Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Education (AOE) announced today a partnership with global education network Edmodo to create a statewide network for Vermont educators to collaborate and access Continuity of Learning resources to enable continued support for all Vermont students. The Edmodo platform will also provide educators with a virtual ecosystem for peer learning and networking communities to share information and best practices. Each school district and supervisory union (SU/SD) and approved independent school will be provided with an independent space for localized development and online teaching.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health is reporting today that there were nine new cases of COVID-19 for a total of 1,084. There are two hospitalized statewide. There were no deaths. There have been 55 deaths but none in almost two weeks. As of Monday evening, a total of 68 cases are thought to be associated with the Winooski outbreak. As Health Department teams reach out to close contacts of COVID-19 cases, people report they are doing everything they can to prevent further spread. While outbreaks can cause fear and uncertainty, Health Commissioner Mark Levine, MD, emphasized that they can happen anywhere. This is simply the nature of the virus.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, the Vermont Community Foundation, in partnership with area philanthropists and private foundations led by a local anonymous donor, announced the creation of a Main Street Business Relief Fund for Arlington, Dorset, and Manchester that will direct at least $1 million in support to small businesses that provide core services to the local community, animate the area’s vibrant hospitality industry, and contribute to the region’s economic vitality.

Vermont Business Magazine Celebrating under this year’s theme, “Expect Challenge, Achieve Distinction," 408 students representing 13 online graduate programs will spend a week participating in capstone and culminating academic work, conferences and commencement exercises at Norwich University’s College of Graduate and Continuing Studies (CGCS) annual Residency Conference June 22-26. For the first time in its over 20-year history, the annual Residency Conference will be held virtually due to pandemic restrictions on in-person gatherings.

Vermont Business Magazine The IRS recently announced that it is sending some COVID-19 economic impact payments, or “stimulus checks,” to nearly 4 million people in the form of prepaid debit cards, adding a third payment method to the already established paper checks and direct deposits. These prepaid debit cards are being sent in plain envelopes from “Money Network Cardholder Services” and are VISA-branded.

Vermont Business Magazine Nedde Real Estate of Burlington, Vermont, Owner/Developer of 77 Pine Street, better known as the People’s United Bank building, celebrated the groundbreaking and renovations of 77 Pine Street. The building will be repurposed into a modern Vermont headquarters for People’s United bank, and 50 energy-efficient apartments. The $20 million project is being managed by Wright and Morrisey and is scheduled for completion in the Summer of 2021.

by Representative Jill Krowinski Alongside so many Vermonters, I am devastated and outraged by the brutal killing of George Floyd, as well as the ongoing deaths and horrendous mistreatment of so many black and brown people in our communities and nation. As a white woman leader, I am working to become more conscious of my privilege and feel a strong urgency to use my platform to speak up and speak out against this injustice.

Vermont Business Magazine This week, FEMA announced that the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) National Board will begin disbursing $320 million to assist organizations in communities across the country dedicated to providing food, shelter and supportive services to people with economic emergencies, including our nation's hungry and homeless populations. Vermont received a total of $250,001.

Congress appropriated $200 million of this funding as supplemental humanitarian funding in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Congress also appropriated $120 million in Fiscal Year 2019 annual funding to the EFSP. The funding, totaling $320 million, will be awarded by jurisdictions (counties or cities) to human service organizations assisting those in need throughout the country.

Vermont Business Magazine Until the recent COVID-19 restrictions, the number of Vermont homes used as short-term rentals has ticked up each year, according to a recent analysis by Vermont Housing Finance Agency. In a typical month last year, about 8,000 homes were listed as short-term rentals across the state. Largely located in towns near Vermont ski areas, homes rented for short-term stays comprise about 2.5% of the state’s total housing stock, according to data from AirDNA, a service that aggregates listings from Airbnb, VRBO, and other popular short-term rental companies.

Small Business Administration The Paycheck Protection Program provides small businesses with funds for payroll costs and utilities. More than $100 Billion in PPP funds are still available. The recent passage of the Paycheck Protection Flexibility Act allows small businesses to use funds up to 24-weeks and have the option of extending the life of the loan from two years to five. SBA will forgive loans if funds are used as intended.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced the opening of the application for appointment as the public member to the Racial Equity Task Force. The Task Force will be chaired by the State’s Executive Director of Racial Equity Xusana Davis and include up to seven additional members, including one member of the public. It will submit recommendations to the governor on the first project by August 15 and preliminary recommendations on the second and third by December 15.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Coalition to End Homelessness stated today that 1,110 Vermonters experienced literal homelessness on a one-day count January 22, 2020, although this number suggests that as a state we have been able to stabilize our homeless population, this is no longer the case. As COVID-19 struck, the state of homelessness in Vermont has changed drastically. As of the end of May 2020, there are currently 1,489 persons in state funded General Assistance (GA motels).