Changes to the program will include raising the percent of net uncovered damage to 30% and removing the $20,000 cap Governor Phil Scott and the Vermont Department of Economic Development Commissioner Joan Goldstein announced, Sept. 20, forthcoming changes to the $20 million Business Emergency Gap Assistance Program (BEGAP) formula, which will increase grant awards to flood…

  David G Bergh, EdD will take the helm of Vermont State University (VTSU) as the next interim president following the planned departure of current chief executive Michael Smith. The Board of Trustees of the Vermont State Colleges System announced Dr Bergh’s appointment Friday, Sept. 22, following a special meeting. Dr. Bergh will lead Vermont…

  Vermonters and Vermonters with children who have been to a doctor’s office in the last six months are asked to keep an eye out for a survey about their experience, which is arriving in mailboxes this fall.  Every year, the Blueprint for Health and OneCare Vermont conduct a Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and…

   Green Mountain Power (GMP) and Vermont Magazine are encouraging writers to get their entries ready for one of the state’s top literary contests, the Vermont writer’s prize. Entries are due on Jan. 1. Winners are selected in prose and poetry, and each winner receives $1,250 and their works will be published in Vermont Magazine’s…

  By Karen D. Lorentz Editor’s note: This is part one of three stories on preventing becoming a victim of fraud and what to do about it if it happens to you. Part two will address popular scams and part three compute/internet  scams. Every two seconds someone’s identity is stolen, giving criminals access to credit…

  Continuing a legacy of humanitarian work, Defender has announced the finalists of the 2023 Defender Service Awards. Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports has been selected as a finalist in the Outdoor Accessibility and Education Award, presented by Outside Interactive Inc.   In the third annual “Defender Service Awards,” which embraces the Defender inner spirit of heroism…

  Gov. Phil Scott and the Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) are giving $5 million in funding to support low- and moderate-income Vermont homeowners in repairing or replacing their failed or inadequate onsite water or wastewater systems. This is the third round of funding for the program.  “Wells and septic systems can be costly to…

  Vermont’s moratorium on state aid for school construction is only in New England The School Construction Aid task force had its first working meeting last Friday, Sept. 22.  The task force is made up of a range of subject matter experts and key stakeholders and was formed to consider re-establishing a direct state aid…

  State Treasurer Mike Pieciak joined Governor Scott and state housing leaders to announce $55.5 million in housing investments from the Treasurer’s Office’s ”10% in Vermont” local investment program. The Treasurer’s Office awarded $50 million to the Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA), $5 million to the Vermont Economic Development Authority (VEDA), and $500,000 to the Northern…

  Staff report Mac’s Market is under contract with a new owner.  The family-owned grocery store, with locations in Woodstock, Stowe and Essex, is in the process of being acquired by the Associated Grocers of New England. “We’re under agreement with them,” said Mike Violette, the president and CEO of Associated Grocers. “Our plan right…

  In the last school year, fewer than a quarter of University of Vermont undergraduates were Vermonters, out-of-state enrollments have soared, what does that say about the university’s role in the state? By Peter D’Auria/VTDigger Erik Arnold, a sophomore from Minneapolis, came to the University of Vermont because, among other reasons, he wanted to get out…

  Staff report/VTD For the second time this year, the Vermont State Colleges System is poised to lose a top leader. The system’s board of trustees announced Monday evening that Sophie Zdatny will step down as chancellor at the end of December. She has served in that role since July 2020 and has worked for the state…

  The Okemo Valley Chamber recently celebrated a ribbon cutting ceremony with new member Down to the Roots in Chester. Co-owners Scott Blair along with Andi Goldman and Meredith Milliken cut the ribbon along with their team —all dressed in matching plaid shirts — and Chamber Director Carol Lighthall (in back). They also recently held…

  School mourns loss of beloved bus driver WALTHAM — A juvenile watching a fight involving two women in a Waltham neighborhood Friday evening, Sept. 15, picked up a gun dropped by one of the women and shot her multiple times, State Police report. , 48, a resident of McKnight Lane in Waltham, was killed…

  Banyai’s arrest warrant expires, Pawlet files additional motions By Ethan Weinstein/VTDigger With the 60-day warrant for Daniel Banyai’s arrest now expired, the town of Pawlet has requested an updated warrant seeking more oversight on the Rutland County Sheriff’s Department and Vermont State Police to ensure that Banyai is detained.  In a motion filed in state…