Current News

Vermont Business Magazine After a long downward trend, new unemployment claims in Vermont increased for the second time last week. For the week of April 12, 2014, there were 904 new, regular benefit claims for Unemployment Insurance in Vermont. This is an increase of 73 from the previous week's total, and 164 fewer than they were a year ago.

Altogether 8,095 new and continuing claims were filed, an increase of 36 from a week ago and 623 fewer than a year ago. The Department also processed 56 First Tier claims for benefits under Emergency Unemployment Compensation, 2008 (EUC08), 4 more than the previous week.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health today reported that Vermont has suffered its first new death from COVID-19 in more than two weeks, for a statewide total of 56. The VDH declined to offer specifics of the death other than to say it is not attributed to the Winooski outbreak from the last couple of weeks. The Winooski cases have since quieted. However, according to VDH data, there were five deaths reported in Franklin County earlier this week and now there are six. Overall, there are 1,135 cases statewide, six more than yesterday and two hospitalized.

Vermont Business Magazine As a result of a generous donation from Vermont Rotary Clubs across the state, Vermonters in need will continue to receive fresh dairy products from the Vermont Foodbank for weeks to come. Continuing a collaboration begun earlier this year to connect Vermont dairy assistance to Vermonters, the Foodbank will receive food donations of Vermont yogurt and butter in support of their food assistance efforts. Ten Vermont rotary clubs joined forces to raise over $10,000 dollars, adding significant financial support to the effort already in place to recover Vermont milk.

Vermont Business Magazine The Community Bank NA New England branches recently donated $15,000 to The DREAM Program (DREAM) to support its mentoring program. With donations over the years totaling more than $75,000, this is the seventh year that Community Bank, N.A. has supported DREAM. Camp DREAM is a free residential summer camp for children in DREAM, a nonprofit organization that pairs college students with children living in low-income housing neighborhoods throughout Vermont for mentoring and adventure programming.

Vermont Business Magazine The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that a federal grand jury returned an indictment on June 18, 2020, which charged Eike Blohm, 38, of South Burlington, Vermont, with one count of production of child pornography. The indictment also includes notice that, in the event that Blohm is convicted of production of child pornography as charged in the indictment, the government intends to seek forfeiture of real and personal property owned by Blohm. Blohm made his initial appearance in federal court on May 22, 2020.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont House today approved an additional $95 million of Coronavirus Relief Funds in the Broadband, Connectivity, and Housing bill (H.966). The passage of H.966 includes $43 million for broadband, connectivity, and cybersecurity initiatives and an additional $52 million for housing initiatives.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont has received a $2 million federal emergency grant to make sure people with mental health and substance use disorders can access care during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Departments of Health and Mental Health will use the funds from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to expand services and supports for Vermonters who need them. The grant will also allow for increased access to mental health care for health care workers. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted many essential services, such as in-home supports and interventions, in-person recovery support, overdose prevention, detoxification and treatment, such as receiving medication assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder.

Vermont Business Magazine The Farm to Plate Network, managed by the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund (VSJF), just launched a public survey that will help develop a new vision for farming and food, and prioritize how we support and develop food and agriculture in the next decade. Your input is needed in order to update the Farm to Plate Strategic Plan (Vermont’s legislatively enabled statewide food system plan) and determine how the Farm to Plate Network supports and develops food and agriculture in the decade to come.

Vermont Business Magazine New data released by the US Energy Information Administration shows renewable energy use exceeded coal for the first time since 1885. Vermont and New England mirror the national trend toward increased reliance on renewable electricity. Across New England, tens of thousands of consumers have been inspired to adopt solar for their homes, farms, schools and town buildings. There are more than 180,000 small-scale solar systems in New England. These are concentrated in southern New England and Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine In response to the ongoing urgent needs arising from COVID-19 challenges to Vermont’s Working Lands businesses, the Working Lands Enterprise Board (WLEB) has announced that 16 businesses will receive over $250,000 in COVID-19 Response Business Development Grants within the sectors of agriculture and forestry. These awards will focus on business response, shifting marketing strategies, or other activities that may improve business recovery.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) and Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) Wednesday welcomed the Senate passage of the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) to fully and permanently fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and address long overdue maintenance backlogs on our public lands and waters. The bill now heads to the US House of Representatives for passage before becoming law. Since its passage in 1965, the LWCF has provided over $140 million for Vermont parks, athletic facilities, recreational areas, and other public projects, conserving more than 275,000 acres. Passage of this bill will bring an additional $7.6 million to Vermont next year alone, and will double Vermont’s average annual LWCF funding going forward.