Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency Foundation has donated $1,500 per week for 10 weeks through their Dramatic Impact and Enduring Legacy Grants. Amid stay-at-home orders due to COVID-19, The Vermont Agency Foundation observed individuals and businesses stepping up and living The Foundation’s mission to Dramatically Impact the Lives of Others.
Vermont Business Magazine At the request of Senate Budget Committee Ranking Member Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) issued a report Wednesday, “Trends in the Internal Revenue Service’s Funding and Enforcement,” examining the causes of hundreds of billions of dollars in annual tax avoidance and evasion, facilitated by budget cuts to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). CBO found that the estimated amount of taxes owed but ultimately unpaid was $381 billion on average annually from 2011 to 2013 according to the latest data from the IRS. The tax gap is almost certainly substantially higher given that the total revenue collected has gone up by more than a third since that time. A recent academic study found that roughly 70% of the gap is explained by underpayment of the top 1%.
Addison County Economic Development Corporation ACCD and the Department of Taxes will host another in a series of webinars to discuss the Economic Recovery Grants that are available to Vermont businesses. Join them on Thursday, July 9th at 3:00pm for more information about eligibility requirements, grant award calculation information, grant application processes, and what documents businesses will want to have prepared and on-hand when applying.
Vermont Business Magazine Mayor Miro Weinberger and Champlain College President Dr Benjamin Akande on Wednesday announced the Local Skill Accelerator Program, a partnership designed to leverage Champlain College’s extensive online education programs to allow Burlingtonians to access additional savings for undergraduate certificate programs and, ultimately, a full undergraduate degree. Champlain College’s online curriculum is nationally recognized, taught by expert-practitioner faculty, and well-suited to help residents seeking a new job or a career transition in an era when demonstrable skills in information technology, cybersecurity, project management, or human resources can be a huge advantage in securing new employment opportunities.
Vermont Business Magazine As Vermont schools prepare to reopen in the fall, improving indoor air quality is a critical step that will help improve the health and safety of students and staff. This week, Efficiency Vermont is launching the School Indoor Air Quality Grant Program to help improve heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems in Vermont’s K-12 public and approved independent schools. The program was created by the Legislature, enacted by Governor Scott, and is intended to use federal Coronavirus Relief Funds to help improve school indoor air quality per national guidance around health and safety.
Vermont Business Magazine The VINS Nature Center in Quechee has reopened to the public, as of June 15. They are welcoming guests once again to our outdoor spaces and exhibits, including the Forest Canopy Walk, Adventure Playscape, Nature Trails, Raptor Enclosures and Songbird Aviary. In order to encourage physical distancing among visitors, the Forest Canopy Walk is one-way to minimize congestion as visitors enjoy this experience. We are offering snacks and drinks for purchase, and appropriately spaced outdoor picnic tables will be available for seating.
Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health is reporting today two new cases of COVID-19 statewide for a total of 1,256. There are two hospitalized and no deaths, which have held at 56 for three weeks. When looking at the county numbers, please remember that low or no recent cases is not the same as “safer.” We know the virus is in our communities and we should continue to follow health guidance to slow the spread of COVID-19 – no matter what county we live in or visit. The map reflects the number of people who had a positive test. There may be active cases in your county that haven’t been tested.
by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Economic Development Commissioner Joan Goldstein on Tuesday reported that the state's Emergency Economic Recovery Grants became available as expected and without any major issues on Monday. Between the two different pots of money, there is nearly $170 million in state grants available to organizations that have suffered severe losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"We saw quite a bit of traffic on the first day," she said. In all, 2,300 applications were submitted.
Vermont Business Magazine Green Mountain Power (GMP) is urging safety for customers as forecasters call for potentially strong pop-up thunderstorms across much of Vermont Wednesday afternoon, followed by sweltering heat Thursday and Friday. GMP is reminding customers to stay away from lines and trees if high winds take them down, and crews will respond as quickly and safely as possible.
Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Electric Cooperative (VEC) is encouraging members to conserve electricity Thursday and Friday, July 9 and 10, from 5 – 9 pm as demand for electricity is expected to spike because of high temperatures throughout New England.
Vermont Business Magazine The application for an Economic Recovery Grant is OPEN to Vermont businesses. With funding available to the State of Vermont through the federal Coronavirus Relief Funds (CRF), these grants are intended for businesses who can demonstrate revenue loss in any one-month period from March 1, 2020 to August 31, 2020, when compared with the same month in 2019. ACCD is hosting a Webinar on Thursday, July 9th at 3 pm for more information about eligibility requirements, grant award calculation information, grant application processes, and what documents businesses will want to have prepared and on-hand when applying.
Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont State Police is investigating an incident in which Rutland City police officers shot and wounded a subject early Wednesday, July 8, 2020. Preliminary investigation indicates that at about 12:15 am, members of the Rutland City Police Department were conducting a narcotics investigation on Terrill Street involving a vehicle with two adult male occupants. During the subsequent interaction, city police fired upon the vehicle. The circumstances that prompted the shooting and the number of officers who fired is under investigation.