Current News

Vermont Business Magazine In response to the urgent need for assistance following the challenges caused by this summer’s flooding, Vermont Law and Graduate School (VLGS) will host three events on Sept 6, 9 and 11 to provide legal support to homeowners, renters and business owners seeking aid through FEMA grants and Small Business Association loans. The September 12 deadline to submit applications for businesses and individuals is quickly approaching. The state has asked for an extension to October 12, which FEMA is now considering. 

Vermont Business Magazine Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) and Peter Welch (D-Vermont) and Representative Becca Balint (D-Vermont) today released a statement today saying they are "encouraged" with the White House requesting $4 billion of emergency aid, in addition to the previously requested $12 billion, to replenish the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Disaster Relief Fund (DRF), which was heavily utilized during the July floods in Vermont and is running low following several natural disasters across the United States this summer.

Vermont Business Magazine The US Department of Labor has extended the application deadline for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA). DUA is a federal program designed to help people who lost their jobs because of a natural disaster. This program gives temporary income to those who don’t qualify for regular Unemployment Insurance (UI). Qualified applicants in Caledonia, Chittenden, Lamoille, Orange, Orleans, Rutland, Washington, Windham and Windsor counties now have until September 29, 2023, to apply for benefits.

Vermont Business Magazine On the eve of Vermont Pride Week (September 2-10), the University of Vermont has been named one of the top colleges and universities for LGBTQ+ students by Campus Pride, an organization dedicated to supporting LGBTQ students and allies at colleges and universities nationwide. Campus Pride’s 2023 Best of the Best LGBTQ-friendly list includes four-year public and private colleges and universities from around the country. UVM is among three institutions in New England, and 30 nationwide, to achieve 5-out-of-5 stars and the highest percentage scores on the Campus Pride Index.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The General Fund, Transportation Fund and Education Fund all failed to achieve their respective consensus tax revenue targets in July. The personal income tax again fell below expectations, but the corporate income tax, which had been strong, also was below expectations in the General Fund. Meals & Rooms, also a large revenue source, was also down. At least part of those downside receipts misses appeared tied to the State’s July flooding event, according to Secretary of Administration Kristin Clouser. The State’s General Fund, Transportation Fund, and Education Fund receipts were a combined $229.5 million, missing the $235.0 million monthly consensus target by $5.5 million, or -2.3%. 

Vermont Business Magazine A grassroots effort led by the Berlin Pond Watershed Association (BPWA), in coordination with the City of Montpelier and Town of Berlin, has succeeded in protecting 33 acres of wetlands and forested land next to Berlin Pond, which is the sole source of drinking water for Montpelier and a portion of Berlin, the Vermont Land Trust (VLT) announced today.  The land was placed on the market in 2021. In response, community members formed the BPWA to help protect the parcel.  

Vermont Business Magazine GasBuddy on Wednesday released its annual Labor Day travel forecast, predicting the average price of gas in the US on Labor Day weekend will fall gently to $3.75 per gallon, virtually identical to what motorists experienced for Labor Day weekend last year. Gasoline demand may also rise to 9.2 million barrels for the week ahead of Labor Day as motorists begin pre-filling their tanks, making it potentially the weekend with the strongest demand of the summer driving season, behind that of July 4th. For Vermont, average gasoline prices today are $3.78 per gallon, down 2 cents per gallon from last week, up 3 cents/g from a month ago and down 26 cents/g from a year ago. The national average price of gasoline is unchanged from last week, averaging $3.80/g today. 

Vermont Business Magazine Houses of Worship and other nonprofit organizations may be eligible for FEMA assistance to reimburse their costs for emergency protective measures, debris removal and restoration of facilities damaged by the July severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides. Under the Public Assistance program, FEMA may be able to provide financial reimbursement to certain private, nonprofit organizations – including Houses of Worship – for emergency protective measures, debris removal and to restore facilities damaged or destroyed by the disaster.

Vermont Business Magazine All FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers across Vermont will be closed Monday, Sept. 4, 2023, in observance of Labor Day. They will reopen at 8 am, Tuesday, September 5, and continue regular hours of 8 am to 6 pm Monday through Saturday, closed Sunday. 

Vermont Business Magazine Today, the US Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) announced $3,333,333 in awards to rural communities in Vermont to support key strategies to respond to the overdose risk from fentanyl and other opioids. These awards help advance President Biden’s commitment to beat the opioid epidemic as part of his Unity Agenda for the nation. Across the country, more than 100,000 people die each year from overdose.  Individuals who call rural communities home and who are experiencing opioid use disorder – including from fentanyl, heroin or other opioids – can face challenges in accessing treatment and recovery services.  

Vermont Business Magazine New research has revealed the best states for business growth, with Georgia taking the top spot. Top of the list is Georgia, with a business growth rate of 13.50%. In December 2022, there were 397,515 business establishments compared to 350,189 in December 2021. Corporate income tax is set at a reasonable rate of 5.75% in Georgia, with the state also offering job tax credit to reduce corporate tax liability for eligible businesses. Montana and Vermont are in joint fourth place, with both states seeing a business growth rate of 10.20%; Vermont citizens can take advantage of several business incentives, such as flexible profit distribution, which allows companies registered as LLCs to choose various ways to distribute profits. 

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont search interest in small businesses has spiked more than any other state since 2019. Across the nation, small business support has increased by 267% in that same period. How exactly are residents supporting small businesses at a local and state level? Using Google Trends data from 2019 to 2022, Skynova's comparative analysis examines small business support in the 50 states across several variables.