Current News

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations were down last week, but have edged up in Vermont since the end of summer. There were 6 COVID-related deaths reported last week (same as the previous week) for a pandemic total of 1,038 as of October 14 (this is the most recent update). Fatalities have slowed from prior years but remain steady. Vermont has the second lowest fatality rate in the US (120.2 per 100K; Hawaii 100.1/100K). Mississippi (431.6/100K) and Oklahoma (428.5/100K) have the highest rates. The US average is 287.5/100K (CDC data). 

Vermont Department of Health Prescription Drug Take Back Day is October 28. With over 80 locations statewide, getting rid of unused medication is easy and more convenient than ever. Check the list to find the pharmacy, health care facility and police departments that host free and easy to use kiosks. The list also includes times you can drop of your medication and what type of medication is accepted.

Vermont Business Magazine Summer 2023 saw some of the most extreme weather ever in the Northern Hemisphere’s history – a byproduct of climate change caused by humans’ use of fossil fuels and the resulting emissions, according to the Council on Foreign Relations. Current society makes huge demands on energy production and distribution, and creating this energy has had a major cost. Our environment has often borne the brunt of that impact. But, could there be a way to produce energy without wreaking havoc on our Earth and destabilizing its climate too? It’s an important question that Saint Michael’s Physics Professor Alain Brizard hopes to help answer during a presentation today at 5 pm.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott and the Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC’s) Wastewater Program today announced $3.3 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) awards to help municipalities and businesses improve their wastewater quality through removing pollutants early in the process and ensuring adequate capacity for wastewater treatment. This is the second round of funding that will be used to install and upgrade wastewater treatment infrastructure at businesses in Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine The American Red Cross Northern New England Region is pleased to welcome Sarah Lemnah as its newest executive director for its Vermont Chapter headquartered in Burlington. Lemnah is an accomplished non-profit professional with more than 20 years of experience in development, communications, volunteer management and strategic leadership. Lemnah comes to the Red Cross from the Cancer Patient Support Foundation where she served as the executive director. She is a member of the University of Vermont Cancer Center Advisory Board and co-chair of Vermonters Taking Action Against Cancer, a statewide coalition that works with the Vermont Department of Health and the CDC to address cancer in Vermont. Lemnah was part of the Moonshot Initiative on Cancer with then Vice President Joe Biden.

Forbes Advisor Accessing affordable, high-quality healthcare is a challenge for Americans nationwide. In fact, nearly one third of Americans lack access to primary care and more than one third of Americans (38%) say they or a family member postponed medical treatment in 2022 due to cost, according to recent reports from the National Association of Community Health Centers and Gallup. In some states, accessing healthcare may be easier for residents due to lower costs, higher rates of health insurance coverage, an abundance of healthcare providers and access to timely and effective care. With National Healthcare Quality Week in full swing (October 15 to 21), Forbes Advisor compared all 50 states across 24 metrics to uncover the best states for healthcare. Vermont was fifth best overall.

Vermont Business Magazine United Counseling Service (UCS), based in Bennington, has earned recertification as a Preferred Provider through the Vermont Department of Health Division of Substance Use Services with a 93% compliance score. This certifies UCS to continue providing an array of substance use supports and services, including individual, group and case management services, intensive outpatient services, medication assisted treatment for alcohol and opioid use disorder, outreach, overdose prevention and harm reduction supports, training and consultation, and the eRecovery Connections app, which provides 24/7 recovery support for individuals experiencing substance use challenges.

Vermont Business Magazine The Community Health Centers (CHC) has opened an onsite pharmacy at its Riverside practice. Accessibly located in the heart of Burlington’s Old North End at 617 Riverside Avenue, this service allows community members to refill their prescriptions before they leave the building. The CHC – Pharmacy accepts all major insurances, including Medicaid and Medicare. For many years, CHC has been part of a Federally Qualified Health Center pharmacy network which offers eligible patients reduced-cost prescriptions, saving patients roughly $2 million annually. In adding their own pharmacy onsite, CHC has taken the next step in ensuring accessibility to medications for their community members.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine At a press conference at the Zephyr Place apartments in Williston (a newly converted hotel into housing) leaders of the Building Homes Together campaign issued its annual report card on progress towards reaching housing production and affordability goals for Chittenden County. As housing costs continue to escalate and rental vacancy rates consistently failing to exceed even 1%, falling short of housing and affordability goals means the region’s economy and people will continue to struggle. Building costs and rising interest rates have contributed to a "chipping away" of available funding, as other factors such as workforce shortages have delayed development. The campaign tallied 594 apartments and homes constructed in 2022, with 110 of them permanently affordable. Those numbers represent just 59% and 44% respectively of the campaign’s annual targets of 1,000 homes and 250 permanently affordable ones. 

Vermont Business Magazine Through a generous grant from the Marshall and Margherite McComb Foundation, applications are now open for fellowships at the Vermont Studio Center. The Flood Relief Fellowships will be awarded to two visual artists and one writer from Vermont who were impacted by 2023 flooding. Each fellowship will cover the cost of a 4-week residency, which runs from Nov. 26-Dec. 21.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott and the Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD) announced over $4 million in funding to support a record number of rehabilitation and revitalization projects throughout Vermont’s designated downtown and village centers. These 31 project awards will help generate over $150 million in building improvements and public infrastructure around the state.

Vermont Business Magazine The Barre Disaster Recovery Center will close temporarily at 6 p.m. Wednesday, October 25. It will reopen at 9 a.m. Monday, October 30. The center is regularly open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday (closed Sunday) at: Alumni Hall Building, Third Floor, 16 Auditorium Hill, Barre.