Vermont Business Magazine On Thursday, May 5, 2022, the Vermont House Committee on Government Operations voted to amend bill H.548, a Miscellaneous Cannabis Establishment Procedures Bill, with language prohibiting solid cannabis concentrates that test over 60% THC from the adult-use cannabis marketplace. According to the Vermont Growers Association, this House amendment will place Vermont’s entire adult-use marketplace in jeopardy, introduce significant and unprecedented risk, and, in turn, impact countless local businesses and consumers, the state’s projected revenue, and keep cannabis products unregulated. No other state with an active adult-use cannabis market has THC caps. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health today is reporting 174 cases of COVID-19 for Sunday. (273 Saturday; 382 Friday). VDH also reported two additional deaths from the virus. The total death toll is now 644 lives lost. There are five reported deaths in May so far. April, with 18, surpassed March's total. March saw the fewest COVID deaths since last July. Hospitalizations were elevated since mid-April and today were 74 (up 10 from Friday).

Vermont Business Magazine The Working Lands program continues to increase its historic funding for those who make their living off the land. This May, the Program awarded $3.1 million in grants that will help grow agriculture and small businesses in Vermont with new Supply Chain and Market Level Impact specific grants to leverage supply chain partnerships at a significant scale of up to $250K per award. This round of funding, coupled with the $2.1 million in grants awarded this January reaches all segments of Vermont working lands sectors, addressing meat slaughter and processing bottlenecks, supply chain resiliency, marketing plans and overall business development. 

Vermont State Police The investigation into this afternoon’s shooting in Springfield is continuing. The victim is identified as Todd Amell, 50, a resident of Valley Street in Springfield. He was shot in one of his legs, taken by ambulance to the hospital, treated and released. Investigators believe the shooting was not random and involved individuals who are known to one another. The people who were detained during the initial stages of the investigation have been released.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Division for Historic Preservation and Vermont Advisory Council on Historic Preservation have announced the 2022 Barn Preservation grant awardees. The 22 grants, totaling $299,325 were awarded to municipalities, non-profit organizations, and private barn owners in 11 Vermont counties to repair and rehabilitate agricultural landmarks. Grants ranged from $2,830 to $15,000 each.