Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott and the Department of Labor today marked the sixth annual National Apprenticeship Week in Vermont with a virtual proclamation signing. Administered by the Department of Labor, the Vermont Registered Apprenticeship Program brings together businesses, job seekers, students and educators to develop apprenticeship opportunities to upskill the labor force to meet the needs of employers. These apprenticeships provide career pathways for Vermonters through an “earn while you learn” model, with a guaranteed 25% wage increase over the course of the program.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (VBSR) is honoring three outstanding individuals and businesses who are leading by outstanding example and developing successful socially responsible business models. VBSR’s 19th Annual Awards Ceremony will recognizing: Dave Barash (1955-2020) with the Terry Ehrich Award for Lifetime Achievement, Working Fields with the VBSR Innovation and Inspiration Award, and Marina McCoy of Waste Free Earth with the VBSR Young Changemaker Award.

Vermont Business Magazine It all started with a cookie. Well, nine of them. Plus three creative, forward-thinking local organizations: one large business, one small business and one nonprofit. Now, 10 years and over 300,000 cookies later, Cookies for Good has raised more than $100,000 for the Committee on Temporary Shelter’s homeless shelter and prevention programs.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Community Loan Fund has announced the launch of the Northern Vermont Recovery Loan Fund (NVRLF), a new loan program serving Northern Vermont businesses and organizations negatively impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Business owners from Vermont’s six northernmost counties of Caledonia, Essex, Franklin, Grand Isle, Lamoille and Orleans Counties may be eligible for these loans. The NVRLF provides flexible terms and low- to no-cost debt financing, along with business coaching services and other supports, thanks to grant support from the US Economic Development Administration.

Vermont Business Magazine Norwich University has been awarded a $20,000 grant from the TD Charitable Foundation, the charitable giving arm of TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank, to fund the development of a construction management plan to create Vermont’s first tiny house community. This grant supports the development of the next generation of affordable tiny houses by students and faculty in the College of Professional School’s School of Architecture + Art through Norwich’s Design+Build Collaborative.

by Secretary Anson Tebbetts The year 2020. What a year. The pandemic has forced all of us to look closely at our place in the world. Last year at this time, we only saw masks at the dentist or in the operating room. Today, a mask is part of our wardrobe. A year ago, we were shaking hands, hugging and there were no issues with big crowds.

Vermont Business Magazine The employee-owners of PC Construction prioritized hunger-fighting organizations in their 2020 corporate giving to help combat food insecurity across Vermont, totaling well over $90,000 in donations since March. According to a recent news report, Before COVID-19 arrived, one of every 10 Vermonters struggled with food insecurity. Now one in every four residents in the state struggles to obtain adequate nutrition.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health on Sunday reported 43 new cases of COVID-19. This is the largest one-day new case report since early last spring. On Saturday, health officials reported the state’s 59th death associated with COVID-19, the first since July 28, 2020.

by Patrick Leahy The 2020 presidential election may be nearing an end but it is not yet over, and it will be months before we know the final results of some US Senate races. But at a time of heightened divisiveness and disillusionment in our country, and in the midst of a worsening public health crisis unlike any the world has faced in more than 100 years, we should all take pride in the way that the thousands of poll workers, vote counters, and state officials have conducted themselves over these long days and nights.

Governor Phil Scott today issued the following statement on the result of the presidential election: “I want to congratulate President-elect Biden and Vice President-Elect Harris. I also want to recognize this historic moment as we see the first ever woman, and the first ever person of color, reach the U.S. vice presidency. It is my greatest hope they will be successful in uniting our country and leading us forward through these difficult times."

The University of Vermont Health Network made significant progress overnight to restore behind-the-scenes components that will aid in the restoration of additional patient-facing systems. "Our IT team has now accessed patient schedules for all Network hospitals through next weekend. This will improve our efficiency and the overall experience for patients as we continue to restore systems from last week's cyberattack event."

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott and Health Commissioner Mark Levine, MD, on Friday announced an advisory on social gatherings, strongly recommending they be limited to 10 or fewer people. Noting that Vermont has seen an increasing number of cases as a result of socializing, and many states are now pointing to private social gatherings as a contributor to spread of COVID-19, the State is providing firm recommendations to limit these types of events.