Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Starting Saturday, September 30, small business owners and entrepreneurs in Vermont can apply for a new round of grant funding from the State Trade Expansion Program (STEP). This latest round of funding is made possible by a $249,000 grant from the US Small Business Administration (SBA). Vermont STEP helps small businesses overcome obstacles to exporting by providing grants to cover costs associated with entering and expanding into international markets.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Art Council announces the 22 recipients of its most sought-after award, the Creation Grant, which supports Vermont artists in creating new work. Two recipients were People’s Choice Creation Grantees, a new process involving the public’s vote. Among this year’s winning proposals are works that span visual arts, literary arts, dance, music, film, and multidisciplinary fields, including a video rumination on living with chronic pain; a public art project exploring the concept of home; films about a Vermont dairy farmer and a wildlife rehabilitator; and an immersive experience with multisensory storytelling elements. A record 225 applications were received for this highly competitive award, with a total of more than $1 million requested in funding. 

Vermont Business Magazine A public facing mural will soon adorn the exterior facade of Village Center Apartments in the heart of downtown Morrisville, spearheaded by nonprofit collaborators River Arts and Lamoille Housing Partnership (LHP.) “With each of LHP’s affordable housing developments, we strive to contribute vital housing resources as well as vibrant spaces to our communities. This mural along with Village Center Apartments’ steel dragon sculpture are examples of that practice in action,” says LHP’s Advancement & Communications Director Kerrie Lohr.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Corrections (DOC) today announced the signing of a contract with CoreCivic to house individuals in DOC custody at Tallahatchie County Correctional Facility (TCCF) in Tutwiler, Mississippi. CoreCivic was the lone bidder for the contract. Incarcerated individuals in Vermont custody have been held at the facility since 2018, with 126 individuals currently residing at TCCF. The contract provides adult male incarcerated individuals with housing, treatment, and rights in accordance with American Correctional Association (ACA) standards. The agreement lays out a two-year term with two additional one-year extensions. The contract sets a maximum allowable cost of $21,463,095 for up to 300 beds if needed

Vermont Business Magazine Last week, the Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA) Board of Commissioners awarded Vermont State Affordable Housing Tax Credits for homeownership development projects across the state. Once sold to investors, the credits will yield nearly $3 million in equity for downpayment assistance for newly constructed or substantially rehabilitated single-family homes as well as energy-efficient manufactured homes. Additionally, Commissioners awarded more than $8.5 million as part of the Missing Middle-Income Homeownership Development Program, which will create 180 homes across the state. Combined, these investments will support the construction or substantial rehabilitation of at least 254 homes. 

The Vermont State Police is warning the public about recent scam calls in which the caller pretends to be a VSP commander or trooper. Reports to the state police indicate the imposter tells the recipient of the call that he or she is subject to a pending legal matter. If leaving a message, the scammer provides a number for the recipient to call back. These calls are not originating with the Vermont State Police. If anyone receives such a call, they should hang up or not call back at the number provided, and instead telephone their local VSP barracks to confirm the authenticity of the message. 

Vermont Business Magazine Solving Hunger, a project of Tusk Philanthropies, today announced the results of its 2023 campaigns, concluding with the passage of North Carolina's budget. Solving Hunger won five of six campaigns in North Carolina, Vermont, New York, and two in Connecticut. This year's results represent the strong momentum towards school meal funding in states across the nation, with 2024 poised to be one of the most productive legislative sessions ever for children who need food. Working with statewide organizations and providing them with the additional advocacy, lobbying and communications tools, Solving Hunger spent $1,000,000 to help pass $250,000,000 in incremental state funding to feed 1.3 million children, at an average cost of $192/year per child. This represents a 250x return on investment.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Transportation (AOT) will be applying for federal funding to repair and replace broken and non-operational electric vehicle (EV) chargers to improve the reliability of existing EV charging infrastructure throughout the state. Under the Electric Vehicle Charger Reliability and Accessibility Accelerator federal program, $100 million is available nationwide for existing public and private Direct Current Fast Chargers (DCFC) and Level 2 chargers.  

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health reported September 20, 2023, that COVID-19 hospitalizations edged down again to a statewide total of 22, down from 28 last week, they were 27 before that and 25 three weeks ago. Cases and hospitalizations had risen over the summer. COVID-19 activity remains in the "Low" range, according to the VDH. Reported cases last week were 197, down from 218 last week; they were 165 before that. There were 4 COVID-related deaths reported last week, after 10 the previous week, and zero the week before that, for a pandemic total of 1,019 as of September 16 (this is the most recent update). Fatalities have slowed from prior years. VDH reported 15 COVID-related deaths in March, 20 in April, 10 in May, 10 in June (these are fewest since the summer of 2021), 11 in July, 14 in August, and 8 so far in September. 

Vermont Business Magazine With the average age of Vermont’s population expected to rise over the next decade, state officials are asking people to take actions that will help them stay healthy, and to assist in making Vermont an age-friendly state. By 2030, one in three people in Vermont will be over the age of 60. As we get older, injuries that once may have been minor can become more serious — including falls.  

Vermont Business Magazine The Barton Disaster Recovery Center will close permanently at 6 p.m., Wednesday, September 27, 2023. The center is currently open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, and closed Sunday. You don’t need to visit a DRC to apply for FEMA assistance or to check on the status of your application. The easiest way to reach FEMA is to call the toll-free Helpline at 800-621-3362. Specialists are available 24/7 to help you apply, answer your questions and provide referrals to resources. Language translation is available. 

Vermont Business Magazine Burlington commercial real estate broker V/T Commercial has reported recent transactions. They include: Vermont Employment Agency renewed its office lease at 1944 Williston Road, South Burlington, with the David & DeSarno Trust. Tony Blake of V/T Commercial assisted both in this transaction. John Beal and Yves Bradley of V/T Commercial brokered the sale of the Cambridge Village Market at 113 South Main Street, Cambridge on behalf of Alexrobert, LLC. Tesla, Inc has leased 45,803 square feet at 218 Hannaford Drive, South Burlington from Retail Business Services.  Yves Bradley of V/T Commercial represented the landlord and Atlantic Retail represented the tenant.