Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Howard Center and The University of Vermont Medical Center today is celebrating the unique accomplishments of eight graduates of the Project SEARCH program. Project SEARCH is an international school-to-work transition program for students with disabilities in their final year of high school. The unique business-led program takes place entirely at the workplace. Total workplace immersion facilitates a seamless combination of classroom instruction, career exploration, and hands-on training through worksite internships. The goal of the program is for students to graduate with transferable and marketable job skills and a job offer for competitively paid employment. At this time, six of the eight interns completing the program this year have been offered employment, and one has been offered a full-time position at the UVM Medical Center.

Vermont Business Magazine The Okemo Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce (OVRCC) recently announced the launch of a new full-color lifestyle magazine to reach the destination travel and aspirational living market. According to Carol Lighthall, director of the Chamber, “the new Okemo Valley Magazine will be a free biannual lifestyle publication for visitors, residents and chamber members that will showcase the beauty, individual personality and community spirit of the 12 towns and villages that make up the Okemo Valley. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Snelling Center for Government announced today the Early Childhood Leadership Institute Class of 2019. The Class of 2019 is comprised of 26 associates from across the state who represent a wide variety of organizations connected to early childhood and family work.

Vermont Business Magazine Weekly unemployment numbers fell last week after two weeks of modest increase. Claims had spiked to nearly a 1,000 in April but are half of that peak now. Claims for the week of May 25, 2019, totaled 430, down 98 from last week. Claims were 43 more than they were at this time last year. Altogether 3,633 new and continuing claims were filed, a decrease of 74 from a week ago, and 7 more than a year ago. This is the first increase in total, year-to-year claims in recent memory.

Leonine Public Affairs The Vermont General Assembly wrapped up the 2019 legislative session on May 29, when the Senate approved an adjournment resolution to reconvene on January 7, 2020. The House approved the same resolution on May 24, making 2019 the first time in the modern era both legislative chambers failed to adjourn on the same day. The disjointed adjournment caps the bizarre final chapter of a legislative session that was for the most part lacking in political drama and intrigue.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Army National Guard will be downloading rail cars in Burlington as equipment returns from our Joint Readiness Training Center Rotation in Fort Polk, LA. Rail operations will take place at the Burlington Rail Yard from June 5 to possibly June 8. There will be a higher impact on traffic than our previous rail operation as small convoys will be moving from the Burlington Rail Yard to Camp Johnson during the day.

“We are happy to have everyone home, but we must remain diligent to get all our equipment back to its proper location and in a high state of readiness,” said Colonel Nathan Lord, commander, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (MTN). “One last effort and we can officially close out JRTC rotation 19-07 as a resounding success.”

Vermont Business Magazine Four Vermont community organizations will work with artists to animate their environment with public art. Each received a grant through the Animating Infrastructure program, which encourages collaborative partnerships between communities and artists to integrate public art into existing or proposed infrastructure improvement projects. A key goal of the program is to foster unique, inspiring, and attractive landmark communities throughout Vermont.

“Animating Infrastructure projects recognize that art and creativity are woven into the fiber of our communities,” said Vermont Arts Council Executive Director Karen Mittelman. “A village green, a railroad bridge, a hiking trail, or a waterway can become a setting for vibrant public art that connects us to our neighbors. We are proud to support four innovative projects that reimagine public spaces by infusing art into physical infrastructure.”

Vermont Business Magazine Following a significant landslide on Friday, May 31 a portion of the Cotton Brook Road and the entirety of the Fosters Trail in Mt. Mansfield State Forest in Waterbury have been closed until further notice.

Vermont Business Magazine Mayor Miro Weinberger announced last Friday that Executive Director of the Church Street Marketplace Ron Redmond is stepping down from his position, after more than 20 years of service to the city. Redmond’s innovative tenure included helping to launch the Street Outreach Program and create the downtown’s community policing program, building a robust marketing and market research program, and sustained economic health and vibrancy through stabilizing the department’s operating budget. 

“For over thirty years, the Church Street Marketplace has been one of the Northeast’s great urban places,” said Mayor Weinberger. “For more than half of that history, the Marketplace has been run with skill and good will by Ron Redmond. I am grateful for Ron’s service to the City and the Church Street Marketplace, helping to grow and strengthen the Marketplace as a downtown destination for residents and visitors.”

Vermont Business Magazine Calling out three pieces of tobacco and e-cigarette prevention legislation recently signed into law by Governor Phil Scott as “significant,” Health Commissioner Mark Levine, MD applauded their passage and predicted the bills will mark a “major public health impact for generations to come.” Chief among the legislation is S.86, also known as Tobacco 21. The new law protects Vermont’s youth from starting and using tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, by raising the minimum age to purchase the products from 18 to 21. The measure is complemented by H.26, which prohibits anyone from selling e-cigarettes, liquid containing nicotine, or other tobacco substitutes without a Vermont seller license − effectively prohibiting the online sales of such products.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) issued an updated per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) sampling plan today. The newly-released plan outlines how ANR will identify and characterize PFAS contamination in soil, groundwater and surface waters like lakes and rivers. Members of the public can submit comments by June 18.

Vermont Business Magazine It’s never too early to start saving for college. VSAC and Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems are delighted once again to partner on this exciting annual event to raise awareness of the value of planning and saving for college – even on day-one. This year, 18 babies born at Vermont hospitals on May 29 will each receive $100 in a 529 college savings account from Vermont Student Assistance Corp.