Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Healing Winds Vermont announces the appointment of Geri Ann Higgins as Executive Director of the organization. Healing Winds Vermont offers sailing excursions to cancer patients while they are battling the disease in an effort to provide some respite from the treatment and mental weight of what they are going through. Higgins began work at Healing Winds Vermont on May 4.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott said today that as of May 18 retail stores will be allowed to reopen to general sales as long as they keep customers at 25 percent occupancy. Data suggests that the state's mitigation efforts are working, evidenced further by the fact that as of today's report there were no new cases of COVID-19 and no new deaths. Health Commission Mark Levine, MD, also said Monday that Vermont will be one of a few states the CDC has chosen to receive remdesivir as a trial. Levine also said that while he is hopeful that a vaccine for COVID-19 will eventually be successful (given its structural components), he would not expect one for another year if not two. Given that, Vermonters need to remain vigilant in adhering to mitigation measures like social distancing, hand washing and wearing of face masks in certain situations, like in gatherings and in stores.

​Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation and its partners want to remind hikers to make smart choices that will protect public health and Vermont’s trails during the COVID-19 crisis and mud season. The governor’s recent “Play Smart and Play Safe” Addendum 13 to his Executive Order encourages Vermonters to participate in outdoor recreational activities that adhere to social distancing and hygiene requirements. Vermonters may leave home to get fresh air and exercise and resume limited social interactions and gatherings of 10 or fewer, preferably in outdoor settings. The public should also be aware that mud season conditions persist in many places and trail closures may still be in effect for several weeks.

by Suresh Garimella, President, University of Vermont UVM is more reliant on tuition than nearly any other public research university—73% of our general fund expenditures are paid by tuition. If we experience even a half of the enrollment decrease predicted by current national surveys, we will suffer a $26 million loss of revenue, or over 7% of our general fund budget. Even if we experience no enrollment decrease and no shift from nonresidents to residents, we still have to address $15 million in immediate COVID-19 expenses and a $5 million recurring increase in the health care premium contributions we make on behalf of our employees.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont is among the top five spenders on public education in the nation and states in the Northeast spend by far the most of any region. The amount spent per pupil for public elementary and secondary education (pre-K through 12th grade) for all 50 states and the District of Columbia increased by 3.4% to $12,612 per pupil during the 2018 fiscal year, compared to $12,201 per pupil in 2017, according to data released today by the US Census Bureau. Vermont's spending rose over $1,000 per pupil between 2018 and 2017.

Vermont Business Magazine Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) and Senate Appropriations Subcommittee On Homeland Security Ranking Member Jon Tester (D-Mont.) Monday released a letter to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Peter Gaynor urging the agency to increase its efforts to deliver food aid to those in need.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont health officials announced three pop-up testing sites will open this week for COVID-19 specimen collection. A testing site in Colchester collected 138 specimens over the weekend. The pop-up testing sites are for asymptomatic health care workers, first responders (EMS, fire, and law enforcement), and child care providers currently serving essential workers. People who are returning to the state, and who will be at day 7 or later in their quarantine period, can also be tested. These include people returning from wintering out of state, college students, and people who are coming to stay in their second homes.

Vermont Business Magazine FOCUS, a Leonine Public Affairs business, has announced an online 50-state COVID-19 resources website, updated daily and available to the general public.

Vermont Business Magazine Brian Lowe, who helped hundreds of American kestrels successfully hatch and fledge in Vermont, is the winner of the 2019 GMP-Zetterstrom Environmental Award. Lowe was announced as the 2020 winner today rather than receiving the honor in person, in keeping with current COVID-19 physical distancing guidelines. The prestigious award is named for Milton resident Meeri Zetterstrom, who inspired recovery efforts that led to the removal of the osprey from Vermont’s endangered species list, and it is given annually to one person, business, group or non-profit that has made a significant contribution to Vermont’s environment. The award is accompanied by a $2,500 donation to the winner’s environmental cause.

Vermont Business Magazine In the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Saint Michael’s College and its 501 new graduates from the Class of 2020 figuratively marched out of, and into, uncharted territory during an hour-long pre-recorded Virtual Commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 10 -- energized by ebullient and uplifting accompanying live-chat and joined by several thousand graduates, families, faculty and staff online.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health reported today that since Friday there were eight new cases of COVID-19 for a total of 927 cases statewide. There were no new deaths, which held at 53. There has not been a new death since Thursday's report. Total hospitalized for COVID-19 or under investigation increased by six to 21 total. The number officially recovered is up 40 to 777. The total tested is 20,048.