Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is extending its use of enforcement discretion through the end of this current state of emergency for retailers or redemption centers who choose to not redeem beverage containers subject to Vermont’s bottle bill law. Vermont DEC has taken this step in allowing retailers and redemption centers to temporarily stop redemption services to reduce unnecessary person-to-person contact and possible virus transmission and to let grocers focus on restocking food shelves and other needed work to assure availability of groceries.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont District Office is receiving a very high level of phone and email volume due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. In response to this situation, our office will be conducting free daily webinars to discuss SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan and Advance. You may join the SBA for a free webinar every weekday morning beginning Friday April 24, 2020 at 9 am.

Vermont Business Magazine As the state begins taking measured steps toward re-opening, it is more important than ever to make wearing cloth face coverings a habit whenever we leave home – and to be sure to wear them the right way. Recent data has revealed more about how the virus can spread, even before a person shows any symptoms. Droplets produced when you breathe, speak, or clear your throat can spread COVID-19 from person to person. Since you may be infected and not know it, wearing a face covering helps protect people around you from exposure to the virus.

Vermont Business Magazine As of Thursday, the average Vermont gasoline price was $1.95 per gallon; one year ago it was $2.75. Meanwhile, Burlington gas prices have fallen 1.8 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $1.97/g today, according to GasBuddy's daily survey of 100 stations. Gas prices in Burlington are 38.3 cents per gallon lower than a month ago and stand 83.5 cents per gallon lower than a year ago. The lowest recorded price in Vermont this week was $1.45 in Greensboro.

Vermont Business Magazine The University of Vermont Medical Center today expressed gratitude for community partners who have offered their support to employees seeking alternate housing arrangements during the COVID-19 pandemic. Agreements with local organizations have allowed the UVM Medical Center to connect employees who are well and working in high risk areas who wish to stay somewhere other than their homes during this time with free housing. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, 30 employees have tested positive for the disease. 28 have been cleared to return to work, and the remaining 2 are recovering at home. The majority do not appear to have been infected at work, and we are grateful that many have experienced mild illness. No employee has tested positive since April 9.

Vermont Business Magazine The VNA & Hospice of the Southwest Region (VNAHSR) has received a $10,000 grant from the VT COVID-19 Response Fund of the Vermont Community Foundation. The grant will be used to help the agency adapt to the changing realities of providing home health care and hospice during an epidemic.

Vermont Business Magazine The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is awarding seven local New England organizations with recognition for their work keeping wasted food out of landfills and incinerators and putting it to better use, including Central Vermont Solid Waste Management District in Montpelier. EPA gave national recognition to Keene State College, in Keene, NH; the Katharine Lee Bates Elementary School, in Wellesley, Mass; and Signature Bread, in Chelsea, Mass.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Education (AOE) announced an expanded agreement today with the Vermont Virtual Learning Cooperative (VTVLC) to provide Continuity of Learning resources to Vermont schools and students across the state. This partnership will provide a virtual learning management system to support school districts and supervisory unions, Career Technical (CTE) Centers and Adult Education centers. The system is targeted to serve students grades 6 – 12, and offers support to educators and schools as they serve students for the remainder of the school year and prepare to meet student needs in the coming year. This option will be provided at no cost to districts, schools or providers.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Layoffs and business closures due to the economic downturn due to COVID-19 and Governor Scott's "Stay Home, Stay Safe" order have resulted in a rush of unemployment insurance claims. Now, new claims have subsided over the last two weeks but are still at historically high levels. The weekly claims report indicated that for the week ending April 18, 2020, the Department processed 6,598 Initial Claims, down 3,064 from the previous week but 5,654 more than the same time last year. Total new and continuing claims are 70,911, an increase of 30,045 from the previous week and 65,568 more than the same time last year.

Vermont Business Magazine Winooski-based Marathon Health and OurHealth, leading national providers of employer population health solutions, have created a strategic Return to Work framework to help employers address the impact of COVID-19 and resume operations while protecting the ongoing health and safety of their employees. The two companies announced their strategic combination in January.

Among Additional Community Supports During Pandemic
Vermont Business Magazine Health Care and Rehabilitation Services (HCRS), southeastern Vermont’s community mental-health agency, announced today that it has opened up a phone support Warm Line (1-800-917-1622) for the community.

The expansion of the non-profit agency’s Warm Line to the community is in response to the increased need for support to manage the stress and anxiety associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. The warm line is staffed with trained professionals offering support seven days per week from 7:30 am – 10:30 pm. The phone support line is anonymous and open to anyone in Windsor and Windham Counties.

Vermont Business Magazine On Friday, April 24th at 2pm, Department of Economic Development Commissioner Joan Goldstein will host a virtual town hall to discuss the latest updates on the financial assistance programs available from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). A portion of the event will include a Q&A with Darcy Carter, Director of the SBA Vermont District Office, as well as Thom Lauzon and other members of the Employer Financial and Technical Support Action Team. Also, there will be a town hall by the Labor Department on the PUA process Thursday at 2 pm.