Vermont Business Magazine Last week, in a historic victory for Vermont businesses and workers alike, Governor Scott signed the legislature’s economic and workforce development omnibus, S. 11 – legislation that includes over $15 million in funding for the new COVID-19 Related Paid Leave Grant Program. The Families First Coronavirus Relief Act offered critical financial lifelines to families in need by requiring businesses to provide emergency paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave for those impacted by COVID-19. In return, businesses received FFCRA payroll tax credits to cover the costs of providing this critical benefit.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health has partnered with the Charlotte-based Clemmons Family Farm, an African American-led nonprofit organization whose mission and expertise includes integrating the arts and storytelling into public health, K-12 education and community-building, for an innovative approach to gather information about the perceptions and motivations among Black Vermonters about getting – or not getting – COVID-19 vaccinations. The unprecedented scope of the COVID-19 pandemic has touched nearly every Vermonter and led to the state mobilizing the most comprehensive public health response in nearly a century.

Vermont Business Magazine Gifford will distribute meals for Upper Valley Everyone Eats this month on Tuesday, June 28 between 5 – 5:30 pm at Gifford’s South Parking lot. The meals, provided by Randolph-based restaurant Tacocat Cantina, are available by reservation. Upper Valley Everyone Eats is the local hub of Vermont’s coronavirus relief program, Vermont Everyone Eats (VEE). VEE provides nutritious meals to Vermonters in need of food assistance, as well as a stabilizing source of income for Vermont restaurants, farmers, and food producers. This program is open to all Vermonters looking to stretch their food budget as a result of the pandemic or otherwise.

Vermont Business Magazine Matthew Vernon, MD—a radiation oncologist, medical director of the Southwestern Vermont Regional Cancer Center, and an avid road and adventure racer—will be the next guest on Medical Matters Weekly at 12 p.m. on Wednesday, June 15. The show is produced by Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC) with cooperation from Catamount Access Television (CAT-TV). Viewers can see Medical Matters Weekly on facebook.com/svmedicalcenter and facebook.com/CATTVBennington. The show is also available to view or download as a podcast on svhealthcare.org/medicalmatters. 

Vermont Business Magazine The National Center for PTSD is encouraging veterans, service members and civilians who are trauma survivors to take a simple self-screen for posttraumatic stress disorder for PTSD Screening Day on June 27. The self-screen tool is a short, five-question screen that can be answered alone, with a friend, family member or health care provider. The White River Junction VA Healthcare System has a number of psychotherapists and mental health prescribers located across Vermont and New Hampshire who are expertly trained in the treatment of PTSD from all types of trauma.