Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont smashed collection goals and benchmarks in 2021 to collect over 216,000 pounds of batteries for recycling, the largest weight in the state program's history and a 46% increase over 2020. The data — both in VT and nationally — show how consumers are ready and willing to do the right thing with their old tech and batteries if they are presented with easy options, and it couldn't be a more important time as governments and businesses alike reinvest in making recycling easier in order to manage the forthcoming wave of dead EV batteries.

Vermont Business Magazine The Community Sailing Center in Burlington has received the US Sailing Jim Kilroy Outstanding Inclusion and Outreach Award. CSC was nominated for our Sailing Diversity Access Initiative that they launched in 2021 in efforts to overcome cultural and racial barriers to the sport of sailing. The initiative provides children ages 11-15 who identify as BIPOC a fully funded summer camp experience of up to 4 weeks, with the opportunity to participate in the program for up to 4 years. This programming is designed as a long-term commitment to BIPOC families in an effort to inspire new generations to join the world of sailing.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health today is reporting 265 cases of COVID-19 for Tuesday. This is nearly 200 more than Monday's total and higher than the 7-day average of 220. There were six additional COVID-related deaths for 593 statewide since last week. Of the four people who died, one was in the 50-59 age range, two were 60-69, one was 70-79 and two were over 80.

Vermont Business Magazine The Federal Emergency Management Agency will be sending more than $1.6 million to the State of Vermont to reimburse the costs of providing emergency meals for residents in need during the COVID-19 pandemic. The $1,626,337 Public Assistance grant will go to the Agency of Commerce and Community Development for providing meal preparation and delivery service to high-risk populations under the the state’s emergency feeding program “Vermont Everyone Eats” between November 2021 and January 2022.

​by Greg Marchildon, AARP Vermont State Director Finally, there may be some relief for Vermonters who collect Social Security or military pension benefits. Governor Phil Scott has proposed a critical tax change that would impact the household budgets of thousands of older Vermonters and veterans. This proposal aims to eliminate the taxation of Social Security benefits for many Vermonters. Vermont is one of only 12 states in the nation that taxes Social Security benefits. Most don’t tax them at all. In addition, Governor Scott proposes to waive the taxation of veteran pension benefits – long overdue!

Vermont Business Magazine Approximately 100 Vermont Army National Guard Soldiers will support security operations in Washington DC beginning later this week. Vermont Soldiers from Headquarters Company, 572nd Brigade Engineer Battalion, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain) will lead Vermont's contribution to the Physical Security Task Force.

Vermont Business Magazine Leandre Waldo brings a wealth of relevant experience in communications and higher education as she starts work this week at Saint Michael’s College as chief of staff for President Lorraine Sterritt, as of February 21. President Sterritt said that in Waldo’s years working at Champlain College, Vermont Technical College and Boston College, “she has taken on multifunctional roles including strategic project leadership, communications, issue resolution, crisis management, media relations, enrollment, and marketing.”

by Thomas Peterson, MD The University of Vermont Health Network Medical Group is a community of more than 1,150 providers who – along with our hard-working and dedicated care teams – serve patients in Vermont and Northern New York with primary, specialty, acute, hospital and critical care. We are united in our passion for what we do – the commitment and the deep and caring connection we feel with our patients and our communities. Ensuring everyone gets the care they need at the right time is why we’re here. It’s heartbreaking to know that for some of our patients, this hasn’t been happening. We want all of the communities we serve to know that we are working hard to address it.

Vermont Business Magazine New England Federal Credit Union (NEFCU) and Vermont State Employees Credit Union (VSECU), the two largest credit unions in the state, announced in a letter to their members today that they plan to merge. NEFCU, based in Williston, is the state's largest credit union with $1.9 billion in assets and VSECU, based in Montpelier, boasts $1.07 billion in assets. By early 2023 the credit unions will merge under the legal entity of New England Federal Credit Union. Dwyer will remain CEO and current VSECU CEO Rob Miller will become president of the merged entity. They said in the statement that employment levels will not be affected, which combined stand at about 440 now.

Vermont Department of Corrections On the morning of February 22, 2022, Raymond Gadreault, 73, of Melborne, Florida, died at Southern State Correctional Facility (SSCF) in Springfield. SSCF staff found Gadreault in his cell experiencing a medical issue; staff called for medical staff and rescue services as Gadreault became unresponsive. Staff and EMS responded to the scene and began resuscitative efforts. EMS contacted the Emergency Department and they officially called the time of death. The official cause of death will be determined by the Vermont State Medical Examiner, but at this time it is not considered suspicious or related to the ongoing COVID-19 cases within SSCF.

Vermont Department of Economic Development Seven Newport area entities received almost $1.5 million in Newport Development Fund awards. Granted through two competitive programs, the Newport Development Grant and the Discover Newport Business Grant, the funds were designed to create transformational economic development opportunities in the City of Newport. Projects were selected based on alignment with existing city and regional plans or incentivizing businesses to expand or locate within the City of Newport, grow job opportunities, and attract visitors to the Newport area.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health today is reporting 68 cases of COVID-19 for Monday. Cases have been running over 100 since mid-August, when the Delta variant took hold in Vermont. There were four additional COVID-related deaths for 587 statewide since last week. Of the four people who died, one was in the 40-49 age range, one was 60-69 and two were over 80. There hadn't been a death of someone in their 40s in almost a month.