Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott and the Vermont Department of Labor have announced the availability of a new $1,000 scholarship for eligible Vermonters to support training and other expenses incurred from enrollment in an adult career and technical education certificate program. The Adult Career Technical Education (CTE) Scholarship was created in partnership between the Department of Labor and the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation.

Vermont Business Magazine Next spring, after the ice gives way to the warmth of the sun, there will be a new vessel on Lake Memphremagog ready for easy, peaceful and healing excursions on the water. Starting just after Labor Day, Floating Grace, a 22-foot Duffy, 100 percent electric-powered picnic boat recently shipped to Newport, will be available to take people and their families from around the region who are undergoing cancer treatments for a peaceful and memorable reprieve as they tour the lake. The effort has been supported by a range of sources, including Vermont Electric Co-op’s Community Fund.

Vermont Business Magazine As a result of COVID-19 and waivers granted at the federal level, for the first time ever, all Vermont schools are currently providing Universal School Meals to their students and will through the end of the 2020/21 school year. Universal Meals are a long sought after goal of the organizations who make up the state’s Farm to School Network. October is National Farm to School month and here in Vermont the commitment is stronger than ever to move the state to a permanent Universal School Meals platform incorporating the Farm to School model of healthy meals made with locally sourced ingredients.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Community Loan Fund is now accepting loan applications through its SPROUT program, a low-interest loan program for emerging Vermont working lands entrepreneurs including farms, food producers & processors, foresters, forest products businesses and others in the start-up and early stages of their operations. Loans from $5,000 to $60,000 may be used for purchase of equipment and inventory, general operations, and facility construction or improvements.

​Vermont Business Magazine Norwich Technologies, Inc has launched its new division, RunTime Solar, to provide operations and maintenance (O&M) services to solar energy projects across New England. RunTime Solar will be headed by renowned renewable energy veteran Dan Kinney.

Vermont Business Magazine MENTOR Vermont recently convened the 2020 Vermont Mentoring Symposium, its annual conference that serves as the only professional development and networking opportunity of its kind focused on youth mentoring in Vermont. Typically a one-day in-person event, due to the pandemic, the 2020 Symposium was held virtually throughout the week of September 28-October 2. This year’s online format brought together more than 60 youth mentoring program staff, board members, and supporters from across the state for a series of networking and professional development sessions.

Part of 43-State Initiative, Includes Projects Include Rural Water Infrastructure for 2733 Rural Residents and Businesses Across New Hampshire and Vermont

Vermont Business Magazine The Trump Administration Tuesday announced that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $891 million to modernize rural drinking water and wastewater infrastructure in 43 states.

“Upgrading water infrastructure provides a path to economic growth and protects the health and safety of people who live and work in rural areas,” USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development Bette Brand said. “Under the leadership of President Trump and Secretary Perdue, USDA continues to be a strong partner to rural communities, because we know that when rural America thrives, all of America thrives.”

Vermont Business Magazine Entergy Corporation (NYSE: ETR) reported third quarter 2020 earnings of $2.59 per share on an as-reported basis and $2.44 per share on an adjusted basis (non-GAAP). Entergy narrowed its 2020 adjusted EPS guidance to a range of $5.60 to $5.70 from $5.45 to $5.75.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health is reporting today six new cases of COVID-19, which is a lesser number than over the last couple of weeks. The VDH is also pushing regular flu shots. Influenza (flu) and COVID-19 are both contagious respiratory illnesses, but they are caused by different viruses. One important difference is that we have a vaccine for the flu! It’s more important than ever to get your flu shot this year – when flu viruses and the new coronavirus are spreading at the same time.

Agency of Commerce & Community Development Applications are now being accepted by both ACCD and the Department of Taxes for the Expanded Economic Recovery Grants. The Department of Taxes application is open through the myVTax portal until this Friday, October 30th. The window for the ACCD application is open until Monday, November 9th.

Vermont Business Magazine A second staff member at Northeast Correctional Complex (NECC) in St Johnsbury has tested positive for COVID-19. The staff member was tested for COVID-19 on Monday, October 26 as part of NECC mass testing, and was last in the facility on October 27. A total of two staff at NECC have now tested positive for coronavirus this month. The first tested positive on October 22 and was last in the facility on October 12.

Vermont Business Magazine The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is awarding $2.7 billion nationwide in federal financial assistance in support of water infrastructure improvements through the State Revolving Fund (SRF) programs, including $18,791,000 for Vermont. This funding assists states, tribes and territories with infrastructure projects that help protect surface water and provide safe drinking water to communities across the United States.