Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont small group health insurance rate requests have been reduced by regulators, but still represent double-digit increases for 2020. The Green Mountain Care Board (GMCB) announced today its decision regarding BlueCross BlueShield of Vermont’s (BCBSVT) and MVP Health Care’s (MVP) requested rate increases for insurance plans offered through Vermont Health Connect (VHC) in 2020. Amended from the original filings, BCBSVT was granted a 12.4 percent increase (requested a 14.3% to 14.5% average annual rate increase) while MVP received a 10.1 percent increase (requested a 10.9% average annual rate increase).

“The Board is very frustrated about the unaffordable rate increases but must adhere to our statutory obligations,” said Board Chair Kevin Mullin.

Vermont Business Magazine The University of Vermont Medical Center Interim President, Dr Steve Leffler, today announced that Kate FitzPatrick, Chief Nursing Officer, DNP, RN, FAAN, will be leaving the organization on October 1. FitzPatrick, who also serves as Associate Dean for Academic and Practice Integration at the University of Vermont College of Nursing and Health Sciences, has accepted a position as the new System Senior Nursing Vice President for Practice and Clinical Development at Jefferson Health in Philadelphia, a 14-hospital health system in the greater Philadelphia region.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont), Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Thursday announced in Burlington that the University of Vermont is receiving $6.6 million from the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Health Resources and Services Administration’s Rural Communities Opioid Response Program for Rural Centers of Excellence on Substance Use Disorders.

Vermont Business Magazine The Snelling Center for Government is pleased to announce the Vermont School Leadership Project Class of 2020.

Vermont Business Magazine Among an increase of college closures and mergers, Sterling College in Vermont is bucking the trend by expanding its campus to a second site in Kentucky. After a competitive application process this spring, the first cohort of 12 students for the leading-edge Wendell Berry Farming Program of Sterling College, inspired by iconic American poet, novelist, activist, farmer and Kentucky native Wendell Berry, will begin studies in Henry County, Kentucky, in late August. With courses like Agroecology and Landscape, Food and Culture, students will spend their junior and senior years learning ways to contribute to the revitalization and renewal of rural agrarian communities in Kentucky and beyond.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) and Rep. Terri Sewell (D-Ala.) led a group of 19 Senators and 120 US Representatives demanding that the Department of Agriculture withdraw its “disastrous rule” that would kick over 3 million people off of food assistance. This would include Vermont's program which is called 3SquaresVT.

The Trump Administration’s proposed rule would end the streamlined eligibility option (what the administration calls a loophole) for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, aka, food stamps) for people who have already demonstrated that they qualify for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. According to the Administration’s own estimates, this proposal would strip benefits from 3.1 million people — nearly one in 10 recipients of nutrition assistance.

Vermont Fish & Wildlife Last observed in Vermont in 1997, the climbing fern has been spotted again growing in the Northeast Kingdom, according to Vermont Fish & Wildlife’s botanist Bob Popp. Considered extirpated in the state, the climbing fern (Lygodium palmatum), was confirmed by botanist Art Gilman along a VELCO-owned powerline. Powerlines in Vermont can be hotspots for rare, threatened, and endangered plants, and VELCO is working with botanists to conserve the fern.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Wood Works Council has announced the top 20 cheeseboard champs for the 2019 Vermont Cheeseboard Championship. The top 20 finalists that will be going to the final judging round are as follows (alphabetical by first name): Adam Claussen, Anne Selzelsky, Brent Karner, Dave Ferry, David Gonyon, David Lewis, Ed Roberts, Erin Ennis, Mark Debelstein, Matt Williams, Mike Rainville, Paul Christiansen, Peter Crane, Phil Biondo, Phil Mayer, Randy Crossman, Randy Pratico, Steve Hadeka, Travis Johnson & Will Boyea.

Vermont Business Magazine If you are looking for work in the outdoor industry — or in another industry, but still want great access to 20 ski areas, 50 mountain bike trail networks, and countless parks and waterways — businesses across Vermont are hiring. Darn Tough Vermont, maker of the legendary socks that come with a lifetime guarantee has dozens of positions open at its facility in the scenic town of Northfield, Vt, not far from ski resorts such as Stowe and Sugarbush. 

“We have more than 34 positions – both hourly knitting positions and exempt ones – open right now and expect to create ten more new ones this year,” says Jennifer No, Darn Tough’s Talent Acquisition Recruiter. The company currently employs 280 and makes all of its socks in Vermont. 

by Brian Gray In the midst of the warm summer months, it’s easy to forget the long winter and cold, wet spring we survived this year. But there are plenty of reasons for Vermonters, especially with moderate incomes, to take action now in preparation for the coming cold. Just about every Vermonter would agree that if there was something they could do to reduce their heating bill and make one less trip to the wood pile they would do it. Well, luckily there is. Weatherizing our homes and buildings does just that – it saves money, heat and labor. It also creates good paying jobs and boosts our local economy.

Vermont Business Magazine Autumn Harp, Inc, a custom contract manufacturer of cosmetics and personal skin care products in Essex Junction, has promoted Hillary Burrows to president. In her role at Autumn Harp, Burrows said, “I am lucky to work with this group of talented and passionate employees on a daily basis and I look forward to this next step as we build on the foundation that has been put in place, and capitalize on the many opportunities that we have in front of us.”

Vermont Business Magazine Cultural institutions in 16 Vermont communities will receive funding for needed improvements through the Vermont Arts Council’s Cultural Facilities Grant program. The FY2020 grants will support Vermont nonprofit organizations and municipalities in facilitating better access, enhanced infrastructure, or increased capacity within existing structures. The Bradford Public Library, for example, will receive funding for the installation of a physically accessible lift, and Stone Valley Arts in Poultney has garnered support for electrical upgrades. Grants were awarded to sixteen organizations totaling $224,556.