Current News

Vermont Businesses Magazine A group of University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine students are spearheading a drive to stockpile PPE for the college and for providers at the University of Vermont Medical Center. The medical students are looking to collect unused PPE from dentists, nonmedical labs, secondary schools, meat-packing plants, medical spas, nail salons, and other businesses and locations around Vermont that are currently closed or operating at a reduced level. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a shortage of protective gear around the country – including in Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Labor announces that Vermonters who were not previously eligible for unemployment insurance benefits may now apply online for the new Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program. PUA eligible Vermonters include self-employed workers, independent contractors, and other individuals who are not eligible for traditional unemployment insurance.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health today reported five more cases of COVID-19 for a total of 823 statewide and no new deaths, which stands at 40. At a press conference Wednesday, Health Commissioner Mark Levine, MD presented an overview of findings regarding 29 of the 40 Vermonters whose deaths were associated with COVID-19. While the numbers of people in Vermont who have died as a result of the pandemic are relatively small, each life lost to this disease is devastating. Dr. Levine explained that the data available through April 14 reflects that older adults and people with serious underlying medical conditions appear to be at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19. This is in line with what is being seen nationally and around the world. Just as Dr Levine says the state is apparently at a peak, the number of hospitalizations continues to decline, with under 40 now hospitalized either with COVID-19 or under investigation.

Vermont Business Magazine As the pandemic continues, demands on healthcare professionals are also on the rise. This week, Darn Tough Vermont is helping to provide additional comfort within their own medical community by donating 10,000 pairs of socks to hospitals across the Green Mountain State.

Vermont Business Magazine During the week of April 13th, the Vermont Community Foundation distributed the second round of grants from both the VT COVID-19 Response Fund and the Community Foundation’s own discretionary grants budget, totaling $529,000. Through these channels, approximately $1.16 million has been distributed since the Fund was established on March 13th. As of April 15th, donations to the VT COVID-19 Response Fund have reached $3.2 million, which the Community Foundation will continue to distribute in multiple phases to respond to immediate needs and long-term recovery efforts across the state.

Vermont Business Magazine Today marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day and with it, Burton has announced further progress to a more sustainable snowboard and outdoor industry. As Burton has grown from Jake Burton Carpenter's garage into a global company over the last four decades, the brand has continued their responsibility to protect the outdoor playground and has announced updates to their aggressive sustainability goals for 2020.

Vermont Business Magazine During the COVID-19 pandemic Vermont’s affordable housing network is partnering with others to protect, feed, and care for thousands of low-income households. In counties across the State the nonprofit organizations are critical partners and leaders to assure homeless people are safely housed during the Stay Home, Stay Safe order. The low-income residents of affordable housing developments are disproportionately vulnerable to the coronavirus and to its economic fallout, as they have a higher level of underlying health conditions and they have less financial security.

Vermont Business Magazine In response to the COVID-19 crisis, Vermont broadband providers have opened over 10,000 free WiFi hotspots throughout the state, giving thousands of students, parents and workers across the state access to fast and reliable internet to help them work, learn and shop. These providers were among the first to create responses to the COVID-19 emergency and made the decision to open the hotspots several weeks ago.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott and Department of Financial Regulation (DFR) Commissioner Michael Pieciak today announced that more than 40 additional auto insurance companies have filed plans to return premiums or reduce their rates for Vermont policyholders. DFR has moved quickly to approve these plans which amount to over $14.6 million in savings for Vermonters to date.

All Vermont-based auto insurance companies, along with most major out-of-state insurers, have developed refund plans for Vermonters, which combined, represent approximately 90% of all personal auto policies in Vermont. Each of these insurers has seen a reduction in claims as Vermonters do their part to stay home to comply with the Governor’s Stay Home, Stay Safe directive.

by C.B. Hall, Vermont Business Magazine "Devastating," said Joe Tisbert, president of the Vermont Farm Bureau, describing the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. "This whole thing has been devastating to agriculture across the board." The same adjective depicts the state of Vermont's food retailers: In big-box supermarkets and village stores, the impact has been extreme, although not without some silver linings in the cloud.

by C.B. Hall, Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott's March 24 "Stay Home/Stay Safe" order suspended in-person retail commerce with an exception for "critical" businesses such as supermarkets, but it took another day before the state clarified that the "critical" category would not include Vermont's approximately 55 farmers' markets. But some limited re-opening could be announced as soon as Friday.

Vermont Business Magazine Middlebury College Physician Mark Peluso received a welcome delivery on April 15–a donation of 10,000 surgical masks from 79 families of Chinese students who attend Middlebury. Middlebury will keep 6,000 of the masks to meet immediate and possible future needs on campus. The College will donate the remaining 4,000 to help with the safety efforts of local long-term care facilities, fire fighters, law enforcement, and organizations that support the homeless and mentally ill. College health officials approached Porter Medical Center first, but staff there reported that they currently have a sufficient supply of surgical masks.