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As State of Emergency ends, Scott to ensure continuity of select critical services

Tue, 06/15/2021 - 7:24pm -- tim

Vermont Business Magazine With more than 80% of eligible Vermonters having received at least one dose of a COVID-19, vaccine, Governor Scott has removed all state COVID-19 restrictions and the State of Emergency will expire at midnight tonight: Maintains the National Guard’s Active Services status to allow, and ensures continued State agency coordination, for ongoing support and management of the response; Extends Vermont’s access to federal funding for expanded emergency non-congregate housing and feeding programs; Allows bars and restaurants to continue pick-up and delivery of alcoholic beverages for the two-week period between the expiration of the Emergency Declaration and July 1, when recently enacted legislation makes it permanent.

UVM Health Network updates visitation policy for Vermont hospitals

Tue, 06/15/2021 - 4:20pm -- tim

Vermont Business Magazine With the state of Vermont dropping its State of Emergency order and COVID-19 restrictions, The University of Vermont Health Network is updating visitor access policies to reflect the state’s successful vaccination efforts. But masking requirements remain in place at the Network’s Vermont hospitals based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

VDH COVID-19 Update: The next vaccination is just as important

Tue, 06/15/2021 - 4:09pm -- tim

Vermont Business Magazine Twenty-four hours after he announced Vermont had reached its goal of 80% of Vermonters receiving at least one dose of vaccine, and lifting all state pandemic restrictions, Governor Phil Scott said the state is “not letting up.” At his Tuesday press conference, the Governor said that although our strategy will evolve as we move into a new phase, “the people we vaccinate tomorrow are just as important as those we vaccinated yesterday.” Scott said his administration’s goal is to continue the work of meeting people where they are, making shots as accessible as possible. The governor said that while the state has rescinded all restrictions, private businesses may still impose a mask mandate on employees or customers. Hospitals also still have some visitation restrictions, so you should call them to check. Also, there are still some federal restrictions on nursing homes and public transportation. So if you're taking a plane or bus or train, bring a mask along just in case. Meanwhile, the VDH is reporting 8 new cases of COVID-19 and no deaths, which are holding at 256. There has been only one fatality in nearly three weeks.

Element Real Estate acquires Little River Realty with expansion into Stowe

Tue, 06/15/2021 - 3:50pm -- tim

Vermont Business Magazine Element Real Estate, a leading boutique real estate firm in Vermont, expanded into the Stowe and Waterbury markets with the opening of their new office at 254 Mountain Road in Stowe. The expansion comes with Element Real Estate’s purchase of Stowe-based Little River Realty and the addition of former owner Gayle Oberg to the growing boutique firm. Oberg brings over 30 years of valuable experience within the Stowe and Waterbury areas and will be joining Element’s broker-owners, Jessica Bridge and Dan Cypress, at the new location.

AARP tax-aide volunteers save $4.4 million for Vermont residents

Tue, 06/15/2021 - 3:41pm -- tim

Vermont Business Magazine Thanks to the efforts of some 200 dedicated volunteers across the state,Vermonters received $4.4 million in refunds this tax season, as reported by AARP Vermont.  Despite serious COVID-related challenges, more than 5,100 federal tax filings were made by AARP Tax-Aide volunteers in this tax season at sites across the state – at no charge to taxpayers. In addition, nearly $730,000 in recovery rebate tax credits were applied to returns.

Leahy asks Ag Secretary Vilsack when USDA will release dairy relief funds

Tue, 06/15/2021 - 3:04pm -- tim

Vilsack Tells Leahy The Process Begins TODAY

Vermont Business Magazine This morning (TUESDAY), Senator Patrick Leahy, Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, asked U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack about delivering urgently needed relief to Vermont’s dairy farmers.  Leahy asked Vilsack at a hearing by the Appropriations Committee’s Agriculture Subcommittee to review the President’s budget request.

Southwestern Vermont Medical earns 'A' rating for safety from Leapfrog

Tue, 06/15/2021 - 1:22pm -- tim

Vermont Business Magazine Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC), part of Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC), earned an ‘A’ for hospital safety from the Leapfrog Group. The national distinction recognizes SVMC’s achievements protecting patients from harm and providing safer health care. The Leapfrog Group is an independent national watchdog organization driven by employers and other purchasers of health care.

Town of St Albans utility continues to build efforts towards water quality

Tue, 06/15/2021 - 12:31pm -- tim

Vermont Business Magazine The Town of St Albans faces an increasingly difficult and expensive challenge of addressing stormwater management needs and regulatory requirements. Portions of the watersheds related to Rugg Brook and Stevens Brook have been identified as being impaired due to excessive stormwater runoff. Additionally, stormwater runoff has been identified as a significant contributor to the water quality issues associated with St Albans Bay.

Newport gets $119,637 USDA grant for streetscaping improvement project

Tue, 06/15/2021 - 11:41am -- tim

Vermont Business Magazine Today, USDA Rural Development announced a $119,637 disaster relief grant awarded to the city of Newport, Vermont to make streetscaping improvements. The initiative will make the downtown area safer and more attractive for pedestrians, bikers and motorists, and create easier navigation to surrounding recreational opportunities. Funds were provided through the Community Facilities Disaster Relief Grant program, as the area was affected by flooding in 2018.

Department of Labor re-opens local Job Centers to in-person service

Tue, 06/15/2021 - 11:28am -- tim

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Labor is re-opening local Job Centers across Vermont for in-person services and will be offering both walk-in and by-appointment-only hours. Job Centers in Barre, Brattleboro, Burlington, St. Albans, and St. Johnsbury are open immediately for in-person services, with Bennington, Rutland, and Middlebury beginning on July 6. In-person schedules for the remaining Job Centers will announced the coming weeks.

CFV: Third of legislators have pension conflict of interest

Tue, 06/15/2021 - 11:08am -- tim

Vermont Business Magazine Campaign for Vermont discovered that nearly one in every three legislators have some sort of conflict when it comes to Vermont’s public pension systems, however, in the Senate that number rose to one in two. In addition to not serving on the task force, some legislators also have conflicts great enough that should preclude them from voting.

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