Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health is investigating a community outbreak of COVID-19 cases in Rutland County. The outbreak is associated with people who attended a private party at the Summit Lodge in Killington on August 19, 2020. To date, the Health Department has identified 14 cases among people who attended the event and their close contacts – meaning the virus has spread to one or more people who did not attend the private party. Health officials said Summit Lodge followed state protocols and guidance and has been a cooperative partner in the outbreak investigation. A pop-up test clinic will be held in Rutland City on September 2 from 9 am – 3 pm at the Rutland Office of Local Health in the Asa Bloomer Building. Registration is required.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health has released the state’s first Social Autopsy Report, an in-depth look at how those who died of a drug-related overdose interacted with state agencies, and where improvements in the state’s efforts can be made. The release coincides with the observance of International Opioid Awareness Day. The basic information of an overdose death indicates that the most common profile is of a young, single male with less than a college education.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Vermont Technical College (Vermont Tech) President Patricia Moulton Monday announced a $7.969 million contract awarded to Vermont Tech from the U.S. Army’s Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (IBAS) office as part of its National Imperative for Industrial Skills. The contract, which has an additional $4 million option, will establish the first advanced manufacturing education, research and development facility in Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, the Scott Milne for Lieutenant Governor campaign announced its campaign team heading into the general election. Building on his strong victory in the primary, Milne has rounded out his staff with an experienced group of diverse talents and backgrounds.

Vermont Business Magazine The Walter Cerf Community Fund, a component fund of the Vermont Community Foundation, has announced $77,740 in grants to twenty-five organizations, which build on over $60,000 in Cerf Fund grants already at work in the community in 2020 as part of multi-year commitments. This year’s awards represent a combination of competitive grants to organizations supporting basic needs, historic preservation, arts, and education, as well as a number of proactive grants to longstanding grantee partners that experienced significant disruption as a result of COVID-19 or served on the frontlines of pandemic response. Most grant recipients are based in Addison County or northern Rutland County.

Vermont Business Magazine David G White, CRE, President, White + Burke Real Estate Advisors, today shared just-released information about important business disruptors – the issues and trends impacting US commercial and residential real estate. White is a member of The Counselors of Real Estate (CRE), the global professional association which annually announces The CRE Top Ten Issues Affecting Real Estate, an update of market trends and conditions, which influence real estate opportunities and risks. The number one issue, unsurprisingly, is the COVID-19 pandemic and the ways in which this will impact the real estate market.

Vermont Business Magazine The Young Inventors’ Program is coming to Vermont! This long-standing STEM education program is expanding across Northern New England to inspire students to explore science and technology while solving real-world problems. YIP is a K-12 project-based learning experience developed to meet evolving education standards including the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) as well as reinforce 21st Century skills including decision making, problem solving, and communications. The flexible curriculum is offered to schools, community organizations, libraries, clubs, and homeschoolers at no cost.

Agency of Commerce & Community Development ACCD is encouraging interested businesses to sign up now for the #BuyLocalVermont program, intended to drive more sales at local restaurants, retail stores, entertainment and performing arts venues, lodging and tourism-related businesses through savings offerings. Businesses can enroll to take part in the program now, which will launch to consumers September 8th.

by Matt Durkee, NBT Bank President of New England The commercial real estate market was hit hard by the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. And no one knows how long the impact will last. In Vermont, our commercial customers and the communities we serve have each experienced the economic impact in various ways, but there are certainly a few areas that will have a more difficult road to recovery. Anything that touches tourism—from hotels to restaurants to retail—has been hit hard. In New England—particularly in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont—the closure of the border with Canada had a profound impact on the summer tourism season, and is likely to continue into the autumn.

Leonine Public Affairs On Tuesday the Vermont General Assembly reconvened for what is projected to be a three to five week session. The primary focus of the fall session is to finalize the FY2021 budget for the remaining three quarters of the fiscal year, October 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021. The legislature approved funding for the first three months of FY2021 before they recessed in June.

Vermont Business Magazine The owner of Mount Snow, Okemo and Stowe Mountain resorts announced opening days and new COVID-19 safety guidelines. Vail Resorts CEO Rob Katz on Friday announced the company’s 2020/21 winter operating plan in a letter to guests, which outlines a comprehensive, out-front approach to operating its 34 North American resorts with the goal of ensuring a safe, enjoyable and successful ski and ride season.

Vermont Business Magazine In celebration of Burlington International Airport’s (BTV) 100^th Anniversary and in recognition of the hard work and dedication of all the first responders in our area, Beta Technologies (BETA) performed a 5-plane formation fly-by around Chittenden County on Friday, August 28^th.

“BTV's last 100 years have been filled with innovation, entrepreneurship, and dedication, which is exactly what BETA embodies as an organization. The Airport looks forward to highlighting this exciting partnership and paying tribute to all our first responders,” said Gene Richards, Director of Aviation.

Located at BTV, BETA was founded in 2017 by Kyle Clark, with a mission to revolutionize the future of aviation with electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. BETA’s team, who double as aviation enthusiasts and private pilots, are dedicated to making flight clean and accessible to everyone.