Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The University of Vermont honored the graduating class of 2020 on Sunday with a online celebration featuring a video with remarks from university and state leaders, a montage of photos of graduates, announcements of student awards and the conferral of degrees. The online celebration was held in place of UVM’s traditional May commencement, which has been postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

by Aly Richards I’ve always loved Vermont’s state motto: Freedom and Unity. We Vermonters take our freedom and independence seriously. It gives us the kind of true grit required to withstand snowstorms in October and May. But our independence has never been challenged like it is being challenged now. In the face of this pandemic, our fates are now inextricably linked. Your choices now impact my health, and my choices impact your health.

We’ve had to shift our mentality from one of independence to interdependence. And it’s working. After all, the second half of our state motto is “unity.”

By adhering to health and safety measures together, we have managed to dramatically slow the spread of COVID-19 throughout Vermont. This week, only three new cases were reported across the state and we now have the lowest rates of infection in the country.

Vermont Department of Labor Call-center volume is decreasing, and call-center staffing is increasing. At the highest point, there were well over 500,000 call attempts into the various lines in one day. Two weeks ago, there were 60,000 call attempts and as of yesterday they were down to 5400 attempts (75% of which were answered). To be clear, attempts are not unique callers -- that number is much lower. As we have scaled up staffing in the call center, nearly 250 on the phones now, we are able to answer, on average, 4,500 calls per day. ​

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General TJ Donovan will partner with Orleans County State’s Attorney Jennifer Barrett and Vermont Legal Aid to host a “virtual” expungement clinic on Friday, May 22 from 10 am to 2 pm. Expungements wipe from your record specific convictions and dismissed charges after a certain period of time has passed. Under Vermont law, many misdemeanors, 14 different felony offenses, and all dismissed charges can be expunged. The clinic will focus on expunging criminal charges and convictions from Orleans county and will be open to the public by telephone appointment.

Vermont Business Magazine NBT Bank, with branches in northwest Vermont, has secured approval for approximately 3,000 loans and over $540 million in relief through the SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), helping businesses and organizations in the communities served by NBT to retain more than 61,000 workers. The average amount of NBT’s PPP loans was $185,000, and each loan is supporting an average of 20 jobs.

Vermont Business Magazine Southwestern Vermont Council on Aging (SVCOA) today announced the development of a new professional caregiver registry designed to counter the growing, unmet need among older Vermonters in Bennington and Rutland counties for caregiver services.

Vermont Business Magazine Designed to support professionals in a post-COVID-19 world, Norwich University’s College of Graduate and Continuing Studies (CGCS) is offering six free 45-minute webinar sessions as part of the Norwich University Online Virtual Education Fair Thursday, May 21, 2020, from 1:30 – 5 p.m. Participants may sign up for more than one of the six webinars, and the webinar series boasts panelists with years of experience in a range of fields.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, the US Small Business Administration, in consultation with the U.S Department of the Treasury, released the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan Forgiveness Application and detailed instructions for the application.

The form and instructions inform borrowers how to apply for forgiveness of their PPP loans, consistent with the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). SBA will also soon issue regulations and guidance to further assist borrowers as they complete their applications, and to provide lenders with guidance on their responsibilities.

The form and instructions include several measures to reduce compliance burdens and simplify the process for borrowers, including:

Vermont Business Magazine There was one new case of COVID-19 reported by the Vermont Department of Health today for 934 total statewide. There were no new deaths, which held at 53. Governor Phil Scott on Friday announced new guidance for the reopening of lodging establishments and cross-border travel. Lodging operations, short-term rentals, campgrounds, and marinas may accept overnight reservations for stays after May 22, 2020 from Vermont residents or those who have met the 14-day quarantine requirement.

​Vermont Business Magazine What do you get when you combine creative skate culture and the chunks and swirls of Ben & Jerry's? A partnership made in heaven, resulting in a one-of-a-kind sneaker dubbed "The Chunky Dunky." It's all part of Nike SB's Dunk Low Pro. Even to Ben & Jerry's fans, that's a mouthful. The undertaking was an initiative by the Nike SB (skateboarding) team, who was inspired to work with the iconic ice cream maker known for its fun and funky flavors, creative visual identity, and socially progressive agenda. The themed shoes feature an eye-popping and colorful Ben & Jerry's-inspired vibe, from the black and white Holstein cow pattern to the dripping Nike Swoosh logo resembling melting ice cream.

Vermont Business Magazine University of Vermont English professor Emily Bernard has been named a 2020 Andrew Carnegie Fellow by the Carnegie Corporation of New York. Recognized as one of the highest honors for faculty in the humanities and social sciences, the Carnegie Fellowship awards $200,000 to scholars to support research that addresses important and enduring issues confronting society. Bernard is one of 27 fellows selected from this year’s 322 nominations.

by Jonathon Podolsky For months now, I have watched and worked with others to engage like-minded individuals in support of the continued operation of Marlboro College with some success. Much to my amazement, many think that saving Marlboro is a lost cause--I know it is not. I was deeply involved with the Save Hampshire College movement. Why? Because I understood the importance of offering alternative educational opportunities to students interested in a smaller, more flexible learning environment.

After having been part of the effort that succeeded in changing the administration and direction of Hampshire College, giving it a strong chance for continued operation into the future, I heard about what was happening at Marlboro College.