Current News

by Mike Del Trecco, President & CEO of VAHHS Thanksgiving is one of my favorite times of the year. It’s good food in abundance and, for me, a time to slow down and enjoy a restful time with family. As I enjoy the welcome pause, I am nevertheless mindful of all the health care workers are doing shifts at hospitals and clinics as we sit down to our bountiful meals. I hope you will join me in giving them a giant thank you.

Vermont Business Magazine On Thursday, December 1, Gifford Wellness presents: Diabetes. This free event at Gifford’s Conference Center in Randolph from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. will have educational presentations from our expert care team on a variety of topics related to type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Gifford Wellness provides information to our community on a wide variety of health topics. From in-person events to educational and informative videos, blog posts, and social media, we aim to provide our patients and our community with the support you need to keep you healthy for life.

Vermont Business Magazine Mt Ascutney Hospital and Health Center (MAHHC), a member of Dartmouth Health, has named its Outpatient Therapies wing in honor of Richard I. Slusky, the late former CEO of MAHHC. Slusky served as CEO for 28 years from 1982 to 2010. A transformative figure in MAHHC’s history, Slusky was responsible for numerous expansions and improvements to the hospital’s outpatient therapies program.

Vermont Business Magazine With just weeks remaining in this year’s Medicare open enrollment season, the Vermont Department of Financial Regulation reminds Vermonters to educate themselves about the various types of Medicare, Medicare Advantage, and Medicare Supplement (also known as “Medigap”) offerings. The Department’s recently developed “Medicare Open Enrollment-Protect Yourself” flyer is helping spread the word about enrollment options and the importance of being vigilant about scammers and other bad actors who may target Medicare participants during open enrollment.

Vermont Department of Economic Development Employers interested in recruitment, training, and retention resources have a new opportunity to connect with experts in a series of lunchtime learning sessions. Workforce Development Specialists from the Department of Economic Development, Department of Labor, and Vermont State Colleges (Vermont State University and Community College of Vermont) will cover: Who to contact for workforce programs and services; How to upskill incumbent workers or train new hires; Where to find labor market information like wage rates and projections; What funding may be available to help pay for training. Meetings will be held virtually on Thursdays from Noon to 1PM on December 1st, December 8th, and December 15th.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Professionals of Color Network (VT PoC) announced today the launch of their Civic Engagement Listings, with a goal of providing access to previously exclusively white spaces, like non-profit board of director positions, for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). While VT PoC’s website currently features a Jobs Board for employers across the state to list their open opportunities, the new Civic Engagement Listings page is designed to increase visibility of nonprofit board- and other civic engagement opportunities to BIPOC to fill a much-needed representation gap.

Vermont Business Magazine With winter construction season underway, the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) wants to remind Vermonters about additional requirements to help protect the state’s waterways. “We understand that managing construction sites to protect water quality is a year-round challenge. Winter rainfall, thaws, and snowmelt lead to water flowing over frozen and saturated grounds,” said DEC Commissioner John Beling. “Therefore, it’s key to use measures that reduce erosion and keep soil on construction sites.”

Vermont Agency of Agriculture Food & Markets In 2022, the Vermont Legislature appropriated $40 million in funds from the American Rescue Plan Act to the Community Recovery and Revitalization Program (CRRP), overseen by the Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD). The $40 million will fund projects that make capital improvements or capital expansions that were delayed due to the negative economic impacts of COVID-19. Eligible uses include affordable housing development, improvements or new construction of childcare facilities, municipal water supply and wastewater projects, and projects for nonprofits and small business in impacted industries. Impacted industries include agriculture, educational services, arts/entertainment/recreation, and accommodation and food services.

Vermont Business Magazine In response to reduced on-site visitation by the public beginning long before the pandemic, the Department of Forests, Parks & Recreation (FPR) will be closing the St. Albans office at 278 South Main St., Suite 2 in Saint Albans, on December 1, 2022. The Franklin-Grand Isle County Forester’s office will now be located at the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources Essex Regional Office at 111 West St. Essex Jct., VT 05452. This change will support enhanced coordination among staff within the Agency of Natural Resources, reduce the Department’s footprint, and allow reallocation of resources, ultimately improving FPR’s ability to serve private forestland owners.

by Joy Choquette, Vermont Business Magazine Jamie Stewart, executive director of Central Vermont Economic Development Corporation in Montpelier, said that like the rest of the state Washington County has dealt with challenges and new opportunities presented by the pandemic. “This region suffers from the same issues facing all of Vermont,” said Stewart. “We need affordable workforce housing and access to affordable quality child care. There is a pressing need for staffing to support the growth, which means developing a skilled workforce pool. These are all areas that are being discussed and at some level addressed, but to date, it has been too little, too late.”