Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets (VAAFM) announces grants totaling $292,268 for eight projects to benefit Vermont fruit, vegetable, and value-added producers and increase consumer access to locally produced food. These grants, funded through the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP), were awarded to five organizations to undertake a range of research, development, outreach, and marketing projects. The grants will leverage an additional $148,907 in matching funds.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced three key executive branch appointments: Dr. Harry Chen as interim commissioner of the Department for Children and Families (DCF) in the Agency of Human Services (AHS); Sean Brown as chief operating officer of the Agency of Administration (AOA); and Daniel Batsie as the deputy commissioner of the Department of Public Safety (DPS).

Vermont Business Magazine To celebrate National Manufacturing Day (October 7th) and the one-year anniversary of Mamava’s acquisition of its manufacturing operations based in Springfield, Vermont, Mamava Manufacturing hosted an open house. Attendees were invited to interact with Mamava’s line of lactation space solutions and to tour the facility’s operations to see how Mamava pods are made. Among those in attendance were Dan Smith, CEO of Vermont Community Foundation; Will Stevens, Business Outreach for Senator Sanders; and Mickey Wiles, CEO of Working Fields, who each spoke about the importance of manufacturing in Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott and leadership from Efficiency Vermont and VGS today held a press conference in Montpelier to promote the Button Up Vermont campaign, an effort to help Vermonters prepare their homes to maximize energy efficiency. The governor also announced a new online resource, which shares a comprehensive inventory of programs and tools to help Vermonters navigate winter heating needs, including financial assistance for low- and moderate-income households, weatherization and home improvement incentives and more. Vermonters can access this online inventory at www.vermont.gov/buttonupvt.

Vermont Business Magazine Hannaford Supermarkets and the Hannaford Charitable Foundation today announced a $100,000 donation to Age Well in support of its healthy meal delivery program, which prioritizes wholesome, fresh and nutritious foods as part of a comprehensive health care plan for older adults with chronic health conditions. The donation is one component of a more than $1.5 million commitment from Hannaford to support healthy meal programs in New England and New York through its new “Eat Well, Be Well – A Path to Better Health” initiative. The program highlights the importance of nutritious food in achieving long-term wellness for food insecure individuals with a history of chronic illness.

Vermont Business Magazine When many think of home health, it brings to mind hospice care or acute post-hospital care. But our members also concentrate on preventive services. Shortly, they will begin delivering this year’s flu shots to their clients. And some agencies even offer them to the public. Ashley Lafirira, the Long-Term Care Nurse Coordinator for Central Vermont Home Health and Hospice (CVHHH), is also manager of CVHHH’s public health clinics.

Vermont Business Magazine The American Red Cross now invites those who spent time in the UK, Ireland or France and have never tried to give blood due to concerns over variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD) – related to mad cow disease – to give blood and help save lives. Recently, the US FDA updated its blood donor eligibility guidance on vCJD, eliminating the deferral for those who spent time in the UK, Ireland and France between 1980 and 2001. In alignment with FDA changes, the Red Cross began accepting donations October 3 from individuals who have not tried giving blood before due to the prior donation criteria. This new change effectively eliminates the deferral related to vCJD for all donors. More blood donors – especially type O donors – are urged to donate now. As a thank-you, all who come to give October 16-31, 2022, will receive a $10 e-Gift Card by email to a merchant of choice.

Vermont Business Magazine The next guest on Medical Matters Weekly is Kara Richardson Whitely, an author, advisor, and influencer who inspires people of all sizes and abilities to get outside and live in the now. The show airs on Facebook at 12 p.m. on Wednesday, October 12. Richardson Whitely wrote the memoir Gorge: My Journey Up Kilimanjaro at 300 Pounds, which is being made into a movie produced by and starring ‘This Is Us’ actress, Chrissy Metz. She also wrote, Fat Woman on the Mountain and The Weight of Being. She has partnered with brands like L.L. Bean, Columbia, Keen and Discover Puerto Rico to showcase diversity and inclusion and build positive brand sentiment in the plus-sized community. She contributes to Backpacker magazine, presents to such companies as Pfizer, Google and Uber; and serves on Come Alive Outside’s Board of Directors.

Vermont Business Magazine Today Vermont Secretary of State Jim Condos encouraged Vermonters to make their voting plan for the November 8, 2022 Vermont General Election. All active, registered voters have been mailed a ballot. Any voter who has not received a ballot should contact their Town or City Clerk.

Vermont Business Magazine During WIC National Enrollment Week, the Vermont WIC Program is spreading the word about the nation’s premier public health nutrition program. WIC is the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children. Established in 1974, WIC provides federal grants to states to provide nutrition education, supplemental foods, and health care referrals for low and moderate-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum individuals, as well as infants and children who have a health or nutrition need.

Vermont Business Magazine For many people October is a time to celebrate fall foliage, pumpkin spice and haunted happenings, but for others it is also a time to take notice of the impact manufacturing has in our community. That’s why Mack is opening its doors for two job fairs taking place from noon to 5 pm, Thursday, October 13, 2022, at the Company’s 608 Warm Brook Road, Arlington Headquarters, and again from 8 am to 5 pm, Friday, October 14, at its 2044 Main Street, Cavendish facility.

by Michael Del Trecco, Interim President and CEO, VAHHS Today is World Mental Health Day and I hope you all will join me in acknowledging the challenges we face here in Vermont and across the globe to increase awareness, reduce barriers and normalize treatment. I also hope you will act. For far too many Vermonters, stigma is an impenetrable wall that prevents us from realizing we are not well—it keeps us from seeking help, and it leads to incredible suffering.