Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Five nonprofit organizations in New Hampshire and Vermont will receive support from Citizens through the bank’s Citizens Helping Citizens Manage Money program. This includes the Champlain Housing Trust and Vermont Works for Women. The initiative helps strengthen communities by supporting programs, through direct funding as well as volunteerism, that give people the resources they need to be financially healthy and inspire them to pursue their goals. Select nonprofits will receive a total of $50,000 to support work in this critical area. The announcement comes during Financial Literacy Month, a nationally recognized campaign that raises awareness of the need for more financial literacy education.

Vermont Business Magazine Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital (NVRH) will begin implementing symptom-based masking use for patients, visitors and staff today, April 5, 2023. This means that if a patient, visitor or staff member does not have fever, chills, cough, sore throat, running or congested nose or shortness of breath, they may choose not to wear a mask. However, to ensure everyone feels comfortable while at NVRH, healthcare personnel are required to wear a mask if a patient, caregiver or family member asks them to wear one.

Funding is now available for Vermont organizations and projects through the Walter Cerf Community Fund at the Vermont Community Foundation. Mr. Cerf, a native of Germany who made Addison County his home in his later years, gave more than $10 million to organizations and projects in Vermont before passing away in 2001. He focused much of his giving in Addison County and Brandon.

Grants from the Walter Cerf Community Fund reflect that focus: two-thirds of the grants are reserved for Addison County/Brandon projects and one-third is reserved for statewide projects. Priority interests are the arts, education, historic preservation, and social services, reflecting the pattern of giving established by Mr. Cerf during his lifetime.

The fund awards multiple grants up to $5,000 and one grant up to $25,000. Applications to the fund will be accepted through June 9, 2014. Visit www.vermontcf.org to learn more.

Vermont Business Magazine The State Police Advisory Commission released the following statement Tuesday regarding Vermont State Trooper resignations announced March 31, 2023. While Commissioner of Public Safety Jennifer Morrison had not reached a final decision on discipline before the two troopers resigned, the State Police Advisory Commission advised her that the troopers’ actions warranted termination and no lesser form of discipline was appropriate.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Corrections (DOC) today announced a three-year contract with Wellpath, LLC (Wellpath) to provide comprehensive health services to incarcerated individuals in Vermont. Wellpath, formerly Correct Care Solutions, is a multi-national healthcare provider that offers localized, high-quality, compassionate care to patients in challenging clinical environments. Vermont DOC formerly contracted with Correct Care Solutions from 2010-2015 to provide health services to Vermont’s incarcerated population. Vermont DOC released a Request for Proposals (RFP) in May 2022 for a new comprehensive health services contract upon the completion of the current contract with VitalCore Health Strategies. The Department approached the selection with a thoughtful and meticulous process, engaging a framework grounded in evidence-based practices, the most current health research, and the Vermont community standard of care.

Vermont Business Magazine On Tuesday a letter was sent to Vermont state senators from a coalition of Vermont businesses, organizations, and individuals in support of investment in Vermont’s cellular infrastructure. While supporting the state's significant investment and effort in expanding broadband Internet service, the coalition is asking lawmakers to also support investments in wireless connectivity this session "so that Vermont can start addressing the unserved and underserved areas of our state."

Vermont Business Magazine The Small Business Administration is hosting a free webinar at noon April 5 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 to $5.5 million.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, the National Institute of Innovation and Technology (NIIT), the leader in developing the nation’s semiconductor talent pipeline, and GlobalFoundries (Nasdaq: GFS), one of the world’s leading semiconductor manufacturers, have established a Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) at GF’s site in Essex Junction, Vermont. This program leverages the initial pilot established at GF’s site in Malta, NY, making it the first national, multi-site RAP in the semiconductor industry. It is designed specifically to meet GF’s technician workforce needs and to provide the skills necessary to progress into higher level positions over time.

Vermont State Police Around 4:26PM, a canine search team from New England K9 Search and Rescue located the body of the missing teenager, Rebecca Ball, in Weybridge. Her body was found in a wooded area on the west side of Otter Creek north of Beldens Falls. Her body will be transported to the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office in Burlington for an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of death. Per standard protocol, the death is being investigated by a detective trooper with the Vermont State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigations. The death is not considered suspicious.

Vermont Business Magazine The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that Jeremiah Smith, 44, of Burlington, was sentenced yesterday to 46 months of imprisonment in the United States District Court by United States District Judge William K. Sessions III. Smith previously pleaded guilty to unlawfully possessing a firearm as a felon. Judge Sessions also ordered that Smith serve three years of supervised release after his term of imprisonment. According to court records, on November 3, 2021, Burlington Police received a report of a pickup truck being stolen from Pine Street in Burlington. The owner of the truck also relayed that a 9mm firearm had been in the truck at the time it was stolen. Burlington Police located the truck on Pearl Street in Essex, Vermont. Essex Police Officers responded to the location of the vehicle and observed Smith as the sole occupant. Smith refused to roll down his window or exit the vehicle after repeated requests.

Vermont Business Magazine Mascoma Bank has announced that two new members have joined its Board of Directors. The new members are Mohamed Basha, Founder/CEO of TLC Nursing Associates, Inc. and Jeff Chu, Co-Founder and Partner of Features Capital. "We’re thrilled to welcome Mohamed and Jeff to the Board of Directors. They both have a wealth of experience and interest in supporting our communities and the people within them in innovative and responsible ways,” shared Deirdre Goodrich, Board Chair. “They will be valuable contributors to Mascoma Bank as we continue to build our reputation as a forward-thinking community bank that keeps customers and reinvestment in our communities at the center of our decisions.”

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) on Tuesday visited Community Health Center in Castleton, VT, a primary care center serving Vermonters throughout Rutland County. Sen. Welch highlighted Community Health’s Diabetes Prevention Program and celebrated the Center’s community-based outreach programs. His visit coincided with National Public Health Week, which celebrates the contributions of health care providers like Community Health. These providers are particularly essential in rural states like Vermont, where health care access is more limited and consistent access to primary care is vital.