Current News

Vermont Business Magazine While Brattleboro Retreat outpatient services including the Anna Marsh Clinic, Starting Now’s one-on-one counseling service, the Mind Body Pain Management Program, and the HUB program will remain open, these programs will be instituting various safety measures in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. These measures include screening clients for risk of infection, establishing social distancing protocols, and using tele-health services as much as possible.

Starting at end of business on Friday, March 20, 2020, all in-person outpatient group programs at the Brattleboro Retreat will be temporarily closed. This affects:

Forecasts Call for Gusts 40-45 MPH and Stronger in Thunderstorms, GMP Urging Safety for Customers

Vermont Business Magazine Green Mountain Power (GMP) is alerting customers that forecasters are predicting strong gusty winds through Friday night, and scattered outages are possible. Crews will be responding as quickly and safely as possible. GMP tracks multiple forecasts, which are also are calling for thunderstorms and a steep temperature drop this evening, which could lead to flash freezing, making travel difficult.

Vermont Business Magazine In response to the current ban on table service at all Vermont restaurants, Seven Days has launched a digital directory of local eateries that are offering takeout, delivery or curbside drop-off options during the coronavirus pandemic. GoodToGoVermont.com will make it easy for diners to sort by region and find restaurants still operating near them and what they are cooking up. The directory draws on the extensive database of Vermont restaurants featured in our annual dining guide, 7 Nights.

Vermont Business Magazine As of yet, there has been little impact on jobs from the coronavirus (COVID-19) in Vermont on weekly unemployment claims (which lag the actual economy). US claims however have started to show a major increase. Initial claims for the week of March 14, 2020, were 661, up 215. Claims were only 20 more than they were at this time last year. Altogether 5,545 new and continuing claims were filed, a decrease of 120 from a week ago and 315 fewer than a year ago.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott and Health Commissioner Mark Levine, MD tonight announced the state’s first deaths among Vermonters infected with the new coronavirus COVID-19. The first was a male resident of Windsor County, who had been hospitalized at the VA Medical Center in White River Junction. The second was a female resident of the Burlington Health and Rehab long-term care facility in Burlington. Both were over the age of 80.

Vermont Business Magazine The Fair Haven Welcome Center on Route 4 near the New York State line and the Randolph I-89 southbound rest area buildings and facilities are closed at this time due to COVID-19 concerns. The parking areas of these two locations are still open to the public.

Vermont Business Magazine The COVID-19 emergency means that all of our current systems and networks are under stress, including the Department of Corrections (DOC). This is an opportunity to work together to find solutions that are consistent with public health and public safety. Prosecution offices across the state, including mine, have been looking at safe and deliberate ways to continue reducing Vermont’s current prison population. Reducing the population of inmates held in pre-trial detention, which is when a person accused of a crime is imprisoned prior to trial, is one possible remedy.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Federal Credit Union is offering an unprecedented array of consumer products and loan options to aid its members during the COVID-19 crisis. Some of the offerings include a Relief Loan of up to $2,500 for members who are experiencing financial hardship due to the COVID-19. This loan is available for qualified members and has an annual percentage rate of 1% and a 24-month term.

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General TJ Donovan today announced that his office will file motions to continue for 90 days all economic services cases where they provide counsel to the State of Vermont. These motions will postpone all pending cases between the State and Vermonters involving the termination or reduction of existing benefits. Affected programs include over 20 different benefit programs across divisions of the Vermont Agency of Human Services, including the popular benefits programs 3SquaresVT (formerly known as food stamps), Reach-Up (Vermont’s TANF program), and Vermont Health Connect.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Health Department announced today three more positive tests for COVID-19 for a statewide total of 22. The Health Department is prioritizing contact tracing and response efforts to cases of those who are hospitalized, residents of long-term care facilities, people who are incarcerated, and those who are immunocompromised.

Vermont Business Magazine As widespread testing for COVID-19 becomes increasingly critical for the health of our communities, Inntopia has released TestLink, a free scheduling platform that allows patients to search for testing locations and times across individual or multiple locations. The system, built on Inntopia’s activity booking platform, is typically used for scheduling ski lessons or tee-times. However, as the challenges of testing escalated in Vermont, where Inntopia is headquartered, its CEO, Trevor Crist, saw an opportunity to help.

Vermont Business Magazine New England Federal Credit Union sent a statement today saying their priority is to continue to offer all members the banking services they need during the crisis. This will involve taking new precautions to protect members and staff from getting or spreading the virus. Effective Friday, they are implementing a new delivery plan for each location.