Current News

Vermont Business Magazine– Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), Representative Nydia Velázquez (D-NY) and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) sent a letter Monday demanding that the Trump administration end its delay in federal disaster assistance Puerto Rico in the face of the island’s urgent humanitarian needs following hundreds of earthquakes and aftershocks, just two years after Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico.

"The hurricane devastated the island and today, tens of thousands of people are still living under tarp roofs,” the members of Congress wrote. “In recent days, the quakes have cost millions in damages, destroyed hundreds of homes, caused widespread electricity blackouts, and forced residents to resort to sleeping in roofless shelters due to the fear of being buried in their own homes by another earthquake."

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont State Treasurer Beth Pearce today launched a video to raise awareness about the VermontABLE program and provide information about how Vermonters with disabilities can enroll in the tax-free investment plan to save for qualified expenses.VermontABLE gives individuals with disabilities the ability to invest up to $15,000 annually without impacting eligibility for certain benefits, like Medicaid and SSI. Participants can invest savings through five different investment options, and access online electronic funds transfers, easy withdrawals, and a loadable debit card. As of the most recent reporting quarter, VermontABLE participants had an average account balance of $4,772.09, which is approximately $2,700 over the benefit cliff level for individuals on means-tested programs.

by John McClaughry Health care is again moving to center stage in this election year. A year ago the Trump Administration released a respectable report (“Reforming America’s Healthcare System Through Choice and Competition”) but neither Democrats nor Republicans have shown much interest in it since no major legislation can pass both House and Senate. Accordingly the Trump Administration has been confined to making changes in insurance and tax regulations, and proposing price controls to reduce pharmaceutical costs (which the 2018 plan rejected.)

Vermont Business Magazine Tracy Upton is a registered nurse, a career caregiver and skilled provider who has worked in primary care and pediatrics for 23 years. She cares about quality. Upton’s 17 years of direct patient care experience is being applied more strategically now in her role as the quality improvement manager. Upton works closely with Community Health’s medical director and clinical director to prioritize ways to make the delivery of health care at Community Health more effective, more efficient, and more geared toward addressing patient’s health needs before issues arise.

Vermont Business Magazine Every day is a prescription drug take-back day at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC), part of Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC), where a drug take-back box in the lobby has allowed members of the public to anonymously dispose of 1,145 pounds of unwanted medications since its installation in July 2017. Totals are growing each year: from 199 pounds in 2017 to 427 pounds in 2018 and 519 pounds in 2019.

Vermont Business Magazine Runamok Maple, a Fairfax, Vermont-based producer of pure, barrel-aged, infused, and smoked organic maple syrups, has teamed up with fellow Burlington, Vermont-based brand Citizen Cider to once again release Tree Tapper, a maple-based hard cider that features Runamok Maple syrup as its main ingredient. Back by popular demand, Tree Tapper is entering its third year as a limited-edition cider – and this time around it will be abundantly available throughout the Northeast region. As a cider on the dry side of the spectrum, Tree Tapper has a balanced sweetness with notes of oak, maple, and Belgian candi syrup, giving it rich and hearty characteristics. At 6.9%, it’s the perfect cider to share among friends, enjoy after a long day of tapping trees, or following a day on the ski slopes.

Vermont Business Magazine City and State leaders clipped the ribbon on 60 new apartments in South Burlington as part of a long-planned – and now coming to life – new City Center. The apartments, named Garden Street Apartments, were developed by Snyder Braverman Development Company with an agreement to sell the building to the Champlain Housing Trust and Housing Vermont. The apartments will remain affordable forever.

Vermont Business Magazine Rachel Siegel, Executive Director of Peace & Justice Center in Burlington, Vermont will step down in June after seven years leading the organization, the board announced today.

by Representative Jill Krowinski, House Majority Leader Last week, Vermonters from all corners of the state returned to the State House for the 2020 legislative session. The Speaker kicked off the first day with her vision to create an economy that works for everyone, not just a select few. Vermont faces its share of challenges and opportunities. We have a plan of action to give all Vermonters a fair shot and ensure a strong Vermont future.

Vermont Business Magazine A popular excursion boat on Lake Champlain owned by Mesa Leasing, Ltd, is receiving an upgrade to reduce its environmental impact. The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) Diesel Emissions Reduction Program awarded $268,073 to Mesa Leasing, Ltd. to replace four unregulated, heavily polluting diesel engines powering the Spirit of Ethan Allen III. This grant is the single largest Vermont Diesel Emissions Reduction Grant ever awarded. The project will improve air quality along the Burlington waterfront, protect public health, and decrease greenhouse gas emissions.

Vermont Business Magazine The State of Vermont licensed twenty-two new captive insurance companies in 2019, according to data released by the Department of Financial Regulation. The Department has licensed a total of 1,159 captive insurance companies since the 1980s and now regulates 585 licensed captives, making Vermont the largest U.S. domicile for captive insurance by a wide margin and third largest domicile in the world. In 2019, the Legislature passed, and Governor Phil Scott signed new legislation to modernize and strengthen captive insurance regulations.

Vermont Business Magazine US Representative Peter Welch (D-Vermont) announced today that his long-time chief of staff, Bob Rogan, will retire at the end of February. Replacing Rogan as chief of staff will be Patrick Satalin, Welch’s deputy chief of staff. Satalin first joined Welch’s staff in 2011 and has served in various roles since, including legislative director, before being promoted in 2015 to deputy chief of staff. Prior to working on Capitol Hill, he worked for the commissioner of the Federal Housing Administration and for a national accounting firm. He holds a master’s degree in public administration from Syracuse University’s Maxwell School and a bachelor of arts degree in media and communications studies from The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC.