees Health Plans’ (Health Plans) members to the Accountable Care Organization (ACO) healthcare payment reform model effective January 1, 2021. Over the past year, the Administration took the time to review and understand the ACO model as currently administered by OneCare Vermont with the Benefits Advisory Committee, a joint union/management committee created to advise the Administration on issues related to the State Health Care Plans.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced the Vermont Agency of Transportation (AOT) has relaunched the State’s Plug-In Electric Vehicle (PEV) Incentive Program with a new round of $950,000 in incentive funding available to income-qualified applicants to purchase or lease new PEVs. The program was first proposed by Governor Phil Scott in his FY2020 budget, and the first round of the program launched in December 2019.

Vermont Business Magazine The Department of Public Service announces the release of the Draft COVID Response Telecommunications Recovery Plan. The Department is seeking public comment on the draft plan. The Plan was prepared by the independent consulting firm CTC Energy and Technology, in partnership with the Vermont based Rural Innovations Strategies, Inc. The Plan was commissioned at the direction of the Vermont General Assembly through Act 137 and was supported with funding from the federal CARES Act.