Current News

Agency of Commerce & Community Development ACCD and the Department of Taxes are administering Expanded Economic Recovery Grants. The Department of Taxes application is open now through the myVTax portal until 11:59pm on October 30, 2020. ACCD will be opening its application on Monday, October 26, 2020 at 8:00am, and it will be open until Friday, November 9, 2020 at 11:59pm.

by Daniel Monahan When COVID-19 started to become a full-blown pandemic in the United States in mid-March, one of the darkest outlooks was how America’s small business sector would fare. Main Street staples such as movie theaters, bars, restaurants, bookstores and clothing shops shuddered their doors nearly overnight.

by Paul Cillo, Public Assets Institute The Legislature did the right thing this year by holding property tax payers harmless after the COVID pandemic took a big bite out of the state’s Education Fund. The state is better situated to deal with a revenue shortfall than individual taxpayers or school districts, who already face monumental trials during this crisis. The shortfall this year mostly has to do with a loss of sales taxes and rooms and meals taxes. All sales tax revenue and a quarter of rooms and meals taxes go directly into the Education Fund, along with property taxes and state lottery receipts. Together these sources cover the cost of public education in Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Virtual Policy Series beginning Monday and running through December 14. The events include: Elections During a Pandemic, The State of Vermont’s Workforce, Broadband Now and Beyond, and 2021 Budget Pressures and Projections.

Vermont Business Magazine United States Attorney Christina Nolan announced today that Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSA) Michael Drescher and Barbara Masterson will lead the efforts of her Office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 3, 2020, general election. They are responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of complaints of election fraud and voting rights concerns in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General TJ Donovan will partner with Windham County State’s Attorney Tracy Shriver, Vermont Legal Aid, and Code for BTV to host an expungement “tele-clinic” on Friday, November 13 from 10 am to 2 pm. Expungements wipe from your record specific convictions and dismissed charges after a certain period of time has passed. Under Vermont law, many misdemeanors, 14 different felony offenses, and all dismissed charges can be expunged. The free clinic will focus on expunging criminal charges and convictions from Windham County and will be open to the public by telephone appointment.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Transportation (AOT) announces new guidance for municipalities, businesses, and community groups that wish to implement demonstration projects – temporary, illustrative roadway design projects – in State Highway Right-of-Way. Bicycle lanes, crosswalk markings, curb extensions, and median safety islands are examples of demonstration projects that may be intended to slow motor vehicle traffic or provide better access and safety for pedestrians and/or bicyclists, transit users, or combinations of these. Parklets, pedestrian plazas, and road closures are options that use public sidewalks and highways for temporary public gathering spaces to provide public space to support economic vitality and social interaction.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency has partnered with Sweethearts & Heroes to offer a video series for students and teachers that is designed to give them H.O.P.E during this unusual and unprecedented school year. The Vermont Agency, a full-service insurance and investment firm based in Colchester, has agreed to sponsor the powerful video series for six Vermont schools. Sweethearts & Heroes, a nationally renown student empowerment and empathy activation program, tailored the videos to meet state-mandated reopening guidelines.

Vermont Business Magazine Just ahead of the holiday season, local merchants are gearing up to welcome shoppers for the 10 Day/$35K Giveaway. The festivities kickoff November 5 and run through November 14.

During this 10-day period, residents and visitors alike will have the chance to win Bristol Bucks, Middlebury Money, and Vergennes Green when they shop downtown in all three areas. On random days and times, participating retailers will hand envelopes filled with local currency to shoppers completing purchases at the register.

Vermont Business Magazine Sticky Brand - a Burlington, VT company specializing in custom-made stickers, decals, and design services - is thrilled to announce their move and expansion of their office and production space. The new location comes with an overhaul of their website and production facilities. Since January the company has been experiencing major growth and has needed to increase staff and upgrade their equipment to keep up with an increase of orders and new offerings.

Vermont Business Magazine Revenue collections through September 2020 continue to exceed expectations, with the vital personal income tax showing particular strength. General Fund revenues for the month of September were $165.97 million versus the monthly target of $134.49 million, +$31.49 million or +23.41% above the consensus target. The largest, single above target performance was Personal Income Tax receipts, which were +$22.89 million or +29.20% above the monthly target of $78.39 million.

Vermont Business Magazine On Friday, 16 school districts covering Addison, Chittenden, Franklin, and Grand Isle Counties who are members of the Champlain Valley Superintendents Association (CVSA), announced that while they are committed to bringing elementary students back to four or five days per week of in-person learning, they face serious and varied challenges due to a lack of staffing. The forecasted challenges are numerous given that districts are stretched very thin, with a number of teaching and staff positions currently open. This puts districts in a precarious position that could result in in-person learning days being reduced and/or scaled back from their current models.