Current News

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.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The General Fund, Transportation Fund and Education Fund all failed to achieve their respective consensus tax revenue targets in July. The personal income tax again fell below expectations, but the corporate income tax, which had been strong, also was below expectations in the General Fund. Meals & Rooms, also a large revenue source, was also down. At least part of those downside receipts misses appeared tied to the State’s July flooding event, according to Secretary of Administration Kristin Clouser. The State’s General Fund, Transportation Fund, and Education Fund receipts were a combined $229.5 million, missing the $235.0 million monthly consensus target by $5.5 million, or -2.3%. 

Vermont Business Magazine A grassroots effort led by the Berlin Pond Watershed Association (BPWA), in coordination with the City of Montpelier and Town of Berlin, has succeeded in protecting 33 acres of wetlands and forested land next to Berlin Pond, which is the sole source of drinking water for Montpelier and a portion of Berlin, the Vermont Land Trust (VLT) announced today.  The land was placed on the market in 2021. In response, community members formed the BPWA to help protect the parcel.  

Vermont Business Magazine GasBuddy on Wednesday released its annual Labor Day travel forecast, predicting the average price of gas in the US on Labor Day weekend will fall gently to $3.75 per gallon, virtually identical to what motorists experienced for Labor Day weekend last year. Gasoline demand may also rise to 9.2 million barrels for the week ahead of Labor Day as motorists begin pre-filling their tanks, making it potentially the weekend with the strongest demand of the summer driving season, behind that of July 4th. For Vermont, average gasoline prices today are $3.78 per gallon, down 2 cents per gallon from last week, up 3 cents/g from a month ago and down 26 cents/g from a year ago. The national average price of gasoline is unchanged from last week, averaging $3.80/g today. 

Vermont Business Magazine Houses of Worship and other nonprofit organizations may be eligible for FEMA assistance to reimburse their costs for emergency protective measures, debris removal and restoration of facilities damaged by the July severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides. Under the Public Assistance program, FEMA may be able to provide financial reimbursement to certain private, nonprofit organizations – including Houses of Worship – for emergency protective measures, debris removal and to restore facilities damaged or destroyed by the disaster.

Vermont Business Magazine All FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers across Vermont will be closed Monday, Sept. 4, 2023, in observance of Labor Day. They will reopen at 8 am, Tuesday, September 5, and continue regular hours of 8 am to 6 pm Monday through Saturday, closed Sunday.