Current News

Vermont Business Magazine As part of the College of Graduate and Continuing Studies (CGCS) 2020 new program initiative, Norwich announced the new online Bachelor of Science in Data Analytics program and the online Bachelor of Science in Computer Science & Information Systems program, both of which are set to begin in September 2020.

Vermont Business Magazine Less than a month after launching its hand sanitizer operation to support and protect the community’s brave healthcare professionals and first responders during the COVID-19 crisis, Caledonia Spirits has expanded its production efforts so significantly that it can now offer the product to the general public. Now available at barrhill.com/cleanhands for ordering, Barr Hill Hand Sanitizer is being produced on Gin Lane in Montpelier by Caledonia Spirits’ dedicated distillery team. The general public can order the not-for-profit hand sanitizer for pickup at the distillery in a variety of quantities, ranging from six 4-ounce bottles all the way up to a 55-gallon drum. Caledonia Spirits is also making one order size – 24 x 4-ounce bottles - available for direct shipment to the customer. All orders will take approximately 2-3 weeks to process.

Vermont Business Magazine Monday night, Mayor Miro Weinberger delivered the annual State of the City address through the online platform Zoom, during which he reported that the State of the City is a State of Emergency. The mayor outlined the crisis that we face in our response to the COVID-19 coronavirus, how we can start thinking about what the months ahead will hold, the work that City government has done and will continue to do through this pandemic, and a vision for how Burlington can emerge from this crisis as an even stronger and more just community.

Agency of Commerce & Community Development The Vermont Department of Labor has announced that it will hold its next Virtual Town Hall events on Tuesday, April 7 at 2:00 pm (Topic: Resources for the Self-Employed) and Thursday, April 9 at 2 pm (Topic: Employer Services and Rapid Response). For more information visit the Department of Labor website.

Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders The federal relief package that was passed last week is the largest in American history. As I've said before, I am proud that much needed relief is going to the working families of this country who are currently suffering due to this crisis. A major accomplishment of this law, while not enough, is the direct aid to individuals in the form of cash payments. To be clear, we must do more and I am continuing to fight in Washington to ensure that benefits are quickly made available to help the American people throughout this crisis.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott has requested federal disaster funds to assist the state of Vermont in its response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The request asks for federal Public Assistance (PA) funds for the state and all towns for costs incurred in the response to and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as Individual Assistance, including Disaster Unemployment Assistance and Crisis Counseling Assistance/Regular Services Program for all Vermont counties.

Vermont Business Magazine At 8 am on Thursday, April 2, local law enforcement agencies—including those from the Bennington Police Department, Bennington Sheriff’s Department, Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Department, and Vermont State Police—paid a special visit to Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC), part of Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC). Dozens of law enforcement vehicles paraded up Hospital Drive, with lights only, stopped in front of the entrance for approximately 60 seconds, and got out of their vehicles as a salute staff. Staff had been notified last night, and many were outside to receive the honor.

by John McClaughry Vermont’s most recent disaster occurred in September 2011, when Tropical Storm Irene roared up the west side of the state. Fourteen hundred residences were damaged and their residents displaced; 34 state highway and 90 town bridges were washed out or closed; 531 state highway miles and 175 town roads were impassable.

Gov. Peter Shumlin, in what many would conclude was the best performance of his six years in that office, moved decisively to restore and rebuild. State officials at damage scenes told contractors, the National Guard, and town governments to “git ‘er done” without spending their time consulting regulators.

Vermont Business Magazine During this uncertain and stressful time, ETS is helping to ensure the flow of essential goods and services needed to weather the storm. Businesses are turning to ETS to supply temporary and contract employees to help produce and deliver food, pharmaceuticals, provide essential logistics and other necessities; provide critically-needed health care professionals; and help manage complex payroll processing

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Family Network’s (VFN) Puppets in Education (PiE) program is proud to announce that a COVID-19 version of their PK–Grade 4 Anxiety program has been created, recorded, and is now available online for ANY family needing support during this time. The program, which was developed and piloted starting in January 2020, features two kid puppets and several octopus puppets. It provides tips and tools for parents and children to use when worry feels big. Families can watch the video together, talk about worry, and discuss what tools to use.

Vermont Business Magazine Beginning Monday, all University of Vermont Medical Center staff who typically park at satellite lots are able to park on site. Through a partnership with the University of Vermont, employees who had been parking at the Catamount East and Doubletree lots will now be parking on the UVM campus. Employees are being notified today of the change.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott and the Agency of Education (AOE) today announced a partnership with Vermont PBS to provide educational content to supplement remote learning for Vermont students and school districts during the COVID-19 outbreak. This initiative will give over 83,500 Vermont students access to free, high-quality educational resources via television broadcast and online content throughout the duration of school closures to help complement distance learning efforts by Vermont school leaders.