Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott has designated Wednesday, December 14, 2022, as Air Quality Awareness Day in Vermont. In recognition of this day, scientists and health officials are offering tips and guidance for how Vermonters can sign up for air quality forecasts in their area, find out what to do on days with poor air quality, and learn how to improve Vermont’s air quality. Even in Vermont, air quality can occasionally reach unhealthy levels, especially in the winter when many people are using furnaces, boilers, or woodstoves to heat their homes. These heating sources produce smoke and other pollutants which may cause significant health problems, including lung and eye irritation, headaches, asthma attacks, acute bronchitis, and other breathing difficulties. It can also lead to long-term health effects.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont business leaders voiced their economic concerns and urged action on workforce and housing initiatives at a roundtable discussion with State Senator Kesha Ram Hinsdale. The meeting, hosted by the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, centered on the top issues facing the business community in advance of the legislative session. Business leaders from various industries emphasized the need for strategic workforce recruitment and retention efforts, and further investment in workforce housing infrastructure. These policy areas are among the top priorities for the Vermont Chamber of Commerce advocacy team in 2023.

Vermont Business Magazine A coalition of housing advocates issued the following statement urging state government to put more money into housing across the board. They argue that the significant resources already spent are making an impact, but that the state will need about 10,000 more housing units over the next five years. They are calling for an additional $175 million to be allocated to several agencies.

Vermont Business Magazine In less than four years, the Orano group, based in France, has completed the cutting up and packaging of the vessel and internal components of the boiling water reactor at the Vermont Yankee nuclear power station in Vernon. Vermont Yankee went offline in December 2014. These operations, started in early 2019 after two years of preparatory studies, are part of a contract signed in 2017 with the NorthStar group. As the site owner, NorthStar is performing the accelerated decommissioning of the facility with expected completion in 2027. NorthStar acquired the site from Entergy, which was the last operator of the nuclear power station.

Vermont Business Magazine New England Retail Properties, Inc has announced that two of their subsidiaries have completed the ground up development of two new Tractor Supply Company Stores in Ensoburg Falls, VT, and Somersworth, NH. Both Stores opened Saturday December 10, 2022 after 6 months of construction. The Vermont store is located in Enosburg Falls and can be found on 38 Jayview Drive and Route 105, adjacent to the Hannaford Supermarket and McDonald’s, has been developed by Enosburg Development Partners LLC.

Vermont Business Magazine Today Vermont Governor Phil Scott issued two proclamations announcing the ratification and adoption of 2022’s Proposition 2 and Proposition 5, amending the Vermont Constitution. In a ceremony required by State law, Secretary of State Jim Condos certified to the Governor the articles of amendment had been adopted by the voters of the State. The amendments were enrolled on the parchment and deposited with the Secretary of State, making official the ratification and adoption by Vermont voters in the 2022 General Election.

Vermont State Police On December 12, 2022, at approximately 6:48 PM the Grand Isle Fire Department was dispatched to a structure fire at a dairy barn located on Griswold Road. A neighbor, Andrew Paradee, noticed flames coming for the north end of the dairy barn and called 911 to report the fire. After Mr. Paradee called 911, he went to the barn and worked to get some of the cows trapped inside barn out of harm’s way. When fire crews arrived, they discovered the structure was fully involved with fire. Fire fighters and residents were able to open doors which allowed a majority of the cows trapped inside the burning barn a way out. Approximately 40 cows died in the fire with another 140 escaping the flames.

The Vermont State Police is investigating the deaths of two people whose bodies were discovered inside their home in Bethel following a fire early Tuesday morning, Dec. 13, 2022. The fire was reported at 5:23 a.m. at 2937 Christian Hill Road. Upon arrival, responding fire crews found the two-story brick home with an addition on the back fully engulfed. During their efforts to battle the blaze, firefighters located the bodies of the victims, a man and a woman in their 70s.

Vermont Business Magazine National Life Group employees, directors and retirees donated over $350,000 to more than 435 organizations across the globe through the annual “Share the Good” program, in which the National Life Group Foundation matches gifts up to $2,000 during the month of November, making the overall amount given, more than $700,000. Three hundred seventy-two employees, directors and retirees made pledges this year, making this the highest number of donors and of dollars ever recorded for this initiative. Over the years, more than $4.3 million has been raised to benefit thousands of charities.

Vermont Business Magazine Rutland Regional Medical Center’s Bowse Health Trust (BHT) committee is pleased to announce that three important projects have been awarded funding for the next three years. Castleton University, The Housing Trust of Rutland County, and Social Tinkering have been awarded these funds for projects that address the priority needs identified in the 2021 Community Health Needs Assessment for the greater Rutland community. These priorities are to improve health equity in the areas of Housing, Childcare/Parenting, Mental Health, and Supporting the Aging Community.

Vermont Business Magazine US Citizenship and Immigration Services and the US District Court for the District of Vermont will welcome 30 new citizens during a naturalization ceremony Wednesday at the American Legion Post #10 in Barre. US Bankruptcy Judge Heather Z Cooper will administer the Oath of Allegiance. The 30 citizenship candidates come from the following countries: Belgium, Bhutan, Canada, China, Congo (Kinshasa), France, Germany, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Moldova, Peru, Portugal, Somalia, South Korea and Syria.

Vermont Business Magazine Mt Ascutney Hospital and Health Center (MAHHC), a member of Dartmouth Health, is celebrating its 50th anniversary on County Road in Windsor, Vermont. Individuals coming by for scheduled appointments are encouraged to view the special historic display found at the main entrance of the hospital. The informative display features various items that span the decades, such as photos, documents, newspaper clippings, and candy striper uniform.