Current News

Agency of Commerce and Community Development On Wednesday, Governor Scott unveiled a $400 million Economic Recovery Package prominently featuring targeted relief to the lodging industry. The package includes a $250 million loan and grant package – including a set of emergency assistance grants for lodging properties based on helping you meet fixed costs. The Governor has proposed this package to the Legislature, and we anticipate they will consider it – and we hope pass it – in the coming weeks.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health is reporting today that there are six new cases of COVID-19 in Vermont for a total of 950. Deaths are holding at 54 and there has been only one in the last two weeks. Temperatures will be warmer than we’ve had yet this year, so the VDH says it’s important to err on the safe side in early season heat. Even though it’s not as hot as mid-summer, ease into outdoor activities. And owners and managers of buildings that have been closed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic are urged to take steps that can prevent illnesses associated with stagnant water in plumbing systems. And there will be outdoor seating at restaurants starting Friday.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont State Auditor Doug Hoffer has announced the creation of an online dashboard to help Vermonters track federal and state expenditures related to COVID-19. The online tool is available at auditor.vermont.gov and will evolve over time, as the situation progresses and information is updated. In response to COVID-19, the federal government appropriated unprecedented levels of funding to the State of Vermont, its institutions, and directly to Vermonters. The State Auditor’s Office created this webpage to help Vermonters follow the flow of these public dollars. As the Auditor’s Office works to mitigate risks and guide the State in cost-effective directions, we will post graphics, memos, and other resources that can help us all better understand how this $2 billion-plus is spent.

Vermont Business Magazine The 158th Fighter Wing of the Vermont Air National Guard will honor Vermont’s front line COVID-19 responders and essential workers with a flyover on Friday, May 22, 2020. A formation of four F-35A Lightning IIs will takeoff from the Vermont Air National Guard Base in South Burlington at noon for the flyover that is scheduled to last 90 minutes. The flyover is part of Operation America Strong, an Air Force effort to salute healthcare workers across the country.

Vermont Business Magazine Sticky Brand - a local Burlington company specializing in custom-made stickers, decals, and design services - today announces the launch of an innovative social distancing product line. With this launch, the company has also pledged to donate 10% of profits from this specific line to the UVM Medical Center’s COVID-19 Response Fund. As the brand itself prepares to reopen its downtown Burlington offices, it will continue to work to help other small businesses safely reopen and adapt to new norms.

Vermont Business Magazine State officials are urging owners and managers of buildings that have been closed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, to take steps that can prevent illnesses associated with stagnant water in plumbing systems. The Departments of Health and Environmental Conservation have set up a website where building and facility managers can access guidance and recommendations for actions to take before a building’s drinking water is used again: dec.vermont.gov/water/COVID-19-Response-and-Resources

Vermont Business Magazine The Montpelier Development Corporation (MDC) with one of its partners the Montpelier Foundation (MF) announced today the launch of the Montpelier Economic Need and Distress (MEND) Fund. The MEND Fund was created last week to respond to the burden faced by downtown businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic and the State of Vermont’s subsequent ‘Stay Home, Stay Safe’ order. MEND will provide funding to downtown storefront businesses in the form of grants to assist with their recovery and revitalization efforts during this time of unprecedented economic hardship.

Vermont Business Magazine An additional 13 weeks of benefits are available to individuals who have exhausted their regular state unemployment insurance claim with a benefit year that expired on or after July 1, 2019. The additional weeks of benefits are provided by the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) program. Individuals will also receive Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC), an additional $600 to their weekly benefits through the week ending July 25, 2020.

Vermont Business Magazine Green Mountain Power (GMP) customers now have two new home battery programs they can enroll in starting on June 5, after a Vermont Public Utility Commission order issued late Wednesday. GMP’s Tesla Powerwall and Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) programs are both modeled on the company’s popular and groundbreaking pilot programs that have shown proven cost savings for all GMP customers, while providing convenient and seamless back up power to participating customers during outages. GMP is the first utility in the country to get tariff approval to offer customers these types of programs.

Vermont Business Magazine New England should have the necessary resources to meet peak consumer demand for electricity this summer under both typical and extreme weather conditions, according to ISO New England Inc., the operator of the region’s bulk power system and wholesale electricity markets. Societal changes in response to the COVID-19 pandemic are expected to change consumer demand for electricity during the summer months, but these changes do not pose a reliability threat because the system is designed to handle fluctuations in consumer demand. ISO New England has observed a 3% to 5% decline in consumer demand attributable to the pandemic.

Vermont Business Magazine Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), Mark R. Warner (D-Va.), Doug Jones (D-Ala.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) today introduced the Paycheck Security Act to cover the wages and benefits of employees of affected businesses and non-profits until the economic and public health crisis is resolved. The Paycheck Security Act would act to avert mass layoffs, stem catastrophic unemployment levels, and prevent irreversible business losses, prevent millions from losing their health insurance, and provide resources for firms to rehire laid-off and furloughed workers and restore their health care benefits.

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General TJ Donovan announced today that Michael Hartigan of Randolph, Vermont, was arraigned on May 14, 2020, on two felony counts of Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child, two felony counts of Promotion of Child Pornography, and two misdemeanor counts of Voyeurism. Hartigan pleaded not guilty at his arraignment in Vermont Superior Court, Orange Criminal Division. The Court, Judge Thomas A Zonay presiding, ordered him held him without bail.