Current News

GMP Crews Will Respond While Continuing to Follow All Health and Safety Precautions

Vermont Business Magazine Green Mountain Power (GMP) is urging customers to be safe and to stay alert as forecasters are saying strong, gusty winds could mean outages are possible this evening, especially in higher elevations along the western slopes of the Green Mountains. GMP is watching the forecast closely and will respond as quickly and safely as possible.

“Safety is at the front of everything we do, and we want our customers to be safe – so they should pay close attention to the strong wind conditions this storm will bring. We are ready to respond to possible outages and have been tracking multiple forecasts for days,” said Mike Burke, Chief of Field Operations for GMP. “It is always critical that customers stay away from all downed lines and trees. Always assume lines are energized. Call us,” he added.

Vermont Business Magazine The Joint Fiscal Committee met this morning and unanimously approved the Scott Administration's proposal to dedicate $75 million of unallocated remaining Coronavirus Relief Fund dollars to relief grants for the lodging and restaurant industry.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott on Friday announced an extension of the state of emergency and an update to his Executive Order: Multi-household gatherings, including all public and private social, recreational and entertainment gatherings, indoor and outdoor, including large social gatherings incidental to ceremonies, holiday gatherings, parties and celebrations are suspended until further notice; restaurants must close all in-person dining at 10 pm each day; bars and social clubs are to close indefinitely; take out and curbside options can still be offered; youth and adult recreational sports activities, not related to Vermont Principals Association sanctioned school sports, are suspended until further notice; all businesses, non-profits and government entities shall reinstitute telework policies for all employees to the maximum extent possible; in person meetings are strongly discouraged and should be held by telephone or video conference whenever possible.

Vermont Business Magazine The University of Vermont Health Network is temporarily scaling back visitation to inpatient and outpatient areas at network hospitals and clinics in response to the recent surge in COVID-19 cases in our area. No visitors are permitted until further notice, with very limited exceptions.

Dragonheart Vermont We are enthusiastically announcing Dragonheart Vermont's Fall/ Winter Virtual Fun-Raiser!

It’s our seasonal twist on a summer tradition. Our summer Lake Champlain Dragon Boat Festival had us going virtual and we missed out on the well-loved Pick Your Prize event. Keeping strong by adapting to new circumstances, we are thrilled to share with you our first ever virtual fun-raiser!

Vermont Business Magazine To slow the spread of COVID-19 as cases and hospitalizations rise in Vermont and throughout the nation, Governor Scott announced Friday several temporary limitations on social gatherings and business operations. The state has recorded the three highest number of cases on three consecutive days. There were 84 new cases reported by the Vermont Department of Health today.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Joint Fiscal Committee could vote as early as tomorrow to allocate $75 million in Coronavirus Relief Funds to help businesses get through the pandemic. These funds would go to the Expanded Emergency Economic Recovery Grant Program, which piggybacks on top of a $76 million allocation in October. Most of the money would go to the hospitality sector, which has been hard hit by the pandemic. Just today, because of record COVID-19 cases in the state, Governor Scott announced that bars must shut down starting at 10 pm Saturday.

Vermont Business Magazine In response to a sustained surge in cases of COVID-19 throughout New England and to mitigate the spread of the virus, Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC), part of Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC), will discontinue in-person visits for hospital patients starting 7 p.m. Monday, November 16.

Vermont Business Magazine Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC) has submitted an offer to the bankruptcy trustee overseeing liquidation of assets of the former Southern Vermont College. The signed offer is for $3.2 million and includes the real estate property and facilities of the main campus. The leadership of the health system, through the direction of its Board of Directors, is committed to developing a long-range plan to maximize the use of this valuable community asset as well as how the property could enhance community and health-related services for the southern Vermont region.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, the Board of Trustees of Vermont Law School and its President and Dean Thomas McHenry jointly announced his decision not to seek renewal for another term and that he will step down at the end of the current academic year in June 2021. Since his appointment in July 2017, McHenry has directed and overseen a variety of measures that have made Vermont Law School financially stronger and enhanced its educational programs. At the Board’s instruction, McHenry has achieved budget surpluses while increasing employee benefits and maintaining the nationally recognized environmental program.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today at his regular press briefing extended his State of Emergency another month and issued new restrictions, which include closing bars entirely as of Saturday night, limiting restaurant hours to 10 pm, forbidding social gatherings to single households (no multi-family gatherings) and suspending recreational sports. These types of social gatherings, which recently included Halloween parties, are now blamed for the highest case counts in Vermont over the course of the entire pandemic.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Public Service announced Thursday that effective November 12, the VT COVID-19 Arrearage Assistance Program (VCAAP) is now providing assistance with past-due bills from an expanded list of water and wastewater (sewer) utilities. In addition to helping out with past-due electric, landline telephone, private water company, and Vermont Gas bills, consumers can now also apply to VCAAP for assistance with their delinquent water and sewer/wastewater charges.