Current News

Public Assets Institute Newly released analyses from Public Assets Institute outline factors that contributed to the FY25 education tax spike. New analyses from Public Assets Institute have revealed that some districts and taxpayers have been facing disproportionately higher bills prior to FY25. “Low- and moderate-income Vermonters can see big tax jumps even when spending doesn’t change because of income and property value ‘cliffs’ that are built into the system,” said Stephanie Yu, President and Executive Director of the Public Assets Institute.

Vermont Business Magazine The Southwestern Vermont Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce its second annual "Heart of The Shires Luncheon," a celebration of nonprofits, community leaders, and social sector organizations. This year’s event will be held at Hildene’s newly constructed Lincoln Hall, on Wednesday, November 6th from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., and will feature Matt Dunne, founder and executive director of the Center on Rural Innovation (CORI), as the keynote speaker. This luncheon honors and recognizes the critical role that nonprofits, social enterprises, and community leaders play in strengthening the region’s civic fabric. Local leaders, organizations, and over 75 attendees from across the region will gather to reflect on community contributions and shared goals for the future.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, Treasurer Mike Pieciak announced his office will distribute $1.7 million to the University of Vermont (UVM), the Vermont State Colleges (VSC), and the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation (VSAC) to support Vermonters seeking a higher education degree. The funds come from investment earnings on the state’s Higher Education Trust Fund, which is managed by the Treasurer’s Office and provides grants for Vermonters pursuing a degree from local colleges and universities. 

Vermont Business Magazine With the first production of the 2024-25 theatre/dance season—Spirits to Enforce—set to open this week, the University of Vermont's School of the Arts, located within the College of Arts and Sciences, is announcing a $1 million gift to launch much-needed upgrades to the Royall Tyler Theatre. The anonymous donation comes from a UVM Class of 1983 alum who is committed to seeing the arts thrive at the university and has made past gifts to help fund the renovation of Cohen Hall and the redesign of the Colburn Gallery. “We are so grateful to the donor for their incredible support of the arts in the College,” said William Falls, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Labor (VDOL) reminds Vermonters impacted by the July 9-11, 2024, flood that the federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) benefits application deadline is October 25, 2024, for those living or working in eligible counties. The Biden Administration and the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) approved Addison, Caledonia, Chittenden, Essex, Lamoille, Orleans, and Washington counties as federal disaster areas. Under this declaration, individuals living, working, or scheduled to work in these counties may be eligible for DUA. This includes independent contractors, self-employed individuals, and agricultural workers. 

Vermont Business Magazine Comcast has awarded a $20,000 grant to support MaturityWorks, a training program run by The WorkPlace in partnership with the State of Vermont’s Mature Worker Program. The grant helps address digital literacy barriers for low-income Vermonters, age 55 and older, who are looking to expand their job skills and re-enter the workforce. The WorkPlace is a nonprofit organization that coordinates regional and state-wide workforce development programs to prepare people for careers while strengthening the workforce. The funding from Comcast provides MaturityWorks participants with technology, including laptops, to access virtual learning and career readiness training, such as how to use email, write a resume with software tools, complete online applications and interview virtually.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont) today joined Vermont postal employees and American Postal Workers Union (APWU) members, the Montpelier Commission of Recovery and Resilience, community advocates, and postal customers to call on U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy and the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to improve rural mail service across Vermont and reopen the Montpelier Post Office. The post office has been closed for nearly 450 days following devastating flooding in Montpelier and across Vermont in July 2023.  

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine For the week ending September 21, the Vermont Department of Health reported that the number of COVID-19 cases in Vermont fell but remain at over 300 cases. Hospitalizations however saw an increase in visits. Hospitalizations and general "syndromic" cases increased to over 25 cases. The VDH reported 9 COVID-related fatalities, which is a two-week total as there was no report last week. Overall, COVID results have been increasing since the late summer. At the beginning of the summer there were only about 5 hospitalizations a week, but have been running, for the most part, at 20 or more for the past month. The number of COVID cases, which had fallen for the first time since the end of June, fell last week to 311 cases. Cases had been falling in April and May and were as low as 31 at the beginning of May. 

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Ultra-low fare carrier Frontier Airlines (NASDAQ: ULCC) is returning to Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport (BTV) on December 20 with the launch of new nonstop service to Orlando International Airport (MCO) and to Tampa International Airport (TPA). Service to MCO will operate four times per week, and service to Tampa will operate three times per week. Frontier left BTV in 2019. The announcement was made at the Burlington airport Tuesday morning. Nic Longo, director of aviation at BTV, said competition and availability are important factors to growing the airport. While Breeze Airways also serves those destinations, the planes are typically full and across all airlines, BTV is running well ahead of capacity standards at 87 percent, he said. The US average is 79%. The airport will soon begin a $50 million enhancement to the North Terminal.

Vermont Phone-Free Schools Over 150 independent medical professionals, parents, teachers, content experts, academic researchers, legislators, and attorneys from across the country signed a letter to Congressional leadership asking for action on the US Surgeon General’s call for warning labels on social media products. Signers include author and social psychologist, Jonathan Haidt; child psychiatrist and author, Dr. Victoria Dunkley; Fairplayforkids.org founder Dr. Susan Linn, author and child and adolescent psychologist Dr. Richard Freed, attorney Laura Marquez-Garrett of the Social Media Victims Law Center, New Jersey School Nurse, Robin Cogan and state legislators from Vermont and Kansas. Signers also included members of the National Screen Time Action Network at Fairplay for Kids.

by Speaker of the House Jill Krowinski In 2016, Phil Scott was first elected as Governor and stated he was committed to making a difference in the lives of Vermonters. To this day, his website states: "He has committed to making a difference in the lives of Vermonters by growing the state’s economy, making Vermont more affordable, protecting the most vulnerable and restoring faith and trust in government." Protecting the most vulnerable and restoring faith and trust in government — a headline priority for his eight years as our state’s leader. Yet, at a time when the Governor has the ability to use the tens of millions in funds the legislature appropriated — money that could keep families, veterans, children with disabilities, and other vulnerable Vermonters sheltered — he has chosen to look the other way.

Vermont Business Magazine A panel of Saint Michael’s College faculty members and alumni working in professions grappling with the use and ethics of artificial intelligence, or AI, will speak at the College on Tuesday, Oct. 1. The panel, which will take place at 5 p.m. in the Roy Room on the 3rd floor of the Dion Student Center at the college in Colchester, is titled “Artificial Intelligence Unleashed: Navigating the Nexus of Innovation, Ethics, and Tomorrow.” The panel’s title was generated using AI.