Current News

by Dr Karen M Scolforo You may have seen the recent news coverage regarding the challenges faced by the Vermont State Colleges System (VSCS), many of which were highlighted last summer in the VSCS White Paper, Securing the Future of the Vermont State Colleges, and exacerbated by the novel coronavirus global pandemic this spring. While Castleton University is not immune to the challenges faced by institutions in the VSCS and around the country, our long-standing reputation as a historic, liberal arts university with a strong commitment to pre-professional studies holds firm.

by Jack Hoffman, Public Assets Institute It’s too early to have a clear picture of how Vermont should allocate the $1.25 billion it received last week from the federal Coronavirus Relief Fund. But a fully funded, fully functioning public education system has to be a top priority.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont House of Representatives launched a tool this week to assist Vermonters unable to get through to the Department of Labor to resolve issues surrounding Unemployment Insurance and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance claims.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is asking Vermonters to take 10 key steps to protect essential trash and recycling workers. Following these steps can help reduce unnecessary person-to-person contact and possible virus transmission as well as ensure these essential workers are able to continue to collect and sort our trash and recyclables.

For Vermonters who have curbside trash and recycling pickup:

Vermont Business Magazine Home is the one constant during these times of uncertainty and change. It is a place intrinsically connected to feelings of safety and familiarity, and now, perhaps more than ever before, we all need that. This spring we have heard from many Vermonters interested in coming home for college, and we are pleased to extend our first-year and transfer application deadlines to June 1 for Vermonters.

Vermont Business Magazine More University of Vermont students and alumni received Fulbright US Student Awards this year than ever before. One of the most prestigious international exchange programs in the world, Fulbrights are designed to foster international partnership and enable graduates and recent alumni to conduct original research or teach English abroad in more than 125 countries.

Eight UVM students and alumni are set to travel the world over from the lush Apennine forests of Italy and islands of Taiwan, to the dense cities of southern Malawi and sprawling steppe of Mongolia as 2020 – 2021 Fulbright U.S. Students. An additional three have been selected as alternates to both teach and conduct research abroad. This year’s eight recipients hold the university record for most Fulbright U.S. Student Awards received in a single year, followed by seven recipients in 2013.

Vermont Business Magazine As detailed in Governor Phil Scotts recent order, signed on Friday, the Vermont Occupational Safety and Health Agency (VOSHA) has developed training and other materials to inform Vermonters on appropriate safety measures necessary to return to work amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Training and other materials were developed in conjunction with the Vermont Department of Health and the Agency of Commerce and Community Development.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health is reporting today that there are eight new cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Vermont for a statewide total of 851. There were no deaths since Saturday's report, leaving the total at 46. Total hospitalizations were down three to 34. There are over 300 hospital beds set aside for COVID-19 statewide, with over 800 available in case of a surge. New modeling presented Friday indicates that Vermont will not reach even the previous best case scenarios for hospitalizations, ICU or ventilation needs.

Vermont Business Magazine People's United Financial, Inc (NASDAQ: PBCT) thas reported results for the first quarter 2020: Operating Earnings of $0.33 per Common Share; Announced initiatives to support individuals, businesses and communities affected by COVID-19, including $3.5 million in charitable support; Accepted approximately 11,000 applications as part of the CARES Act Paycheck Protection Program, of which over 9,600 loans totaling more than $2.1 billion have been submitted to the SBA and approved as of April 21st; Sustained excellent asset quality as evidenced by net loan charge-offs to average total loans of 10 basis points and a provision of $33.5 million, which reflects the application of CECL and the impact of COVID-19; Successfully completed the core system conversion and full integration for United Bank at the beginning of April.

Vermont Business Magazine Arts and humanities organizations in Vermont facing hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic can now apply for emergency relief funding through a new partnership between the Vermont Arts Council and Vermont Humanities. The new COVID-19 Cultural Relief Grant Program is seeded with more than $700,000 from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020.

by NextUp Editor Becky Hayes Kat Wright is the lead singer for her big, bluesy, soul band Kat Wright & the Indomitable Soul Band. With a lineup of great New England musicians her music features bass, drums, percussion, guitar, organ, trumpet, trombone and alto sax.

by NextUp Editor Becky Hayes Twiddle is comprised of lead singer and guitar player Mihali Savoulidis, keys and organ player Ryan Dempsey, percussionist Brook Jordan and bassist Zdenek Gubb. Currently on tour, this Vermont quartet plays multi-genre music mixing jazz, classical, bluegrass and a blend of reggae and funk.