Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Center on Rural Innovation (CORI) is pleased to announce the commitment of three years of funding from longtime funder, partner, and supporter Siegel Family Endowment (SFE). The grant totals $2.8 million over the next three years, and targets programs and work that will help the organization scale its efforts to bring digital economy jobs to small town America and close the rural opportunity gap.

Vermont Business Magazine Deputy Secretary of Administration Brad Ferland announced his retirement effective October 30 after 31 years of service to Vermonters. As Chief of Operations, Kristin Clouser has assumed many of Ferland’s duties to allow him to focus on COVID-19 matters, including state procurement and contracts, risk management, insurance, and day to day operational oversight.

Vermont Business Magazine Health Commissioner Mark Levine, MD, sought to debunk a misleading claim that “only 6%” of the reported COVID-19 deaths in the US are solely attributable to the new coronavirus. This misleading claim stems from an August 26 update the Centers for Disease Control posted on its website, which provides a detailed breakdown of the accompanying health conditions and contributing causes of death reported in people who have died of the new coronavirus in the United States. Also, the VDH is reporting seven new cases of CVODI-19 and no deaths, which are holding for several weeks at 58.

Vermont Business Magazine A lack of a coordinated statewide approach to safely reopening schools has left districts – as well as parents, school employees, and students – largely on their own, resulting in an overall grade of D+, according to the state’s largest union. The Vermont NEA represents most of the state's teachers. The NEA does not oppose opening of schools on September 8, but is urging the state to make important changes, including putting a nurse in every school and ensuring uniform safety protocols. NEA further regrets the state did not implement a single plan for the entire state.

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General TJ Donovan today announced the recent arraignments of two men for child pornography-related charges. In both cases, the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (VT-ICAC) received CyberTips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children indicating that users in Vermont had utilized the social media website Tumblr to upload electronic files containing child pornography. VT-ICAC subsequently identified Mr. Cline and Mr. Williams after executing online and residential search warrants.

Vermont Business Magazine The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) recently approved the addition of ten counties to New England Federal Credit Union’s (NEFCU) field of membership. The expansion allows NEFCU to offer its services to anyone who lives, works, worships, studies, or regularly conducts business in the area. The rural district increases NEFCU’s field of membership by 650,000 potential members, an increase of approximately 15% current potential membership.

Vermont Business Magazine Gasoline prices this Labor Day are set to be the lowest since 2004 according to GasBuddy, the travel and navigation app used by more North American drivers to save money on gas. The company predicts a national average of $2.19 per gallon, down nearly 37 cents from last year and the lowest priced Labor Day since 2004’s $1.82 per gallon average. Vermont's average today is $2.17.

Vermont Business Magazine Green Mountain Power (GMP) is alerting customers and drivers that they may spot helicopter line crews along sub-transmission lines visible from Interstate 89 in the Richmond/Bolton area this weekend. The work is scheduled to take place Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Helicopter line crews will be installing spacers between lines to increase reliability, especially during the winter when ice can build up on lines. The improvements will help customers from Middlesex north and west into Essex. This work is scheduled to take place without outages needed.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Weekly unemployment claims edge up slightly last week but continue to be relatively flat in Vermont. There are about 40,000 Vermonters still receiving either regular or pandemic unemployment benefits. After a spike of claims at the beginning of the pandemic, followed by a steep decline as the economy began to reopen in April, initial unemployment claims fell consistently since the beginning of July before flattening over the last few weeks. For the week ending August 29, 2020, the Labor Department processed 749 Initial Claims, up 63 from the previous week and 544 more than the same time last year. Summer typically produces the lowest UI numbers. Comparing the data to the same time last year probably provides the best insight to current conditions.

Vermont Business Magazine RSG has released the findings of a months-long study of drone noise pollution and outlined ways operators and communities can mitigate annoyance. The innovative white paper examines the impact of drone noise on communities in the United States and abroad and uses Vermont’s Burlington/Lake Champlain region as a model for a proposed solution. The drone services market is projected to grow to $63.6 billion by 2025. And just this past week, Amazon received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration to begin delivering packages via Prime Air, its drone delivery service.

Vermont Business Magazine This summer marked a major milestone for Vermont solar’s collaborative efforts to restore pollinator habitat in our state. In July, Middlebury-based REV Member, Bee the Change teamed up with REV Member Green Lantern Solar to install its 20th pollinator-friendly solar field on a 4.5 acre site in New Haven. The site will soon host dozens of species of plants designed to attract native and migratory pollinator insects and beneficial bird species.

Vermont Business Magazine Time is running out to apply for two major agricultural granting programs related to Covid-19. The deadline to apply for millions of dollars is just one month away on October 1. The purpose of VCAAP funds is to stabilize agricultural businesses and organizations based on their lost revenues and expenses related to the COVID-19 public health emergency. The Dairy Assistance Application and Agriculture and Working Lands Applications are now available but the deadline to apply is fast approaching.