Middlebury kombucha maker rebrands

MIDDLEBURY — Aqua ViTea, the Middlebury kombucha maker, this week announced that it was rebranding its bottles and cans to make it clear the level of alcohol its drinks contain. Prioritizing alcohol transparency, the new Aqua ViTea labels will display a “Verified Alcohol Extracted” seal on the front panel in addition to several other key highlights, including USDA organic, non-GMO, natural probiotics, and lower sugar. The new labels will also more prominently highlight the brand’s signature hand-illustrated … (read more)

Middlebury College was among the Vermont educational institutions and nonprofits whose donor databases were hit by hackers earlier this year. Donors to the college and other nonprofits have been asked to keep a close watch on their personal information af … (read more)

ADDISON COUNTY — More than 750 Addison County employers have received Payroll Protection Program (PPP) loans totaling between $43 million and $74 million for the retention of more than 5,700 jobs, according to data released by the U.S. Small Business Admi … (read more)

More than $542 million has flowed into Vermont since March, when the federal government started supplementing Vermonters’ unemployment checks with $600 a week to help them through the COVID-19 pandemic. With those payments due to stop at the end of July, … (read more)

MIDDLEBURY — Co-operative Insurance Companies has a new president and CEO. The board of the Middlebury company appointed Lee Dowgiewicz to the top managerial spot effective July 1. He joined Co-op Insurance in September 2019, and replaces retiring CEO Mar … (read more)

Art Woolf is a columnist for VTDigger. He recently retired as an associate professor of economics at the University of Vermont. Vermont’s unemployment rate fell to 9.4% in June, down from its 16.5% peak at the height of the economic shutdown in April and … (read more)

The guidelines for outdoor gatherings are slowly easing. On Friday, state parks reopened, and event venues are now permitted to host 150 people outdoors and up to 75 indoors — good news for wedding planners and people who present cultural and entertainmen … (read more)

The Scott administration announced Friday that as of June 26, restaurants, entertainment venues and other hospitality businesses will be able to open their doors to more people. The new rules set the cap for indoor establishments at 75 people and outdoor … (read more)

Despite an outbreak of COVID-19 in Winooski that now numbers 34 cases, Gov. Phil Scott and other state officials outlined a series of orders on Friday that open the door to indoor restaurant dining, increased travel and more lodging opportunities includin … (read more)

The leaders of Vermont’s House and Senate say they plan on fast-tracking grant money for businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and may send an initial economic relief package to the governor’s desk by the end of next week. Last month, Gov. Phil Sc … (read more)

ADDISON COUNTY — The Addison County Regional Planning Commission (ACRPC) is preparing to apply for a Broadband Innovation Grant for $60,000 to conduct a feasibility study about how best to help unserved and under-served portions of Addison County. The COV … (read more)

BRANDON — The plan was always to come back to Brandon. And much like the U.S. Postal Service, neither rain nor pandemic would keep Janet and Joel Mondlak from their appointed rounds here. The Mondlaks lived in town for many years and raised their daughter … (read more)

SHOREHAM — As COVID-19 has closed bigger retail establishments, restaurants, hotels, lodges and inns across Vermont and the country, it’s also affected the hundreds smaller bed and breakfasts and country inns scattered throughout Vermont and New England. … (read more)

Gov. Phil Scott on Friday announced the resumption of additional business operations, including outdoor seating at restaurants and bars, hair salons and barber shops and some additional health services. “I believe these steps forward will be welcome news … (read more)

MIDDLEBURY — The small town of Middlebury will have a big impact in shaping the Northeast’s economic recovery from COVID-19. Fred Kenney, executive director of the Addison County Economic Development Corp., said Middlebury has been selected as one of only … (read more)