Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD) is directing large “big box” retailers, such as Walmart, Target and Costco, with in-store sales of food, beverage and pharmacy, as well as electronics, toys, clothing, and the like to cease in-person sales of non-essential items in order to reduce the number of people coming into the stores.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) sent a letter to Postmaster General Megan Brennan detailing troubling news reports of postal employees being urged to continue working while showing symptoms of COVID-19 illness. Postal workers also reported having to work without appropriate personal protective equipment.

by Jack Hoffman, Senior Analyst at Public Assets Institute The $2.2 trillion federal stimulus bill will keep the wolf from the door for millions of people who can’t work and businesses forced to close because of the coronavirus pandemic—at least for a while. Congress rightly recognized its first priority is to see that people with no money coming in have enough to live on.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health reported this afternoon that there are 37 new cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) with one more death. The number of total cases now is 293 with 13 total deaths. There are 21 total patients with COVID-19 currently being treated in Vermont hospitals, while another 52 are hospitalized and are being monitored. While Chittenden County still has by far the most known cases with 152, Addison County is now second with 23 as the counties around Chittenden are showing an increase. Windsor, which is unchanged from the weekend, and Bennington County have 18. There are still no cases reported in Grand Isle or Essex counties.

Vermont Business Magazine The arrival of COVID-19 in Vermont has changed “business as usual” for all Vermonters. The hospitality and personal service industry has been particularly hard hit as Vermonters are told to “stay home.”

Vermont Business Magazine Today Vermont Secretary of State Jim Condos announced the Governor’s signing of a bill, H742 signed into law as Act 91 on March 30, creating fast tracks for out-of-state licensed healthcare and mental health professionals, retired healthcare and mental health professionals, and new graduates to join or return to the Vermont workforce in order to address the COVID-19 State of Emergency.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA) Board of Commissioners announced yesterday that its annual allocation of federal housing tax credits will support the development of 130 permanently affordable apartments in five communities across the state. Housing tax credits are the single largest source of funding for the development of affordable rental housing in Vermont. The tax credits are expected to yield an estimated $24 million in total upfront equity, which will cover an average of 62% percent of the total development costs for the upcoming projects.

by Kenneth J Entenmann, CFA, NBT Bank The last few days in late March felt like a reprieve of sorts, with the equity markets showing better performance (As of mid-day March 31, the Dow was at about 22,000, up from a week ago when it was under 19,000, but down from mid-February of over 29,000). While rising numbers are a relief, it’s hardly a signal that all is back to normal.

Vermont Business Magazine On March 30, 2020, the Vermont Department of Financial Regulation issued a new emergency regulation regarding COVID-19 and Telehealth Services. The emergency rule requires health insurers and workers' compensation insurance carriers to provide coverage for clinically appropriate health care services delivered remotely through telehealth or audio-only telephone on the same basis as in-person consultations.

Vermont Business Magazine Students affected by school closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic now have access to free high-speed wireless Internet and Google Chromebooks, thanks in part to collaborative efforts by Rutland City Public Schools, Vermont Telephone Company (VTel) and Ericsson.

Agency of Commerce & Community Development Governor Scott Monday ordered new restrictions on travelers arriving in Vermont and announced additional guidance for the lodging industry to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus and protect public health. Businesses should also be aware of financial assistance coming from the CARES Act soon.

Vermont Business Magazine The Southwestern Vermont Health Care Foundation, part of Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC), has established a special fund to meet needs that have emerged as a result of the health system’s response to COVID-19.