Current News

Vermont Business Magazine While the Vermont Legislature has been debating creating a mandatory paid family and medical leave program, Governor Scott launched on July 1st of this year Phase 1 of a voluntary paid family and medical leave program, potentially pre-empting any action by the legislature to mandate such a program. Phase 2 includes open enrollment for all Vermont businesses on July 1st, 2024, and the Administration is seeking to engage with employers who might be interested in extending this coverage to their employees at an affordable cost. 

The Vermont State Police has arrested a suspect on murder charges arising from the deaths of two people whose bodies were found Friday night inside a home in Whitingham. The victims are identified as Michael Garvin, 52, and his mother, Lucy Garvin, 79, both of whom lived in the home at 2173 Vermont Route 8A where the incident occurred. Through investigation, the Vermont State Police identified a suspect and learned that Michael Garvin’s truck was missing. Members of the Brattleboro Police Department located the vehicle Friday night, conducted a traffic stop and ultimately detained the driver, 54-year-old Christopher Ellis. 

Northeastern Vermont Development Association Funding is still available! The $20 million dollar Business Emergency Gap Assistance Program through the Department of Economic Development is for businesses, nonprofits, and landlords that suffered physical flood damage. The grant funds are to help businesses reopen their doors, bring employees back to work, and help displaced Vermonters return to their rental housing. It's not too late to apply. 

Vermont Business Magazine VMEC invites your business to join CONNEX™ Vermont, our newest service offering, an online platform that connects all Vermont Manufacturers, Buyers, and Suppliers in a Single, Searchable Supply-Chain Solution. It's easy and FREE and you have great support from the VMEC staff who can explain its many benefits. Join VMEC in September and October for an hour-long introductory session where we can answer all your questions and even help you get your account set up. All sessions will be presented via Zoom and are FREE.

US Small Business Administration Vermont A small business virtual meeting, Pride and Prosperity: Business & Financial Wellness Power Hour, will be held at noon Sept. 7 during Pride Week. The Pride Center of Vermont, the Small Business Administration, the Inclusive Entrepreneurship program at Mercy Connections, the Center for Women and Enterprise, and the Office of the Vermont State Treasurer are partnering to host a conversation about the LGBTQIA2S+ business community’s needs and wants around business support and financial wellness. 

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont residents affected by July’s severe storms, flooding, mudslides and landslides now have until Oct. 12, 2023 to apply for FEMA assistance. This does not mean you should delay applying – the sooner you apply, the sooner FEMA can process your claim. If you had storm-caused expenses and live or own a business in Caledonia, Chittenden, Lamoille, Orange, Orleans, Rutland, Washington, Windham or Windsor County, FEMA assistance can provide grants and U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) loans for temporary housing, home repairs and other disaster-related needs. Governor Scott had requested the extension.

The Vermont State Police has completed an investigation into an assault on a medical professional Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023, by an inmate at Southern State Correctional Facility in Springfield. According to the investigative findings, 28-year-old Cory Munger was receiving assistance from Clinical Case Manager Lorene Gendron at about 9:30 a.m. when he placed her in a choke hold, struck her in the head, and held a pen to her throat. Correctional officers immediately intervened, deploying OC spray and taking Munger to the ground. During the incident, Ms. Gendron also was knocked to the ground and sustained injuries including a concussion. Ms. Gendron, 62, is a nurse with Vermont Department of Corrections health provider Wellpath.

Vermont Business Magazine The Public Service Department (PSD) issued a request for proposals (RFP) from a Contractor or team of Contractors to conduct a thermal sector (heating) potential study. The results will be used in the implementation of Act 18 (the Affordable Heat Act) which became law on May 11, 2023. The Act established the framework for the Clean Heat Standard, which is intended to achieve proportional greenhouse gas reductions in Vermont’s thermal sector to meet the requirements of the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2020.

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.