Current News

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.

Vermont Business Magazine In place of the previously scheduled in-person meetings, the department is holding electronic public hearings to solicit input on deer and moose on the following dates from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. including tonight, April 16.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott and the Department of Public Service today announced an innovative collaboration with several partners that will increase internet access by means of public Wi-Fi hotspots for dozens of rural towns in Vermont. Deployment is already underway with installation of devices which began Saturday, April 11, starting at the Wheelock Town Offices.

US Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) If the President is genuinely reaching out to listen to candid and diverse views on a decision that will profoundly affect millions of Americans for years to come, I look forward to sharing my views. They will be candid, and he knows if I disagree, I will tell him.

Vermont Business Magazine Todd Woodcroft was announced as the fifth head coach in Vermont men’s hockey history Wednesday evening by Director of Athletics Jeff Schulman. Woodcroft spent the past four seasons as an assistant coach with the Winnipeg Jets. Over the last 20 years he has built an extensive resume in coaching and management in the NHL and international hockey.

Vermont Business Magazine There are many effects of COVID-19 upon our community. Learning to stay at home, keeping loved ones safe, working from home with children home and engaged in distance learning, helping more with schoolwork, working on the front lines, hearing the news cycle report on cases and deaths daily, experiencing an illness or death in the family, and more. The demands on everyone are overwhelming.

A recent tracking poll by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that 45 percent of Americans said that the pandemic has affected their mental health, with 19 percent saying it has had a ‘major impact’. So if you feel COVID-19 is having an impact on your mental health, you are not alone.

Vermont Business Magazine Resort ecommerce and marketing platform Inntopia continues to ramp up their support of Goggles for Docs as the effort continues to gather momentum. Goggles for Docs helps facilitate donations of new or used ski goggles to health care workers on the front line battling COVID-19 who do not yet have access to personal protection equipment. The campaign was started by Jon Schaefer, Owner and General Manager of Berkshire East Resort, and was launched with the help of Gregg Blanchard, Inntopia’s VP of Marketing on the afternoon of March 29, just under three weeks ago.

Vermont Business Magazine Monday marked Lineworker Appreciation Day, celebrated by the nation’s electric cooperatives, and VEC is honoring all the committed men and women who work hard on the front lines to keep the lights on for our members.