Current News

Small Business Administration To further meet the needs of US small businesses and non-profits, the US Small Business Administration reopened the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and EIDL Advance program portal to all eligible applicants experiencing economic impacts due to COVID-19. SBA’s EIDL program offers long-term, low interest assistance for a small business or non-profit. These loans can provide vital economic support to help alleviate temporary loss of revenue. EIDL assistance can be used to cover payroll and inventory, pay debt or fund other expenses.

Vermont Research News Vermont has seen a dramatic increase in the overall rate of imprisonment over the last 40 years with a disproportionately high rate of incarcerated BIPOC. While only 1.4% of the Vermont population is Black, Black people account for 8.5% of the Vermont prison population.

Vermont Business Magazine Northern Vermont University has launched the #NorthernVermontStrong campaign, seeking to receive gifts from 250 donors by June 30, 2020. All monies raised will go toward financial aid for new and returning students. The idea for the NVUnited Fund was spearheaded by faculty and quickly grew, with 85 donors already gifting more than $11,107. The campaign grew out of the outpouring of support for NVU heard from students, alumni and community members this spring as the Vermont State Colleges System works to right-size and re-envision itself.

by Susan J Boutwell/Dartmouth Dartmouth College will replace the copper weather vane that sits atop Baker Library Tower and represents an offensive image of a Native American, President Philip J. Hanlon '77 announced Monday. The 600-pound weather vane, the design for which is nearly a century old, portrays a Native American, wearing feathers and smoking a long pipe, seated on the ground in front of Eleazar Wheelock, Dartmouth's founder. A round shape behind Wheelock is presumed to be a barrel of rum, according to Dartmouth historical records.

Vermont Business Magazine UVM Health Network - Central Vermont Medical Center is working with Good Beginnings of Central Vermont to ensure social distancing needed for safety does not exacerbate isolation commonly experienced by families with new babies. To meet the need safely during the pandemic, Elias and her team have worked with a number of local partners to ensure the continuation of perinatal support groups via online tools.

Vermont Business Magazine Mt Ascutney Hospital and Health Center (MAHHC) has announced the addition of an enhanced wide-bore magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner, with same-week scheduling. The mobile unit is on-site at the Hospital campus in Windsor, Vermont every Monday and Thursday. This project is being undertaken in collaboration with Valley Regional Healthcare in Claremont, New Hampshire and Alliance Healthcare.

Vermont Business Magazine Members of the Rutland Area Medical Community recently awarded six $1,250 scholarships to local students pursuing a career in healthcare. The scholarship program has been made possible through the generosity of Rutland area physicians, retired physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners.

The Rutland Area Medical Community scholarship is intended to stimulate the region’s best and brightest students, encouraging them to continue their education in the field of healthcare. The scholarship awards will create opportunities that empower recipients to achieve excellence in education. Eligible candidates include high school seniors, local college students, or Rutland area medical community employees who are working toward furthering their goal of a career in healthcare.

by John McClaughry It’s crunch time for the Climate Action Network’s most urgently sought legislation: the Global Warming Solutions Act (GWSA). The House passed this bill (H688) – that I earlier described as the “worst democracy-shredding bill of the past 50 years” – back in January.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Attorney General’s Office recognized on Monday World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. “Supporting and protecting older Vermonters is a priority for my office,” said Attorney General T.J. Donovan. “We encourage all Vermonters to share in this effort, particularly as so many older Vermonters remain isolated due to COVID-19.”

Vermont Business Magazine Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital (NVRH) is excited to announce that VP Marketing and Community Health Improvement Laural Ruggles has published “Frameworks for Community Impact - Community Case Study” in Frontiers in Public Health, a multidisciplinary open-access journal that publishes rigorously peer-reviewed research on June 2, 2020. The journal plays an important part in the work of academics, clinicians, policymakers and researchers worldwide.

Vermont Business Magazine Best Western Hotels & Resorts announces the opening of the Best Western Springfield Hotel, located at 818 Charlestown Road in Springfield, Vermont. Owned by Preferred Motors Inns of New England, the hotel recently completed a $1.2 million renovation and features 84 guest rooms and four suites.

Vermont Business Magazine Health Commissioner Mark Levine, MD, said today the Health Department continues to test residents and trace contacts to contain the COVID-19 outbreak that first emerged in Winooski. As of Sunday evening, a total of 83 cases are associated with the outbreak, about 60% are adults and 40% children. There have been no deaths associated with the outbreak. The one hospitalization reported last week was found to not be related to this outbreak. Pop-up test sites remains available in Winooski and Burlington through this week.