Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott and Health Commissioner Mark Levine, MD, today detailed the state’s framework for distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine, once one is produced and distributed to the state. The state has submitted responses to a series of questions from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), laying out the framework for vaccine distribution and Vermont’s preparedness. The federal government, which is responsible for nationwide distribution of vaccines, still needs to provide details on many logistics surrounding a potential vaccine, and this interim COVID-19 vaccination plan will evolve as new information comes forward.

Vermont Business Magazine In response to the business disruptions and financial stress associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility announced today the creation of the VBSR Small Business Resiliency Fund, which will provide grants to small businesses in Vermont who demonstrate the ability to rebuild, sustain, and grow their operations through a “triple-bottom-line” focused on people, planet, and prosperity.

Grantees will receive cash awards of $10,000 and referrals to VBSR partner organizations offering financial and technical assistance, including business planning, working capital, impact assessment, marketing, e-commerce, and supply chain management. Partners organizations include the Center for Women and Enterprise, Vermont Small Business Development Center, and VSECU.

Vermont Business Magazine ECFiber will build over 160 miles of fiber-optic network in towns of Bradford, Corinth, Fairlee, West Fairlee and Windsor in 2021, according to a proposed budget released to its member towns this week. The budget also provides funding for 75 miles of network in Hartford and 40 miles of construction in existing towns to meet increased demand. ECFiber sent its annual report and proposed budget to the selectboards of its 30 member towns this week and announced plans for an electronic public hearing on the proposed budget on Tuesday, November 10th, at 7pm. The budget, with any changes, will be formally adopted at the December 8th meeting.

Vermont Business Magazine The Parker LORD Vermont-based MicroStrain team is using a 3D printer to supply Vermont Mental Health Agency, Howard Center, with face shields. The face shields allow clinicians to communicate more effectively with children returning to school and maintain safety protocols considering the global Coronavirus pandemic. Incorporating feedback from Howard Center, Parker LORD ensured the face shields met all state requirements by using laser foam cutouts to fill a gap between the visor and the wearer’s forehead. After weeks of 3D printing and a few late nights of assembly, Parker LORD produced 75 of the lightweight face masks for Howard Center staff.

Vermont Business Magazine An officer at Northeast Correctional Complex in St Johnsbury has tested positive for COVID-19. The officer was last in the facility on October 12. Vermont Department of Corrections and Vermont Department of Health officials immediately took the following actions upon receipt of the positive test result Thursday.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health is reporting 15 new cases of COVID-19 statewide, as well a Department of Corrections staff member testing positive. Also, an investigation conducted by VDH scientists and staff from the Department of Corrections found that transmission of COVID-19 can occur during multiple brief exposures with someone who is infected. Notably, the findings of their work were published in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly on October 21, and were cited by the CDC when it announced its updated definition of what is considered to be a close contact.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Everyone Eats organizers and partners gathered at one of the program’s weekly distribution points to highlight the impact the COVID-relief program has made in the eight weeks since its launch. In August, the Vermont Legislature provided $5 million in CARES Act funding to create this program that engages restaurants to prepare meals for Vermonters hit by the pandemic.

Vermont Business Magazine An investigation conducted by Vermont Department of Health scientists and released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that transmission of COVID-19 can occur during multiple brief exposures with someone who is infected. Staff from the Health Department and the Department of Corrections looked into an instance in which a state corrections officer became infected after several brief interactions with incarcerated people who had COVID-19. None of the individual interactions lasted 15 minutes but together added up to more than that amount over time. The CDC definition now says a close contact is someone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period. This is a refinement of previous guidance, which defined close contact as being within 6 feet, for 15 minutes or more at a time.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, a group of 15 Senators led by US Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Ranking Member of the US Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, and Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont), the most senior member of the Committee, called on the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to reverse its decision to unfairly exclude dairy farmers from receiving COVID-19 relief to cover losses related to meat production. While milk is the primary income for dairy farms, they often are diversified operations with significant revenue coming from the meat of cows as they are retired from milking. In the original Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP), the USDA compensated dairy farmers and other livestock producers for losses related to meat produced from breeding animals. When USDA announced CFAP 2, the second version of the relief program, the Department made a significant change to exclude those losses.

Vermont Business Magazine After careful analysis and consideration, the Board of Directors of Strolling of the Heifers, Inc has taken action to suspend all operations. With a heavy heart, this action is taken due to the impact that COVID-19 has had on the financial operations of Strolling of the Heifers that is very dependent on the annual parade and associated events for its operation.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced the second round of the Frontline Employee Hazard Pay Grant Program, which was passed by the Legislature. This round expands the types of employers who are now eligible to apply and includes employees who worked for an eligible employer last spring during the worst of the pandemic in Vermont but are no longer working for that employer. The first round distributed approximately $28 million to those primarily in the healthcare and human services fields. The first round covered approximately 370 employer applications, equating to approximately 15,650 employees who received a grant. The second round expands the employer type to include sectors such as pharmacies, grocery stores and certain retail, and appropriates an additional $22.5 million.

Vermont Business Magazine The Thomas W Huebner Medical Office Building at Rutland Regional Medical Center was officially dedicated on Monday. The new building, which is adjacent to the hospital on Allen Street in Rutland, is the new home for the Vermont Orthopaedic Clinic, Physiatry services and ENT & Audiology. The virtual Ribbon Cutting Ceremony took place outside of the building with participants flanking the building’s namesake, Tom Huebner, former President and CEO of the hospital. Due to COVID-19 and safety protocols, comments for the building’s opening were pre-recorded and the final ribbon cutting footage was added to the video to capture the building’s story and purpose.