Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The University of Vermont (UVM), Vermont Department of Corrections (DOC), and the Urban Institute today released the second round of findings from the Prison Research and Innovation Network (PRIN) initiative in Vermont, one of five states participating in the voluntary five-year effort (with support from Arnold Ventures) to gather data and spur innovation to make prisons safer, more humane, and rehabilitative. Results of the 2022 PRIN survey study show continued challenges facing staff and incarcerated individuals in Springfield. Majorities of both groups pointed to understaffing, low morale, poor mental health, and lack of activities for incarcerated individuals that promote their well-being and build meaningful skills at the time the surveys were conducted in June of 2022.

Leonine Public Affairs The Vermont General Assembly convened last Wednesday for the 2023-2024 legislative biennium. For the first time since January 2020, the legislative session opened fully in-person, with families and friends accompanying newly elected lawmakers for the swearing-in ceremony.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets is now requesting applications from Vermont businesses interested in vending inside the Vermont Building at the 2023 Big E! The Vermont Building is one of six New England buildings on the Avenue of the States at the Big E, a 17-day fair and exposition that takes place each September in West Springfield, MA.

Devon Green, VP of Government Relations, VAHHS It was a relief to witness a relatively smooth opening to the legislative session here in Vermont. As with anything, there were one or two bumps in the road, including a discussion about how mental health should not be differentiated from health.

by James Dwinell, Vermont Business Magazine The week before Christmas, VermontBiz conducted a remote interview with Governor Phil Scott. Correspondent James Dwinell led the discussion and was joined by VB Editor Timothy McQuiston. The interview looked forward to the new year, the upcoming legislative session and Scott’s fourth — and perhaps final — term. His inaugural speech on January 5 contained many of the themes found here. Scott did not, however, offer any hint of his future political plans.

Vermont Business Magazine The US General Services Administration (GSA) is holding a public meeting on Thursday, January 12 to discuss expansion of the Highgate border crossing that sits at the northern end of Interstate 89. As part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) signed into law last year, $169 million has been allocated to upgrade the Highgate crossing, one of New England’s busiest land ports of entry (LPOE). The LPOE is expected to see a 30 percent increase in traffic with the completion of Canada Autoroute-35 (A-35) connecting to I-89 at the international border. GSA is proposing to construct larger facilities to provide for the long term and efficient flow of current and projected traffic volumes.

by Kevin Ellis Dear Democrats, you are in the midst of handing your political opponents a massive issue that threatens your ability to win elections. As is frequently the case, you are torn between your desire to do the right thing and what resonates with voters. The issue is homelessness. For the last 40 years or so we, as a society, have failed to confront homelessness despite knowing how to solve it.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, Representative Becca Balint (D-Vermont) was officially sworn into the 118th Congress as United States Representative for Vermont. Following 15 roll call votes for Speaker of the House, Balint’s swearing-in makes history as the first woman and first LGBTQ person to represent Vermont in Congress. Balint comes to Washington ready to fight for her community as the state’s sole voice in the House of Representatives.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont ranks 5th in the nation in the number of women starting businesses, according to recruiting firm Lensa. Data on female entrepreneurship rates over the last decade shows an overall increase in self-employed women. Over the past 10 years, around 203k new women are working self-employed and make up 41.64% of the total self-employed workforce in 2020.

The experts at Lensa analyzed data to ascertain how many females are starting businesses, what increase women have seen in business, and which states are the hotspots for female entrepreneurs.

America’s Top 5 Female Founder Hotspots

Vermont Business Magazine Banish the winter blues this year by participating in Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont’s Snow Days event, taking place at ten locations around Vermont from January 28 to February 12. Blue Cross, Vermont’s only local, non-profit health plan, holds its Snow Days event each winter to help Vermonters get outside and be active. Enjoying the great winter activities that Vermont offers connects people with nature, builds ties within the community, and supports personal wellness. From January 9-15, you can register on the Blue Cross website for a chance to win a free one-day pass at nine participating Vermont resorts.

by C.B. Hall Things are getting out of hand. All over the country, if not the English-speaking world, editors are confronting the confusion wreaked by the words they, them, their, and theirs when referring to a non-binary person determined to escape the confinement of he and she in describing him- or herself. What's an editor to do when a press release comes through that introduces a person by name and then