Current News

​Vermont Business Magazine Right now, we all need a place to get away and unplug. Open space to run free, homelands to ground us, water views to rejuvenate our spirits. Filled with places to explore, learn, and unwind, Retreat Farm’s expansive property in Brattleboro is open and free to everyone. In addition to animals grazing on pasture and growing food to share with the community, the Farm has added a new labyrinth garden, arts installations, walking paths and trails, and interpretive signs about the history and nature of the property. Works by local artists Bob Boemig and Steve Proctor are yours to savor, with a sculpture by Miles Chapin and a tribute to Wolf Kahn and Emily Mason coming soon.

by Amanda Kuhnert “This has been an incredibly trying time to be a small business owner,” said Nora DeMuth, owner of the Flower Basket in Hardwick. “I can’t remember ever needing to think through major decisions so many times and within such a short period of time like I’ve needed to do over the past few months.” The Flower Basket is known for its bright and cheerful floral arrangements made with locally grown flowers. But in order to stay open as an essential business during the Covid-19 crisis, this spring Nora quickly pivoted to offering more gardening-related supplies, such as seeds and vegetable plants.

Vermont Business Magazine The Okemo Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce recently gathered for their 63rd Annual Meeting held at the Echo Lake Inn located just north of Ludlow along the Scenic Route 100 Byway in the Tyson Village of Plymouth. Innkeeper Tom Gianola was thanked for hosting & sponsoring the event. Gail Beardmore of Engel & Volkers in Ludlow was elected the incoming President of the Board. Former President Tom Gianola will remain on the executive committee serving as treasurer.

More Efficient Organization Will Better Serve Region, Businesses

Vermont Business Magazine Two of Rutland County’s key community and economic development organizations have decided to merge. The boards of Rutland Economic Development Corporation and Rutland Region Chamber of Commerce voted unanimously Thursday to create a merged, streamlined organization to better serve their members and the greater Rutland region.

“We applaud REDC and the Chamber for doing the difficult work of reimagining what has been in place for decades to create a more efficient and dynamic one-stop-shop for community development in Rutland County,” said Ted Brady, deputy secretary of the Agency of Commerce and Community Development. “This is the kind of thinking we all should be doing to ensure the best possible outcomes for Vermont.”

Vermont Business Magazine As of tomorrow, August 1, people are required to wear a face mask or covering in public spaces any time it is not possible to keep a 6-foot distance from others who are not part your household. This includes both indoor and outdoor public spaces and group living settings (for example, long-term care facilities, nursing homes, apartment and condo complexes). Governor Phil Scott also announced Friday that retail operations can now operate at 50% capacity. Get more information from the Agency of Commerce and Community Development.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (VAAFM) announced that the Agricultural Fairs Application opened today, Friday, July 31st, 2020, at 2 pm. The Coronavirus Relief Fund appropriations passed by the Vermont legislature includes $500,000 to provide financial assistance for eligible Vermont agricultural fair organizations who have experienced income loss, additional expenses, and event disruption as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vermont Business Magazine The need for infrastructure investment across the United States is a well-worn discussion point for policymakers and the media alike that is revisited every few months. To date, this has often materialized in infrastructure weeks that are long on promises but short on solutions. This coming August will be the Bond Bank’s first ever Infrastructure Month. The name was chosen to contrast the impossible with the possible through planning tools and data that can inform hard choices.

Vermont Business Magazine The University of Vermont today announced a Coronavirus testing protocol that is believed to be among the most extensive among higher education institutions across the country. The protocol will begin at least five days prior to the date a student is planning to initiate travel to Burlington, and no later than Aug. 26 if the student is already in town. Students will then be tested upon arrival if moving into a residence hall, or on the first day of classes if they are living off campus. Students will be tested again after seven days, then weekly through September 18. Testing frequency for the remainder of the semester will be determined based on public health and medical analysis of the initial testing.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont's municipal offices that have been impacted by COVID-19 closures now have an opportunity to digitize their municipal land records, under a grant program created under Act 137 of 2020. The Vermont Legislature passed Act 137 of 2020 to distribute Coronavirus Relief Funds to various entities in Vermont. Sections 8 - 10 appropriate $2 million to assist municipalities in digitizing land records for online public access. The Agency of Administration, through the Vermont Department of Taxes, is responsible for distributing the grant funds.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Weekly unemployment claims are continuing their slow descent. After a steep decline as the economy began to reopen in April, initial unemployment claims for the last several weeks flattened and then rose in June. They've been falling at a modest rate in July.

Vermont Business Magazine ACLU of Vermont Executive Director James Lyall issued this statement Friday morning: “We learned yesterday that six incarcerated Vermonters returning from Mississippi have tested positive for COVID-19, and that one person still imprisoned in Mississippi tested positive earlier this week. This latest news from Vermont’s Department of Corrections is disturbing, but also predictable.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott has signed a Directive officially setting Tuesday, September 8 as the universal reopening date for Vermont schools. Originally announced on Tuesday, the directive requires all public and independent schools to open for in-person or remote instruction on September 8, with an exception for schools primarily serving students with disabilities, which can restart operations prior to September 8. The Secretary of Education will have oversight and authority in the implementation of the order and local school officials and governing bodies are required to consult with, and abide by, the direction of the Secretary of Education.