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Vermont Business Magazine Nearly 300 students, staff, faculty, alumni, and community members joined the Community College of Vermont’s Green Up effort last Saturday, and worked together to clean up roadsides throughout the state. Both CCV and Green Up Vermont are celebrating 50th anniversaries in 2020, and have partnered this year in joint recognition of the shared milestone.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Vermont businesses and nonprofits on the brink of bankruptcy got a bit of good news today as Governor Scott, the Speaker’s office and the Senate President Pro Tem saying they expected the $400 million financial aid package to be passed by the end of June, if not sooner. Lawmakers could release some emergency funds ahead of the rest. The massive, by Vermont standards, plan would provide emergency funds to the hardest hit industries and then help shore up other businesses and organizations moving forward.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health today reported two new cases of COVID-19, no deaths and none hospitalized. However, Health Commissioner Mark Levine, MD, provided an update of a "cluster" of cases in Winooski. He said there are 10-20 cases in the cluster. Some 200 people were tested over the last few days in Winooski. The positive tests need to be confirmed. He said this was not an institutional outbreak. Tracing and containment protocols have been enacted.

Vermont Business Magazine The FDIC periodically evaluates thousands of banks across the country to determine how well their community development and lending practices contribute to the success of all in their of local communities. Historically, less than 10% of financial institutions earn the coveted “Outstanding” rating which is reserved for banks that most effectively meet the credit needs of their local communities. In its most recent examination by regulatory agencies, Union Bank received an “outstanding” rating for its compliance with the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) in its two rated areas in VT and NH.

Vermont Business Magazine Norwich University’s College of Graduate and Continuing Studies (CGCS) announced a partnership with Fluid Education Inc, one of the newest and fastest growing education services companies in the nation, to provide program and business development, marketing, and recruiting services globally for its online undergraduate and select graduate level programs.

“With the rapid growth in online education and a changing economy, Norwich is positioned to deliver relevant, new online bachelor and master degree programs to the marketplace,” notes Vice President and Dean of the College of Graduate and Continuing Studies William Clements. “Our new partnership with Fluid Education will expand the Norwich brand and online education offerings to new markets around the world and add incremental expertise in marketing and enrollment management.”

Senator Patrick Leahy America is hurting. Reeling from a deadly pandemic that has taken more than 100,000 lives. Witnessing the broad daylight murder of yet another black man by an officer of the law. Seething with rage and sorrow about the racial injustices that still plague our society. And suffering from unprecedented political divisions, routinely worsened and deepened by a President whose every utterance only tears us further apart. In my 45 years in the United States Senate, I have never seen our country so in need of healing.

Vermont Business Magazine Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) Wednesday unveiled the Congressional Power Of The Purse Act to restore Congress’ constitutional authority and rein in encroachment on federal spending decisions by the Executive Branch. Leahy said that for too many years, Congress has ceded its constitutional authority over the power of the purse too much to the Executive Branch, but no President has pushed the boundaries of and contorted appropriations law more than President Trump.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) outlined a sweeping set of policy reforms to be adopted in Senate Democrats’ legislative response to police violence, in order to “protect people and communities that have suffered this violence for far too long,” he wrote in a letter addressed to Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY).

Sanders listed the following goals “to seriously address an intolerable situation in this country:”

Vermont Business Magazine The 2020 project rankings for the Southern Vermont Economy CEDS (Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy) have been announced. A total of 59 projects were submitted to be included in the five-year plan for growing the southern Vermont economy, 12 of which have been ranked vital. The following list of Southern Vermont CEDS 2020 Vital Projects is presented in alphabetical order by project name.

The purpose of identifying Vital Projects is to publicly acknowledge the top actions the region can support that will make demonstrable progress towards our regional economic development goals, as outlined in the 2019 Southern Vermont Comprehensive Economic Development Strategies (CEDS).

Vermont Business Magazine Funding is now available for organizations and projects in Caledonia, Essex, and Orleans counties through the Northeast Kingdom Fund at the Vermont Community Foundation. The fund awards grants up to $5,000 in support of projects that benefit the people and communities of the Northeast Kingdom. Nonprofits, schools, and grassroots organizations are encouraged to apply. Applications will be accepted through 5:00 p.m. Friday, August 14, 2020.

The Northeast Kingdom Fund was established in 2011 by the Community Foundation and local partners as a permanent philanthropic resource to support the people and communities of Caledonia, Essex, and Orleans counties. Visit vermontcf.org/nekfund to learn more and apply.

Vermont Business Magazine The 2020 Quechee Hot Air Balloon Craft and Music festival has been cancelled for the first time in the 40 year history of the event, it was announced by the Hartford Area Chamber of Commerce (HACC), organizers of the annual event. Thousands of entertainment gatherings, festivals and events have been postponed or cancelled around the state and country due to the COVID-19. The Quechee Hot Air Balloon Craft and Music Festival, which runs annually on Father’s Day weekend was originally scheduled for June 19-21 and then rescheduled for the weekend of September 11-13.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott began his media briefing Monday by speaking about the “heartbreaking tragedy” of the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis at the hands of police. Protests and riots have engulfed the nation since his death on May 25, one police officer has been arrested. Scott called on the other three officers to be charged and said, “enough is enough.”