Current News

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Phil Scott today at his press briefing outlined an approach for the phased restart of Vermont’s economy, which includes allowing contractors up to two people and single-worker occupations like real estate agents to get back to work. These openings are effective April 20. He also said farmers' markets will re-open May 1, but in a very restricted way. Those restrictions likely will include curbside-type service. Those plans are being developed by the Agency of Agriculture.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Today, the Vermont Department of Labor reported today that the state's unemployment rate for March was 3.2 percent. This does not account for most of the job losses associated with the COVID-19 and Governor Scott's "Stay Home, Stay Safe" emergency order. Over 78,000 Vermonters have filed unemployment claims. The March rate reflects an increase of eight-tenths of a percent from the prior month’s estimate of 2.4 percent. The US unemployment rate increased from 3.5 percent to 4.4 percent in March.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermonters are staying home and staying safe during the COVID-19 emergency, but for many that has meant getting by with no access to the internet at home. The difficulty has been particularly challenging for students who are adapting to remote learning, individuals in need of telehealth care, and workers who could earn an income if they could work from home.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) and Senator James Lankford (R-OK) are urging Secretary of State Michael Pompeo and Acting Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Chad Wolf to exercise discretion and automatically extend the validity periods of critical documents for refugees and Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holders approved for resettlement in the United States until COVID-19 travel restrictions are lifted. They emphasized that this small, reasonable measure would provide much-needed relief to refugees and SIV holders – who are among the most vulnerable populations amidst this global pandemic.

Vermont Business Magazine As the coronavirus pandemic threatens to reach an apex in Vermont in the next week or so, plans to provide health services for those who are not infected with the virus have been a main focus for Community Health. The primary care clinical staff at Community Health is being trained to handle the 24 hour-a-day operation that could accommodate 100-150 patients at the alternate care site (ACS) constructed in Castleton University’s Spartan Arena.

Vermont Business Magazine Consolidated Communications (NASDAQ: CNSL), a leading broadband and business communications provider, today announced its ProConnect Unified Communications (UC) and collaboration solution is now available to businesses throughout Northern New England. ProConnect provides advanced communication and collaboration tools that make calling, messaging and meeting simple. With ProConnect, users can stay connected with uninterrupted access to information from anywhere, at any time and on any device.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health today reported five more deaths for a total of 35 as a consequence of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. The total number of cases increased by nine for a total of 768. Health Commissioner Mark Levine, MD, has indicated this week that the state is at or near a plateauing of new cases even as testing has been stepped up. The high-water mark in new cases was 70 on April 3.

Vermont Business Magazine The Small Business Administration announced late Thursday afternoon that it is unable to accept new applications at this time for the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL)-COVID-19 related assistance program including EIDL Advances based on available appropriations funding and the SBA is currently unable to accept new applications for the Paycheck Protection Program based on available appropriations funding.

Applicants who have already submitted their applications will continue to be processed on a first-come, first-served basis.

Some of the local lending institutions are no longer accepting applications, while others are accepting but holding them pending possible further funding from Congress. The PPP began accepting applications on April 3, 2020.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Vermont unemployment insurance claims fell last week but a backlog indicates that there are still tens of thousands of claims still to be processed. Layoffs and business closures due to Governor Scott's "Stay Home, Stay Safe" order because of COVID-19 have resulted in a rush of claims. The Labor Department and its 30-year-old mainframe has struggled to keep up. At over 78,000 claims, the unemployment rate would increase from 2.4 percent to over 22 percent.

Vermont Research News Google mobility provides data on commuting trends by state. The most recent Vermont report finds a 42 percent drop in workplace travel, a 58 percent decline in the retail & recreation, a 34 percent drop in the grocery & pharmacy category and a slight decline for parks (-1 percent). Residential travel increased by 11 percent.

Vermont Business Magazine Funding is now available to nonprofits and municipal organizations through the Walter Cerf Community Fund at the Vermont Community Foundation. Mr Cerf, a native of Germany who made Addison County his home in his later years, gave more than $10 million to organizations and projects in Vermont before passing away in 2001. He focused much of his giving in Addison County and Brandon.

​Vermont Business Magazine USDA Rural Development has taken a number of immediate actions to help rural residents, businesses and communities affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. Rural Development will keep our customers, partners, and stakeholders continuously updated as more actions are taken to better serve rural America.