Current News

Vermont Business Magazine This weekly report is a list of planned construction activities that will affect traffic on state highways and interstates throughout Vermont for the week of November 4, 2024. Please remember to drive safely in all work zones. Lives depend on it.  

by Jason Williams, University of Vermont Health Network We all have a deeply personal health care story, an experience that overwhelmed us with gratitude for the caregiver who was there in that life-altering moment. Some we are relieved to recount, and others ended in the agony of loss. Like you, I have both kinds of stories. Health care is about life and our quality of life. As you read this, I ask you to think about the health care you want for yourself and your loved ones in their time of need. And I encourage us to keep working together to get to that place despite recent alarming actions by the State’s Green Mountain Care Board, including budget orders that will lead to health care rationing, and recommendations calling for rural community hospital closures and the curtailing of services by our not-for-profit academic health system.

Vermont Business Magazine Vernal Biosciences Inc., a leader in mRNA and lipid nanoparticle (LNP) development, manufacturing, and analytics, today announces the appointment of Jim Petrilla as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Board Director. Petrilla succeeds founding CEO Christian Cobaugh, Ph.D., who will continue with the company as Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) and Board Director, focusing on advancing Vernal’s scientific and technological capabilities to further excellence in innovation. With over 30 years of commercial experience across the biopharma and clinical research sectors, Petrilla brings a strong track record of transformative leadership and operational excellence. He will lead Vernal in its mission of advancing mRNA technology to reshape modern healthcare.

Vermont Business Magazine In anticipation of the 2024 Killington World Cup, the Killington World Cup Foundation (KWCF) will be honoring four worthy recipients with grants which will allow each organization to increase access to winter sports for youth and individuals in the Northeast, creating more lifelong winter sports participants. This year’s grantees reflect KWCF’s dedication to promoting ski racing and supporting athletes at the highest level. 

Vermont Business Magazine Weekly unemployment claims in Vermont increased again by 33 from last week and by 78 from last year to 316, which is about 100 more than at the beginning of October. Ongoing claims were 1,966, up 94 from last week but 50 fewer than last year. Service-related employment as usual accounted for the majority of claims. The seasonally adjusted statewide unemployment rate for September was 2.2 percent. This reflects no change from the prior month’s revised estimate. The comparable United States rate in September was 4.1 percent, a decrease of one-tenth of one percentage point from the revised August estimate. 

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott, the State of Vermont Rapid Response Mobile Home Infill Program (MHIP) interagency team, and the Vermont State Housing Authority (VSHA) are announcing the launch of MHIP registration on Friday, November 1, 2024, to help Vermonters purchase affordable homes while simultaneously freeing up where those buyers live now for other Vermonters. For the first two weeks, only flood-impacted Vermonters may register for MHIP. Starting November 15, MHIP is available to everyone. MHIP is only available to current Vermont residents.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont’s open enrollment period opens November 1. During Open Enrollment, Vermonters can sign up for or change their health and dental plans for 2025. Coverage starts January 1, 2025, for those who sign up on or before December 15. Open Enrollment ends January 15, 2025. This year, many Vermonters will be eligible for better coverage plans at lower premium costs due to increased federal subsidies. The Department of Vermont Health Access (DVHA) encourages everyone to check available plan options on the Vermont Health Connect Plan Comparison Tool to ensure the best possible coverage. 

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General Charity Clark has announced two significant multistate settlements with Heritage Pharmaceuticals and Apotex which nationally total $49.1 million. The settlements resolve allegations that both companies engaged in widespread, long-running conspiracies to artificially inflate and manipulate prices, reduce competition, and unreasonably restrain trade with regard to numerous generic prescription drugs. As part of their settlement agreements, both companies have agreed to cooperate in the ongoing multistate litigations against 30 corporate defendants and 25 individual executives. Both companies have further agreed to a series of internal reforms to ensure fair competition and compliance with antitrust laws. 

Vermont Business Magazine U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont) traveled to Waterbury Center this week to congratulate Verde Technologies on the opening of its new research lab and pilot production facility. While at the facility, he also celebrated Verde’s recognition as a grand prize winner of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Perovskite Startup Prize for its innovative work in the climate tech sector. Verde Technologies’ newly expanded facilities will allow the company to build out its pilot lines and start producing larger thin-film solar cells for upcoming pilot projects with local and national partners. 

Vermont Business Magazine More than 28,000 homes and businesses in the Rutland County region now have access to future-proof fiber internet from Fidium Fiber. Otter Creek Communications Union District (CUD) celebrated the completion of fiber expansion in partnership with Fidium during a ribbon cutting on Tuesday. Otter Creek CUD was named an official Gig Community during the event, with towns where fiber expansion was completed being named Gig Towns. Otter Creek CUD communities now have access to Fidium Fiber’s multi-gig speed all fiber network. This comes just 12 months after the CUD received a grant from the Vermont Community Broadband Board (VCBB), and just five months after Consolidated Communications began construction to expand its Fidium Fiber network. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Corrections today announced the death of a Vermont-sentenced incarcerated individual at the Federal Correctional Complex USP Coleman I in Coleman, Florida, on Saturday, October 19, 2024. The Department was notified of the death by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) on Wednesday, October 30, 2024, and has completed required next of kin and victim notifications. Samuel Wright, 66, of Rosemère, Quebec, Canada, was lodged with BOP in May 1989, where he has since remained, to serve his Vermont sentence under the terms of a federal intergovernmental agreement. Due to a deportation detainer and sentence of 60 years to life, Mr. Wright was deemed unsuitable for placement in Vermont and housed within the federal system.

Vermont State Police Following review of an investigation by the Vermont State Police, the Attorney General’s Office on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, directed VSP to issue a citation to a Rutland City Police Department officer in connection with a shooting that occurred in the city in July 2023. Sgt. Andrew Plemmons is due to appear for arraignment Friday on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and reckless endangerment. The hearing is expected to occur at 12:30 p.m. in the Criminal Division of Vermont Superior Court in Rutland. The charges arise from an incident that occurred July 3, 2023, during which Sgt. Plemmons shot and wounded two 21-year-old brothers from Springfield, Massachusetts, identified as Randy A. Perez-Coiscou and Andy H. Perez-Coiscou. They have since recovered from their injuries.