Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health today reported 17 new cases of CVOID-19 in Vermont. This is the highest single-day total in over a week. Eight of the cases were in Chittenden County, three were in Franklin County and another three in Windham County. The statewide total is now 1,227. Associated deaths are holding at 56. There are two hospitalized.

Vermont Business Magazine US Senators Tom Udall (D-NM) and Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) are leading a new proposed amendment to the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to require President Trump and the Trump Organization to disclose full financial information, including the total income earned by the Trump Organization from any licensing agreements, for foreign properties owned by President Trump’s family business.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott announced actions on the following bills, passed by the Legislature. Notable among these bills is H.966, the second part of the Emergency Economic Recovery Grants. Scott also chose to let S.348 bill become law without his signature. This is the vote-by-mail bill that the governor disagreed with in its process but had said repeatedly that he would not "stand in the way" of.

Vermont Business Magazine The Department of Financial Regulation (DFR) today released its weekly COVID-19 data and modeling update for Vermont. Governor Phil Scott said: "As we see concerning outbreaks across parts of the United States, we are fortunate the Northeast continues to move in the right direction. Here in Vermont, between June 26 and July 1, our seven-day average test positivity was 0.4 percent, the lowest in the United States."

Vermont Business Magazine In light of a “stunning lack of federal government action to protect passengers, flight attendants, pilots, and other aviation workers,” Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) wrote to the heads of the Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration, demanding that they “take immediate action to mandate that airlines protect passengers and employees and put safety over profit."

Vermont Business Magazine The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) announced nine Vermont arts and cultural organizations will receive $629,154 in highly competitive direct grants through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to mitigate the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Electric Cooperative (VEC) today announced the launch of a new electronic device incentive program in which VEC members who purchase certain types of equipment can be entered into a monthly drawing to win a $100 bill credit. VEC’s “ChargeItUp” program is a way for VEC members who buy electricity-powered tools such as yard care equipment and other devices that have been traditionally powered by fossil fuels, to have a chance to win the bill credit and share their experience with the equipment.

Vermont Business Magazine Join the Agency of Commerce and Community Development and the Department of Taxes for a discussion and presentation on the Economic Recovery Grants available for businesses starting on July 6, 2020. The Webinar will cover eligibility requirements, grant award calculation information, grant application processes, and what documents businesses will want to have prepared and on-hand when applying.

Vermont Business Magazine After many years of suffering from algal blooms, poor water clarity, and other challenges, Ticklenaked Pond will be removed from Vermont’s impaired waters list when the 2020 update is published in August. The Ryegate pond has experienced five consecutive years of water quality improvements and the upcoming delisting will make Ticklenaked Pond the first lake or pond in Vermont to be restored to EPA-mandated phosphorus reduction goals.

Vermont Business Magazine For the first time in Vermont Pub & Brewery’s history, two of their flagship beers were brewed outside of the pub and are available in cans. Today, July 2nd – just in time for the holiday weekend – Vermont Pub and Brewery (VBP) will release cans of their Burly Irish Red Ale and Forbidden Fruit beer.

Vermont Business Magazine The Department of Labor would like to encourage regular unemployment insurance and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) claimants to file their weekly claims by 6 pm on Thursday, July 2 to avoid delays in filing for next week due to the July 4 holiday. Claimants who are unable to file their weekly claim by Thursday, July 2 at 6 p.m. can still file their claim on Friday, July 3, but will see a delay in payment. More details about the impact of the July 4 holiday weekend can be found below.