Current News

​Vermont Business Magazine The State of Vermont’s Brownfield Initiative has awarded the Town of Hardwick over $36,000 for remediation at the former Greensboro Garage site. Vacant today, this property had a 30+ year history of operating as an automotive repair and body shop. The site characterization and initial environmental investigation was completed with technical assistance and funding from Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission and Northern Vermont Development Association. Once remediated, the commercial redevelopment will be home to the Yellow Barn Business Accelerator, an $8.6 million project that is expected to create approximately 50 jobs.

Vermont Business Magazine University of Vermont Geography professor Lesley-Ann L. Dupigny-Giroux, PhD, the Vermont State Climatologist, has been elected to serve a two-year term as the president of the American Association of State Climatologists. The AASC serves the nation by providing timely expertise, outreach and communication about climate and climate-change issues to all members of the public, state agencies, private sector and the federal government.

The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department is again urging Vermonters to leave wildlife in the wild where they belong. The department is receiving calls and emails from individuals who are temporarily caring for wildlife, mostly young skunks, woodchucks, raccoons, foxes and other mammals, only to find wildlife rehabilitation facilities are full and not accepting additional animals.

Vermont Business Magazine The Agency of Education and the Health Department have released A Strong and Healthy Start: Safety and Health Guidance for Reopening Schools, Fall 2020. This guidance document provides essential information for school administrators and personnel as they plan and implement the reopening of our schools for the 2020-21 school year in the context of COVID-19. This document is focused on safeguarding student and staff health while operating in-person instruction. It is one among many that the Agency and other governing and advisory entities are creating to support schools as part of the state’s pandemic response and recovery efforts.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont House today advanced an additional $300 million Coronavirus Health and Human Services Recovery bill. The passage of H965 makes the total Health and Human Services Coronavirus Recovery package nearly $355 million to date. The bill now moves onto the Senate.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Patrick Leahy (D), Senator Bernie Sanders (I), and Representative Peter Welch (D) announced Wednesday that two Vermont-based entities, the Abbey Group and Willing Hands, have secured extended contracts through the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to continue the delivery of food boxes throughout this summer through the end of August. These two contracts will bring an additional $8.5 million in nutrition assistance to Vermont and the Upper Valley community in New Hampshire, most of which will go toward buying produce and dairy from local farms.

Vermont Business Magazine As part of its ongoing mission to support the communities in which it operates, New England Federal Credit Union (NEFCU) is contributing $250,000 to a number of regional organizations.

Vermont Business Magazine Since the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, calls for police reform and an end to systemic racism have echoed across the country, including Vermont. What do Vermonters make of recent calls for police reform? What does reform look like at this moment? Join VPR and Vermont PBS for a virtual community conversation on Thursday, June 18 at 7 pm. Co-hosts Peter Hirschfeld (VPR) and Traci Griffith (St Michael's College) will lead a discussion about issues of race, injustice and policing in Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced several measures to gradually ease restrictions on Vermonters in long-term care facilities, hospitals and those over the age of 65. Starting June 19, Long-Term Care Residential facilities can allow for up to two (2) visitors per resident, per day. The visits must be conducted outside only and adhere to guidance issued by DAIL around social distancing, temperature checks, facial coverings and record keeping of all visitors. Visitors are still not allowed inside. But the new guidance allows congregating by residents outside, but outside only.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will resume commercial vehicle learner’s permit (CDP) testing on Thursday, June 18. Customers may begin scheduling appointments for their permit tests now by calling (802) 828-2000 or completing the online appointment scheduling form on the DMV website.

Vermont Business Magazine With protests against racial inequality taking place all across the nation and the black unemployment rate consistently above the rate for white people, financial adviser WalletHub today released its report on the State Economies with the Most Racial Equality, along with accompanying videos and audio files. According to WalletHub, Vermont’s economy has the 8th most racial equality in the US.

Vermont Business Magazine In response to the financial crisis and economic downturn faced by Vermont consumers as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Vermont credit unions have provided nearly $385 million in support since the first virus cases were documented in the Green Mountain State.