Current News

Vermont Business Magazine On Friday, May 8, the Green Mountain Care Board (GMCB) received and began its review of the proposed 2021 health insurance rates for plans offered to individuals, families and small businesses through Vermont Health Connect. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont (BCBSVT) is requesting an average annual rate increase of 6.3 percent over 2020 rates, while MVP Health Care is requesting a 7.3 percent average annual rate increase.

by Joyce Marcel, Vermont Business Magazine The Age of the Cowboy Entrepreneur may have come to the end of its trail; Paul Millman retired as CEO of Chroma Technology at the end of April. An iconoclast and a socialist, Millman was one of the founders of Chroma in Bellows Falls. He was the company's public face and creator-of-culture from its inception as an employee-owned optical filter start-up 29 years ago to the internationally respected $34.5 million manufacturing powerhouse it is today. He's definitely a cowboy capitalist, although he would prefer the word “pirate.” He'll settle for “oddball.”

Vermont Business Magazine Join the Small Business Administration Vermont District Office and Wendell Davis, SBA New England Regional Administrator, at noon May 12 for a discussion about resources available to small businesses during the Covid-19 pandemic. Topics include funding options, relief programs and technical assistance. Also joining the discussion are members from the Vermont Small Business Development Center, Center for Women and Enterprise Vermont, and SCORE Vermont to explain the assistance they are providing during this time.

Agency of Commerce & Community Development Governor Scott announced Friday that childcare providers may reopen on June 1. Providers can begin bringing back staff and preparing sites on May 18 according to CDC and Department of Health guidelines. Childcare provider supplemental funding will cease but will be replaced by restart grants to assist centers in the costs of preparing to reopen, with details still to come.

Leonine Public Affairs Administration officials offered the Legislature a proposal for an unprecedented second adjustment to the FY2020 budget. The proposal calls for closing most of the $195 million gap in the FY2020 budget with $138 million in reserve funds and nearly $47 million in excess Medicaid dollars. The Medicaid monies are available due to a decline in the utilization of non-emergency health care services as a result of the restrictions imposed by the governor’s “stay safe/stay home” order and an increase in federal Medicaid matching dollars. In addition, perhaps due to the crisis, the Department of Liquor Control revenues are up $4.6 million and that revenue will also be used to close the gap.

​Vermont Business Magazine Senator Patrick Leahy (D), Senator Bernie Sanders (I), Representative Peter Welch (D), and Governor Phil Scott (R) Friday announced that two Vermont-based entities, the Abbey Group and Willing Hands, have been awarded contracts by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to serve Vermonters through the Farmers to Families Food Box Program. The new federal program partners with regional and local producers to purchase fresh produce, dairy, and meat for distribution to food-insecure families.

by Vermont Agriculture Secretary Anson Tebbetts There is no hiding from Covid-19. This virus has no borders and travels at will, menacing people and businesses in every sector of society. The pandemic threatens agriculture and with it our food security, as farmers work to produce the food on our tables. Our farmers, producers and those making their living off the land are working relentlessly for all of us, and we thank them for their leadership and sacrifice.

by John R Brumsted, MD President and CEO, The UVM Health Network As we continue to see positive signs in our efforts to combat COVID-19, it’s natural to think about getting back to normal. In society, it is clear that we’re heading into a “new normal” where things will look different than they did before this pandemic. That’s true in health care, as well. As more patients seeking health care services return to our clinics and hospitals, they will notice new practices for masking, screening, testing and social distancing, among others. One thing hasn’t changed, and that is our commitment to safe, high-quality care. As we navigate this “new normal” together, we will be here for you.

Vermont Business Magazine The Board of Directors of Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity (CVOEO) has announced the retirement of executive director, Jan Demers, effective July 10, 2020. Since 2010, Jan has overseen ten programs at CVOEO—which provides services and advocacy, from food shelves, housing and fuel assistance to financial asset development, early childhood education, to fair housing, tenant and mobile home park resident rights and responsibilities in four counties (Addison, Chittenden, Franklin and Grand Isle).

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott announced Friday that child care centers can reopen June 1 and summer day camps will be able to open this summer, provided they can follow safety guidelines expected to be issued next week. State officials acknowledged opening child care programs will be an important part of ensuring Vermonters can get back to work, as modeling continues to indicate a slow in the spread of COVID-19. All traditional high school graduations are canceled. The Labor Department said about 8,400 individuals did not receive their PUA unemployment benefits this week. They will be paid next week. This is due to an issue with payments, as some claimants were errantly receiving more than their calculated benefit.

Vermont Business Magazine The Attorney General TJ Donovan said today he has been hard at work for Vermonters this week: Defending the Affordable Care Act; Calling for equity and fairness in the distribution of Paycheck Protection Program; Addressing the shortage of laptops in time of remote learning; Improving enforcement against illegal "robocallers;" Advocating for reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act.

Vermont Business Magazine April tax revenues were predictably and dramatically below the consensus forecast for the month. April is the first full month of revenue collections since a State of Emergency was declared by Governor Scott on March 13, 2020, and the subsequent mitigation “Stay Home Stay Safe” Order was issued on March 24, 2020, to slow and suppress the spread of COVID-19.