Current News

by Gabriella Marchesi, Community News Service A delay in plans to start construction this summer on a 110-room hotel at Burlington International Airport may be yet another of the growing economic impacts due to the drop in travel as officials try to curb the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

Vermont Business Magazine During the current COVID-19 public health crisis, getting outdoors close to home and connecting with nature is an excellent way to help maintain our mental and physical health. Engaging in our favorite outdoor recreation activity – hiking, camping, fishing, biking, hunting or walking in nature – does wonders for our health and well-being. No matter how you enjoy the outdoors, we urge you to practice effective “social distancing” and other measures to help stop the spread of COVID-19 and keep you, your family and your community safe.

“As more parts of Vermont see closures and recommendations for social distancing, we all need to find ways to manage the stress and uncertainty. A daily walk, run or hike can provide real benefits to your physical and mental health. Just practice social distancing while doing your favorite activity,” said Forests, Parks and Recreation Commissioner Michael Snyder.

Vermont Business Magazine The Peck Company Holdings, Inc (NASDAQ: PECK), a leading commercial solar engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) company, has announced that it will report earnings results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2019, on Monday, March 30, 2020, after the closing of the market. The Company will host a conference call to discuss financial results on the same day at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont State Treasurer Beth Pearce today issued the following statement about COVID-19 and the operations of the State Treasurer’s Office.

The spread of COVID-19 has disrupted daily life across the country. We are in a very serious public health crisis. I want to thank the many Vermonters who are on the front lines providing health care, ensuring public safety, supporting our children through school closures, and volunteering their time to lend a hand. And thanks to the employees at grocery stores and pharmacies who provide essential services to all of us. I am inspired by your leadership and commitment to Vermonters.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Labor has announced the temporary closure of select phone lines dealing with existing claims only for Thursday, March 26.

Vermont Business Magazine On Monday, March 23, the Washington and Northern Orange Counties Regional Response Command Center (WNOC-RRCC) officially became operational. WNOC-RRCC is a unique, unified regional collaboration of local community wellness and support services formed to act as the county-level response center to assist in the coordination and action of local efforts to support vulnerable populations during the COVOD-19 pandemic.

Vermont Business Magazine At an unpredictable time for all of us, KidsGardening wants to share ‘tried and true’ plant-based activities that are joyful for any age and don’t involve any screen time. The Burlington-based national nonprofit reaches close to half of a million educators, parents and volunteers with free online gardening educational resources and activities.

Vermont Business Magazine Today the Vermont House gave final approval to H.681 and H.742, the legislature’s COVID-19 relief package. H.681 contains several updates to our elections and open meeting laws to ensure local municipal meetings and state elections can be conducted safely in the current public health crisis. H.742 updates our unemployment insurance program and gives greater flexibility to our health care system to meet the unknown needs we will be facing. Both bills originated in the House and were part of the package passed on March 13, 2020.

by Rachel Feldman, Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott and Administration officials are making it clear that Vermonters can do one thing to help slow the spread of COVID-19: stay home. For Vermont employers and employees, this means finding unusual ways of doing “business as usual.” Yesterday the state Senate finalized an aid package. Today Congress was still putting the finishing touches on a $2 trillion financial deal to help individuals and employers make it through the impending financial crisis.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) Wednesday released the bipartisan Senate agreement to provide relief from the coronavirus pandemic to our nation’s families and working people. As Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Leahy was a lead negotiator on the appropriations title of the relief package to provide direct assistance to the American people, preserve small businesses, and distribute billions of dollars in resources to hospitals, first responders, and those at the front line of the coronavirus pandemic. The Senate is expected to take up and pass the bill as soon as Wednesday.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Public Safety on Wednesday, March 25, 2020, issued guidance to local police departments regarding potential enforcement of Gov. Phil Scott’s “Stay Home, Stay Safe” executive order, announced Tuesday, March 24, and effective at 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 25. Today, DPS and the Vermont State Police — the largest law-enforcement agency in the state — recommended to Vermont municipal leaders and law-enforcement executives that enforcement of this executive order be handled primarily through education and voluntary compliance.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, the Vermont Community Foundation announced nearly $500,000 in grants and mission investments to support Vermont communities responding to the spread of COVID-19 in Vermont. The first $380,000 in grants from the VT COVID-19 Response Fund will complement federal aid and focus on extending and expanding the capacity of nonprofits that provide basic needs to vulnerable populations, specifically the elderly and those who rely on the social safety net for human necessities.