Current News

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.

Vermont Business Magazine University of Vermont President Suresh Garimella on Friday sent a letter to seniors informing them that commencement ceremonies scheduled for May have been canceled. Garimella said that he shared their disappointment, as it would have been his first graduation as president. He took up his duties last July. Earlier in the COVID-19 crisis, UVM had surveyed students about preferences for commencement. Those possibilities included holding an online ceremony or even a live ceremony later in the summer. Without offering possibilities, Garimella held out hope for some sort of alternative commencement.

by Louis Josephson and Steven Gordon The Coronavirus pandemic continues to demand timely, innovative solutions that focus on keeping people safe. And as we are learning, these solutions require the willingness of health care institutions to work together for the greater good. With that in mind we want to reassure our neighbors and friends both locally and across Vermont that the Brattleboro Retreat and Brattleboro Memorial Hospital (BMH) have developed an effective way to address the needs of psychiatric patients with possible COVID-19 needs.

Vermont Business Magazine In light of the substantial and ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on global financial conditions, the University of Vermont Board of Trustees today approved a three-month budget continuation past the June 30, 2020, conclusion of the current fiscal year. In September, the administration will present a budget for the remaining nine months of the 2021 fiscal year, when anticipated income and expenses for the next fiscal year become clearer. The Board also directed the University to examine major operating costs including ongoing capital construction projects.

The decision reflects the uncertainty felt throughout higher education as a result of impacts from the pandemic and is part of the continuum of actions the University has taken in response to challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.