Current News

Commerce Secretary Lindsay Kurrle It’s hard to believe exactly one year later we are in another flooding situation. Many of our communities that suffered from last summer’s flooding were hit again overnight damaging homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure. Please know that myself and the rest of the Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD) are thinking of you. At ACCD we are on standby to support recovery efforts once the State of Vermont moves into the response phase. We will continue to keep you updated via this Severe Storm Newsletter. Read on to learn about reporting storm damage and available mental health services.

Vermont Business Magazine The Green Mountain Care Board (GMCB) has canceled of the Health Care Community Meeting scheduled for tonight in St. Johnsbury at Catamount Arts at 6pm. This decision comes in response to the severe flooding that occurred last night. The well-being of community members is our top priority. Local flooding caused significant disruption, making it unsafe for community members to travel. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding and cooperation during this time.

Vermont Business Magazine ATTOM, a leading curator of land, property and real estate data, today released its Midyear 2024 U.S. Foreclosure Market Report, which shows there were a total of 177,431 U.S. properties with foreclosure filings — default notices, scheduled auctions or bank repossessions — in the first six months of 2024. That figure is down 4.4 percent from the same time period a year ago but up 7.8 percent from the same time period two years ago. States that saw the greatest increases in foreclosure activity compared to a year ago in the first half of 2024 included South Dakota (up 93 percent); North Dakota (up 86 percent); Kentucky (up 73 percent); Massachusetts (up 46 percent); and Idaho (up 30 percent). Vermont had 89 foreclosures, or 0.03% of housing units and up 25.3% from the same time last year.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Army National Guard Soldiers worked with Urban Search and Rescue Teams to evacuate 19 people from locations in Barre, Northfield and Moretown last night. These rescues are in addition to the dozens of evacuations by Urban Search and Rescue Teams across Vermont. One team staged in Berlin supported the rescue of 6 people from Barre and conducted welfare checks in multiple areas, including Richmond and Middlesex. The other team staged in Berlin supported the rescue of 11 people, two dogs and four cats in Barre, Northfield and Moretown.

Vermont Business Magazine Yesterday, Representative Becca Balint (D-Vermont) was joined by Reps. Jayapal and Tonko to introduce the Small Dollar Donor Protection Act (SDDPA). Online small dollar donations are increasingly prevalent in campaigns. In the first quarter of 2024, more than 1.2 million individuals made 5 million donations to House and Senate campaigns and about two-thirds of those donations were less than $20. This bill aims to ensure small dollar support is accurately portrayed by political campaigns and that the donations are not solicited fraudulently or under false pretenses. The Small Dollar Donor Protection Act (SDDPA) creates a reporting mechanism to keep campaigns honest about their level of grassroots support. 

Vermont Business Magazine Average gasoline prices in Vermont are $3.47 per gallon, up 3 cents/g since last week, down 2 cents/g from last month and down 11 cents/g from last year. The lowest price in the state yesterday was $3.17/g in Bennington while the highest was $3.65/g, in Londonderry. The national average price of gasoline is up 5 cents/g in the last week, averaging $3.53/g today. The national average is up 9 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 2 cents per gallon higher than a year ago.

Vermont Business Magazine From July 7-21, 2023, heavy rain across Vermont drove rivers to near record levels causing historic and catastrophic flooding. In Montpelier, the Winooski River crested at 21 feet, reaching a height not seen since the 1920s and leading to the rescue of over 100 people from flooded cars and homes. One year later, families, businesses, and communities continue to rebuild with the help of federal assistance from FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration. So far, $25,987,190.49 has been approved for Individual Assistance and $50,580,607.19 has been obligated for Public Assistance. The state has also prioritized mitigation efforts, a program with $1,141,512.00 designated to support rebuilding stronger in Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont—4802 Vermont Homecare United—the union representing Vermont’s more than 5,000 home care workers, has officially voted to ratify a new agreement with the State of Vermont regarding the minimum hourly rate paid. The two-year agreement went into effect on July 1, 2024, and includes a 5% increase to the minimum base rate each year as well as a retention bonus based on time worked. Homecare providers are dedicated professionals who provide a wide range of support services that allow a person to live safely in their home and engage in the community. Clients range from Veterans to aging adults, those managing chronic health issues or serious illness or injury, and those with special needs or disabilities.  

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) released the following statement Thursday in reaction to overnight floods that caused damage to homes, businesses, and farms across Vermont: “It is beyond heartbreaking to see more devastating floods in the same communities exactly one year later—yet, this is our new reality. So many homeowners, farms, businesses, and communities are still working to recover from last July’s flood, and this will only set Vermont’s recovery back. Climate change is wreaking havoc on our state. 

Vermont Business Magazine Organizers from Barre Up, a community-led long term recovery effort that mobilized after last year’s flooding, on Thursday morning are coordinating supplies, food, and water while waiting for communication from local and state officials. “Barre Up has boots on the ground and will be responding to immediate needs of residents as soon as they come in,” said Shawna Trader, a spokesperson for the group. Trader and others from Barre Up will be distributing disaster preparedness and recovery supplies—water pumps, sump pumps, hoses, and fuel—out of City Hall Park in the coming hours. They are also organizing food and water to be distributed from the Rainbow Bridge Community Center, located at 81 North Main Street.  

VermontBiz ZymoChem, a leading biotech company dedicated to creating sustainable materials for everyday products, has announced the launch of BAYSE, the world's first scalable, 100% bio-based, and biodegradable Super Absorbent Polymer (SAP). This groundbreaking innovation is set to revolutionize the $145 billion global hygiene industry and pave the way for a more sustainable future. BAYSE is a drop-in replacement for traditional, fossil fuel-based SAPs, which are a key component in disposable, absorbent hygiene products such as infant diapers. Unlike petroleum-derived, polyacrylate counterparts, BAYSE is made from renewable resources, maintains a lower carbon footprint, and is readily biodegradable, addressing the environmental concerns associated with the 300,000 diapers that enter landfills or are incinerated every minute.

Vermont Business Magazine Rigorous Technology, a Williston-Vermont robotics company, has announced the development of a new collaborative robot solution tailored towards first-time robotics operators. The Box Order Bot, or B.O.B. for short, is designed for ease-of-use and flexibility to empower small to medium-sized Vermont manufacturers in their automation journey. A Deloitte report predicts 2.1 million unfilled US manufacturing jobs by 2030. Vermont faces similar challenges with labor shortages and rising costs. These issues are felt across industries, geographies, and business size. The largest manufacturers build or acquire dedicated robotics teams to automate production. The other 99% of U.S. companies widely vary in their experience with robotics and automation. Rigorous Technology has a mission to increase access to automation for small to medium-sized businesses, making robots accessible, affordable, and easy to implement.