Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee (HELP), today led the committee in marking up critical legislation to address the primary care crisis in America, including the major shortage of nurses, doctors, dentists, mental health professionals, and other important health care workers across the country.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation’s Urban & Community Forestry Program (UCF) have announced nearly $500,000 is available through its grant program. UCF’s 2024 grants program is larger than ever before, thanks primarily to an allocation from the USDA Forest Service through the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. Three distinct grant categories are now open and are accepting applications through January 5, 2024. Municipalities, public educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply for all categories. 

Vermont Business Magazine Average gasoline prices in Vermont are $3.81 per gallon, up 5 cents per gallon from last week, up 1 cent/g from a month ago and up 5 cents/g from the same time last year ($3.76/g). The lowest price in the state is $3.59/g in Troy while the highest was $3.99/g in Wolcott. The national average price of gasoline fell 1 cent/g in the last week, averaging $3.83/g today. The national average is up 1 cent per gallon from a month ago and stands 16 cents per gallon higher than a year ago ($3.67/g).

Vermont Business Magazine A new report from the non-profit Energy Action Network (EAN) finds that Vermont has made the least progress of any state in the Northeast toward the Paris Climate Accord emissions reduction commitment made by the US and is not on track to meet its own state legal obligations by 2025 and 2030 under the Global Warming Solutions Act. Vermont has the 2nd highest per capita emissions in New England, behind only New Hampshire, and the 3rd highest in the Northeast, with only Pennsylvania and New Hampshire creating more climate pollution per person. Looking internationally, Vermont’s per capita climate pollution is more than twice as high as the global average and is significantly higher than most countries. 

Vermont Business Magazine Lake Champlain Maritime Museum has announced a donation that it says will further the study and appreciation of regional maritime history: The museum is donating its replica 1862-class sailing canal schooner Lois McClure to the Canal Society of New York, a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of the state's historic canals. The replica schooner Lois McClure has been a staple of the museum’s educational and outreach programs for many years. Initiated in 2001, the canal schooner replica project’s goal was to understand the sailing canal schooner unique to Lake Champlain, how it was built and operated, and the impact the canals had on the region. 

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont’s black bear population is estimated at 7,000 to 8,500 based on 2022 data, the most recent available, according to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department. “It is important to look at the 2022 population estimate as part of the typical cycles of growth and decline in a bear population that is stable over the long term,” said wildlife biologist and Black Bear Project Leader Jaclyn Comeau.  “The 7,000 to 8,500 bear estimate for 2022 is a five-year high.  We will be watching closely in the coming few years to see if the population drops as we have seen it do before, after high years in previous cycles.”

Vermont Business Magazine The incident period for the Vermont severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides has been amended. On September 19, 2023, FEMA announced that the incident period for the disaster declaration is now July 7, 2023, through and including July 21, 2023. This means that FEMA may provide assistance to survivors of the storms for damage caused during those dates (the “incident period”).

Vermont Business Magazine The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) announced today that it is awarding a Pro Bono Innovation Fund grant of $227,982 to Legal Services Vermont (LSV).  LSV is one of 17 legal aid organizations receiving a grant. In total, LSC is awarding $5 million to support efforts to expand and improve pro bono legal services for low-income Americans. In the face of a vast justice gap—where low-income people do not receive sufficient legal help for 92% of their civil legal problems—pro bono services are one of the approaches that LSC advances to address the disparities in access to justice. 

Vermont Business Magazine With the fall ahead, shoreland residents are getting ready to close their camps for the season. The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is urging residents to either remove their docks from the water, or if ice damage is not a concern, to let them freeze in place. Forgoing aeration devices designed to prevent ice buildup around your dock will help protect Vermont lakes and public safety. If you are planning to install a bubbler, ice eater, or de-icer near your dock, you will need to apply for a Lake Encroachment Permit. Bubblers attach to docks and circulate air in the water. They are often used or marketed to reduce ice, aquatic plants, or sediment.

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Vermont is announcing Oct. 20, 2023 as the application deadline for Fiscal Year 2024 (Oct 1, 2023 - Sep 30, 2024) funding for four programs: Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA); Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP); Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP); Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP).

Vermont Business Magazine The Federal Nuclear Waste Policy (FNWP) Committee of the Vermont Nuclear Decommissioning Citizens Advisory Panel (VT NDCAP) will meet on Monday, September 25, 2023 from 12:00 Noon to 1:00 PM.  As permitted by ACT 1 of the 2023 Vermont Legislature,

this meeting will be conducted solely as a webcast and teleconference.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department says its Walter Cabell Shooting Range in Woodbury will be open for hunters to sight in their rifles on Saturday, October 14. Shooters will be required to follow all range rules.  A range safety officer will be on site to assist users and ensure rules are adhered to.  Bring your own rifle and ammunition.  Safety glasses and hearing protection are required.  The range will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.