Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont’s Killington Resort, the largest mountain resort in Eastern North America, is partnering with Vermont Community Foundation and NeighborWorks of Western Vermont to launch the Play It Forward Business Relief Fund, which will award a total of $130,000 in grants up to $2,500 each to eligible businesses in the Town of Killington.

Vermont Business Magazine The current pandemic and necessary resulting public safety measures have taken a toll on businesses of many kinds in the State of Vermont, including Sole Proprietors. In order to provide some relief to the economic pain that Sole Proprietors have had to endure, the launch of an economic relief grant program has been announced which will provide grants of $5,000, $7,500 or $10,000 to qualifying Sole Proprietors through a Lottery draw. The program is funded through $1.5 million from the U.S. Housing and Urban Development's CDBG Program, and passed through the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD).

Senator Patrick Leahy We write today to urge you to withdraw your confusing and harmful changes to hospital reporting requirements for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). In the midst of a global pandemic, these changes pose serious challenges to the nation’s response by increasing the data management burden for hospitals, potentially delaying critical supply shipments, compromising access to key data for many states, and reducing transparency for the public. The Trump Administration’s mismanagement of the COVID-19 response and refusal to heed public health expertise continue to put the country in a dangerous position.

UVM Director of Athletics Jeff Schulman As you may have heard, the America East Conference today announced the postponement of all fall sport competition and championships for the duration of the first semester. At UVM, this includes our teams in men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s soccer, and field hockey. Decisions about winter and spring sports and the shifting of fall sports to spring semester will be made at a later date.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Vermont’s unemployment rate continues to fall along with worksite restrictions as the state’s economy re-emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic. The seasonally-adjusted statewide unemployment rate for June was 9.4 percent. This reflects a decrease of three and four-tenths percentage points from the prior month’s revised estimate of 12.8 percent. The Vermont Department of Labor released the data Friday morning. The comparable United States rate in June was 11.1 percent, a decrease of two and two-tenths percentage points from the revised May estimate.

Vermont Business Magazine Currently, more than 50 people have tested positive through antigen testing performed at the Manchester health center. Protocol calls for those positives to undergo a PCR test also. So far, the Health Department has received PCR results on 10% of the 59 people who had a positive antigen test. Of those, 2/3 tested negative by PCR and only 1/3 tested positive. The news of a possible outbreak has led to two pop-up testing sites in southern Vermont with more than 300 people tested. Results will take a few days to come back. Commissioner Dr Mark Levine is expecting more positive tests in that region.

Vermont Business Magazine The University of Vermont will enhance partnership and support efforts throughout the state with the creation of a new Office of Engagement. The office, which builds upon the University’s land-grant mission, will act as a “front door” to the University for private, public and non-profit entities and communities looking to access UVM’s many strengths and capabilities. To increase its effectiveness in partnering with the state in the areas of workforce development, retention, and growth, UVM received $2 million in funding from the Vermont Legislature.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Commissioner Wanda Minoli today announced the appointment of Anthony Facos of Montpelier as the DMV Enforcement and Safety Director. Facos will start on August 10th and replace Colonel William “Jake” Elovirta, who is retiring after 33 years with the State, including 22 years at the DMV and 5 years as Enforcement and Safety Director.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, Mayor Miro Weinberger, the Vermont Racial Justice Alliance, and more than 30 Chittenden County organizations announced a community declaration of racism as a public health emergency. As part of the declaration, all participants also announced: 1) a commitment to the sustained and deep work of eradicating racism within their organizations; 2) immediate and specific actions that they are taking to address the emergency in the work that they do; and 3) a commitment to participate in ongoing joint action, grounded in science and data, to eliminate race-based health disparities and eradicate systemic racism in Chittenden County.

Vermont Business Magazine Chris Kesler and the Black Flannel Brewing Company team are committed to starting a business that lives the team’s sustainable values. The team opened the brewery-distillery-brewpub at The Essex Experience in early July 2020. They want to minimize the impact on the planet and commit to sustainability from day one. But economic sustainability is equally important. They want to create a business that can become a fixture of the community.

Vermont Business Magazine The number of Vermonters who have completed education and training after high school is on the rise. According the Lumina Foundation, 53 percent of working age Vermonters hold a certificate, degree or industry-recognized certification. The figure, up from 49 percent, is based on 2018 data that for the first time includes industry-recognized certifications. Lumina has measured educational attainment through its Stronger Nation report since 2009.

Vermont Business Magazine The 2020 VPR - Vermont PBS Debates series continues today at 8 p.m. on Vermont PBS and on Vermont Public Radio’s Vermont Edition at noon and 7 p.m. The second of four primary debates scheduled in partnership with VPR, the pre-recorded debate will be moderated by Vermont Edition Host Jane Lindholm and will feature Democratic lieutenant governor candidates Tim Ashe, Molly Gray, Debbie Ingram and Brenda Siegel.