Current News

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.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health is reporting 28 new cases statewide. There is one person hospitalized. There have been no deaths associated with COVID since early August, which are holding at 58. The state has now surpassed 2,000 cases. At Friday’s press conference, Health Commissioner Dr Mark Levine provided an update on the outbreak in Central Vermont, tied to recreational ice sports, which is now at 43 cases. There are also cases at Saint Michael's College that the VDH is tracing and another in Cambridge related to a wedding.

Vermont Business Magazine As of the end of data collection for the 2020 Census, 99.9 percent of housing units and addresses have been accounted for in Vermont. The US Census Bureau conducted an operational press briefing with senior Census Bureau leaders this week to discuss details of the once-a-decade count.

Vermont Business Magazine Saint Michael’s President Lorraine Sterritt sent a message to the college community early Thursday regarding positive COVID-19 test results among students. Later in the day, Dawn Ellinwood, vice president for student affairs/dean of students, shared further information on additional surveillance testing this week and progress made on the contact tracing of the recent cases. Classes will be held remotely for a week, sports will be suspended through the weekend and students are asked not to leave the area.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Democratic Party and the Burlington Democratic Committee will pay a penalty to the State of Vermont for campaign finance reporting violations. According to a settlement reached today, the Vermont Democratic Party and the Burlington Democratic Committee failed to timely file reports regarding the March 3, 2020 Town Meeting Day election, in violation of 17 V.S.A. § 2964(b)(1), for which they will collectively pay $2,750 as a civil penalty.