Current News

VermontBiz The Attorney General’s Office and the Chittenden County State’s Attorney’s Office today announced the conclusions of their independent reviews of the non-fatal officer-involved shooting incident that occurred on August 13, 2022, in Burlington, Vermont. Both Attorney General Charity Clark and Chittenden County State’s Attorney Sarah George have declined to prosecute Burlington Police Department Sergeant Simon Bombard for charges related to the non-fatal shooting of David Johnson. In reaching their decisions, the Attorney General’s Office and the Chittenden County State’s Attorney’s Office reviewed all materials provided by Vermont State Police, who conducted the investigation, as well as a report from a use-of-force expert.

Vermont Business Magazine Average gasoline prices in Vermont pushed up 11 cents per gallon over the last week and now stand at $3.78/g. Gas is up 18 cents/g over the last month. Prices are down 68 cents/g from a year ago. The national average price of gasoline has risen 10 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.79/g today. The national average is up 29 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 33 cents per gallon lower than a year ago.

Vermont Business Magazine Amid an increase in reports of rabies in racoons, the annual Rabies Vaccine Bait Drop began on August 1, 2023. For nearly 30 years, the bait drop has been part of a nationally coordinated effort between the Vermont Department of Health, the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services to prevent the spread of rabies – a fatal disease. A special bait drop focused on rabies among wildlife in Chittenden County took place earlier this year.

Vermont Business Magazine This week, Vermont Public will present the Vermont Community Foundation with more than $875,000 raised in its recent flood relief fundraiser to benefit the VT Flood Response and Recovery Fund 2023. The weeklong effort inspired 4,454 to help affected communities rebuild and recover from the catastrophic flooding caused by heavy rainfall last month.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Economic Development has announced additional details and guidelines for the Business Emergency Gap Assistance Program (BEGAP). The application portal opens today, Thursday, August 3, and businesses and nonprofits can visit the Business Emergency Gap Assistance Program page to learn how the program works and what you will need to have in hand before you begin the online application process.

Vermont Business Magazine FEMA may provide two types of assistance following a presidential disaster declaration: Individual Assistance and Public Assistance. The two programs are funded independently from each other and are intended to benefit individuals and communities in different ways.

Vermont Business Magazine Registering for disaster assistance from FEMA won’t affect your eligibility for other government benefits. FEMA grants are not taxable income, and you can accept them without reducing or eliminating any federal or state benefits you qualify for now. This includes your Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid benefits, as well as those you receive through the state of Vermont, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Reach Up, or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families.

Vermont Business Magazine A Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) opens at 8 a.m., Aug. 3 in Barton in Orleans County to help Vermont residents affected by the floods kickstart their recovery. The joint DRC, a temporary facility established in partnership between Barton, the state of Vermont and FEMA, will help survivors apply for FEMA assistance, upload documents and answer questions in person.

Vermont Business Magazine The City of Burlington Department of Parks, Recreation & Waterfront (BPRW) and Burlington Electric Department (BED) announced that the City departments partnered to install a new, dual-port, Level 2 electric vehicle (EV) charging station near the entrance of Oakledge Park. The ChargePoint charger, which came online late last month, is the first EV charger available in any Burlington park and represents the first of many park-located EV chargers that the City plans to install. The City’s charging network now totals 19 charging stations, furthering the City’s efforts to transition away from carbon-emitting fossil fuels in pursuit of its bold goal to become a Net Zero Energy city.  

Vermont Business Magazine While communities across the state rebuild after this summer’s severe storms, the Department of Vermont Health Access is working to ensure Vermonters affected by flooding maintain their health coverage. Having health insurance will bolster Vermonters’ health and well-being throughout what is sure to be a long and arduous recovery. The Department of Vermont Health Access (DVHA), which administers Vermont Medicaid and Vermont Health Connect, is offering a special enrollment period for Vermonters affected by the natural disaster and in need of health insurance coverage.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont homeowners and renters in Caledonia, Chittenden, Lamoille, Orange, Orleans, Rutland, Washington, Windham and Windsor counties who were affected by the severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides that occurred beginning July 7, 2023, and continue may be eligible for FEMA grants for personal property losses and other eligible expenses.

Vermont Business Magazine Agri-Mark, Inc/Cabot Creamery Cooperative recently filled three key leadership positions. CEO David Lynn announced today that Dan Serna has joined the cooperative as Chief Financial Officer, Spencer McDonald has been hired as Senior Vice President of Sales, and Derek Zwegust has been promoted to Vice President of Supply Chain & Logistics.