Current News

Vermont Business Magazine NBT Bank, with branches in Northwestern Vermont, has announced adjustments to branch access designed to enable continued banking service while maintaining strong protocols for social distancing and cleaning. To help stop the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus) and ensure the health and safety of employees and customers, all in-person banking transactions are being conducted through drive-up lanes and walk-up windows. Hours of operation have been adjusted, and some offices have been temporarily consolidated with nearby locations.

Center for Research on Vermont The Vermont Research News at UVM is a bi-monthly curated collection of Vermont research -- focused on research in the Vermont "laboratory" -- research that provides original knowledge to the world and research that adds to an understanding of the state's social, economic, cultural and physical environment.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The growth rate in the number of new COVID-19 cases in Vermont slowing down, which has led to cautious optimism among top Scott Administration officials that Vermont will experience a much less severe spread of the disease than worst-case scenario projections. The current models project the “peak” of cases between mid-to-late April and early May.

Officials emphasized that the social distancing sacrifices Vermonters are making by staying at home are working, and the following weeks will be critical to saving lives. They also said that the peak will come later, and thus be less severe, if people stay the course.

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General Donovan today issued a Directive to Lodging Operations on the Enforcement of COVID-19 Emergency Order. The directive supports the Attorney General’s ongoing effort to promote voluntary compliance with Governor Scott’s Executive Order by providing Vermonters with education and outreach during the COVID-19 crisis. To date, this effort has included making telephone contact with 41 lodging operations identified by law enforcement as not complying with the Governor’s orders earlier this week.

by C.B. Hall, Vermont Business Magazine Contrary to earlier expectations -- from another era, two weeks ago – Vermont's road construction season has been pushed back because of the coronavirus pandemic. Expectations had been high at the Agency of Transportation (VTrans). In a letter dated March 19, the agency and Associated General Contractors of Vermont announced that "the date for the start of the Construction Season for all contracts is moved from April 15, 2020 to March 23, 2020 with the intent to add 3 weeks to every contract."

Davis & Hodgdon Associates The COVID-19 pandemic has caused serious anxiety and resulted in many challenges for Vermonters. There is a plethora of information and new resources that are becoming available every day. With all of this noise, it can be so hard for us to know what to focus on. In an effort to assist you and connect you with the general tax and business-related information that is most relevant to you, we are gathering the latest articles along with curated lists of resources.

by Joyce Marcel/The Commons Restaurants may be closed, supermarkets may display empty shelves, and small businesses may be afraid of going bankrupt, but at least one Windham County company is doing well in the heart of the COVID-19 virus pandemic. Chroma Technology in Bellows Falls, which manufactures optical filters for the scientific, biomedical, photonics, and imaging industries, is facing an unprecedented call for its products.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health today reported that there were 17 new COVID-19 cases for a total of 338 and another death for a total of 17. While Chittenden County has by far the most cases, with Addison County second, Windsor and Windham counties have reported two more cases each, while Grand Isle and Essex counties still have not reported any cases. Cases are reported by place of residence.

Vermonters are being asked to stay home as much as possible to keep everyone safe during this pandemic. Please leave for essentials only, such as food, and keep a safe distance of six feet between yourself and others. This will help slow the spread of the virus and protect people who are more vulnerable. Though we can all feel isolated at this time, we can, and should, connect with each other through technology, reading books, playing games and finding hobbies we enjoy. We’re all in this together.

Ski Vermont With all Vermont alpine ski areas closed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is imperative that skiers and riders weigh a number of important factors before making the decision to participate in uphill travel and "earn their turns." First and foremost: Before visiting a ski area, check its most up-to-date uphill travel policy. A number of Vermont ski areas have disallowed uphill travel and all use of their trails for the remainder of the season.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced new steps in the state’s plan to prepare for a surge in COVID-19 cases, and in turn, the need for additional hospital and medical capacity. In partnership with the Vermont National Guard (VTNG), the state is creating two additional high capacity care sites for surge: one in Essex Junction at the Champlain Valley Exposition (CVE), which will provide 400 beds staffed primarily by VTNG personnel; and another in Rutland County, supported by the Rutland Regional Medical Center, which will provide 150 beds. These high-capacity surge sites are in addition to regionally deployed sites at the Collins Perley Sports and Fitness Center in St. Albans, Barre Civic Center in Barre, and at the University of Vermont, which will create available bed space as this response unfolds.

by William Platt, Dartmouth News Preparing for spring term kept economics chair Nina Pavcnik so busy that she hardly had time to miss the usual lively conversations with her colleagues in Silsby Hall. That is, until she got an email from Associate Dean for the Social Sciences Daniel Rockmore, with a query for Dartmouth's economists.

Vermont Business Magazine Paul Millman, who co-founded Chroma Technology Corp. in 1991 and helped build it to a successful worker-owned enterprise serving the photonics industry, is stepping down as Chief Executive Officer, effective April 30. Millman will be followed as CEO by current Chief Financial Officer Newell Lessell. Current Chief Technology Officer, Janette Bombardier, will add the role of Chief Operating Officer to her responsibilities.