The Small Business Administration is hosting a free webinar at 12:00 on July 6 about its guaranteed loan programs. SBA guarantees loans making it easier for small businesses to get the funding by reducing lender risk. Funds can be used for most business purposes, including long-term fixed assets and operating capital. Amounts range from $500 […]
New Upcoming Webinars from Vermont Procurement Technical Assistance Center
VT PTAC’s new program year begins July with webinars and events to assist businesses with government contracting needs: Lunch Bites – Selling to the Vermont National Guard. July 6, 12:00 to 12:45 pm. Click here for more. Intro to VT PTAC. July 13, 11:00 am to 12:00 pm. Click here for more. HUBZone Certification Program […]
Federal Agencies Regulatory Agenda
Last week, the Biden Administration published its “Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions” (click here), the biannual report on actions administrative agencies plan to issue in the near and long term. Although the Agenda tends to be aspirational, it provides important insights about proposed regulatory and deregulatory actions, as well as broader priorities, at […]
Workforce Training Grants Available to On-Board and Upskill Staff
The Vermont Training Program (VTP) helps fund innovative solutions to today’s workforce challenges. VTP grants can cover up to 50% of expenses related to training and up-skilling staff, including employee wages for time spent training on the job. Training can be on-site or through an outside provider and funds can even be used to establish […]
Trade Updates from A.N. Deringer | Member Contribution
The following is provided by AIV member A.N. Deringer: Rail Congestion in Canada’s Supply Chain Rail hubs and local warehouses in Toronto and Montreal are suffering congestion problems due to a shortage of drayage capacity for receiving cargo from Prince Rupert and Vancouver. As a result, West Coast ports are feeling the pressure, with rail […]
Enforcement of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA)
The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA), which bans any articles made wholly or in part in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR), went into effect June 21. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recently released its enforcement strategy for the UFLPA. Click here. Among other strategies, CBP will utilize the Department of Labor’s List […]
Export Grants Available to Increase International Sales and Marketing | State Trade Expansion Program
ACCD grant funding is available to help small businesses increase export sales by reaching international customers. Watch a video (click here) to learn how four Vermont companies have used the State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) to support their sales and marketing activities. Vermont exporters and potential exporters can benefit from leveraging activities such as participating in […]
On the Wire | News and Analysis from the Web
Transforming Advanced Manufacturing Through Industry 4.0. McKinsey 6/27 “The last decade has seen companies operating under increasing levels of disruption. Quickly changing customer preferences, as well as demand uncertainty and disruptions, are challenging planning systems to unprecedented degrees. National security interests, trade barriers, and logistics disruptions are pushing businesses to find alternatives to globalized supply chains. […]
UI Tax Reductions for the Coming Year, Better than Expected Trust Fund Recovery and AIV-Led Reforms Help
The Vermont Department of Labor has announced that effective July 1, 2022, employer unemployment insurance taxes will decrease as the UI tax schedule moves from Schedule III to Schedule I. This change is part of an annual statutory calculation performed by the Department based on the Trust Fund’s reserves and historical demands. In addition, taxable […]
Preliminary Feedback Requested on Updates to Wetlands Maps, Follow Up Engagement Encouraged
DEC’s Wetlands Program has posted draft Vermont Significant Wetlands Inventory (VSWI) updates and associated materials (click here) for preliminary feedback from interested parties, such as developers proposing construction activities near a wetland. Potential changes will include adding wetlands not currently depicted and revising the locations of existing wetlands to improve accuracy. The Program would like […]