Current News

Vermont Business Magazine LiFT Learning, creators of the leading portfolio assessment platform for competency-based education (CBE), today announced a major update allowing educators to capture and grade student learning wherever it happens- inside and outside the classroom. The CBE company has also updated its user interface and has added a customizable, automatic gradebook that makes the feedback cycle easy to manage for busy educators.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, on National Voter Registration Day, Ben & Jerry's, alongside Black Voters Matter, is unveiling a sweet new look and mission to their popular flavor, "Change is Brewing" — a cool combination of cold brew ice cream, marshmallow swirls, and fudge brownies. This rebranded flavor is focused on advancing racial justice through protecting voting rights and encouraging voter turnout ahead of November's midterm elections by connecting voters with the Ben & Jerry's Voter Resource Center. The Voting Rights Act, landmark civil rights legislation passed in 1965, put important safeguards in place to protect the rights of Black voters. However, the Voting Rights Act was gutted in a 2013 Supreme Court decision that paved the way for a number of states to pass regressive voter suppression laws that make it harder, not easier, for people of color and young people to vote.

Vermont Business Magazine For the 12th year in a row, Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel, Darn Tough Vermont and Smartwool have teamed up to donate over $13,500 worth of socks and support to local nonprofits serving the areas homeless. This fundraising event is a joint effort to help provide warm Merino wool socks and much-needed support to people experiencing homelessness in preparation for the colder months. September 8-10, Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel held their 12th annual Charity Sock Sale. Lenny’s pledged to make a monetary donation for each pair of Darn Tough Vermont and Smartwool socks sold during the sale. In addition, Darn Tough Vermont and Smartwool graciously provided boxes of socks to donate.

by John J. Dwyer, Jr & Arthur G Woolf As the President and Chief Executive Officer and Board Chair of New England Federal Credit Union (NEFCU), we believe that our members, staff, and the communities we serve should fully understand the value of the merger with Vermont State Employees Credit Union (VSECU). It is also important to clarify why it is in the best interest of these constituents and each credit union, as well as for Vermont, to support the merger. Voting on the proposed merger begins today.

Vermont Business Magazine The University of Vermont (UVM) College of Nursing and Health Sciences (CNHS) BS in Public Health Sciences program has earned national accreditation from the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH), the independent agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to accredit schools of public health and public health programs. Recognized as the quality standard of education and training in public health, CEPH accreditation is awarded only to programs that meet rigorous criteria, ensuring that students experience a high-quality undergraduate education in public health. Accreditation signals to future employers and graduate programs that alumni of UVM’s program have the skills and knowledge necessary to be successful in the field.

by John R Brumsted, MD, President and CEO of UVM Health Network As a health care safety net provider for more than 1 million people in two states, the UVM Health Network exists to serve the needs of our patients. So when the essential right of patients to make decisions about their health care is jeopardized, we have an obligation to speak up. This is one of those times. The US Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization – and the subsequent move by politicians in many states to curb or eliminate access to safe abortion services – undermines health care access for millions of people. This impact falls disproportionately on those who already faced long-standing health care inequities and systemic or socioeconomic barriers to health and wellness.

Vermont Business Magazine Gifford will distribute meals for Upper Valley Everyone Eats this month on Tuesday, September 27 between 5 – 5:30 p.m. at Gifford’s South Parking lot. The frozen meals, provided by Global Village Foods, are available by reservation. Upper Valley Everyone Eats is the local hub of Vermont’s coronavirus relief program, Vermont Everyone Eats (VEE). VEE provides nutritious meals to Vermonters in need of food assistance, as well as a stabilizing source of income for Vermont restaurants, farmers, and food producers. This program is open to all Vermonters looking to stretch their food budget as a result of the pandemic or otherwise.

Vermont Business Magazine The next guest on Medical Matters Weekly is Marc David, the founder of the Institute for the Psychology of Eating. The show airs on Facebook Live at 12 p.m. on Wednesday, September 21. Marc David, MA, is the bestselling author of the books, Nourishing Wisdom: A Mind Body Approach to Nutrition and Well-Being and The Slow Down Diet: Eating for Pleasure, Energy, and Weight Loss, a frequent speaker and consultant, and host of the celebrated Psychology of Eating Podcast. David is also the Founder of The Institute for the Psychology of Eating, the world’s only health coaching program devoted to teaching the principles of Dynamic Eating Psychology and Mind Body Nutrition. With students in well over 100 countries, the Institute champions an uplifting, inclusive approach to food and body that honors each individual’s unique physiology and psychology and that sees eating challenges as a doorway to personal growth and self-actualization.

Vermont Business Magazine In continuation of its efforts to provide opportunities for connection between employers and jobseekers, the Vermont Department of Labor will host the first of two Fall Job Fest hiring events in southwest Vermont this week. Nearly 50 employers will take part in the job fair in Bennington, the fifteenth job fair organized by the Department since April 2022. The Department will host another event on Thursday (9/22) in Rutland. The event will be held Tuesday, September 20.

Vermont Business Magazine The latest housing data from RE/MAX for Burlington indicates that prices are way up from last year but have fallen over the last month. The current median home price is $410,000, up nearly 11 percent from last year but down 2.5 percent for the month. The National Housing Report for August 2022 found that home sellers, on average, accepted offers below their listing prices last month – a further indication of rebalancing in the housing market. Mortgage interest rates have doubled since The Fed first raised rates last March and three times since for a total of 2.25%. Today, the 30-year fixed rate at New England Federal Credit Union is 6.162%. According to Freddie Mac, the average 30-year rate was 2.96 in 2021 and has averaged 7.76% since 1971.

Vermont Business Magazine Funding is now available through the Laurance & Mary Rockefeller Fund for organizations and projects that preserve and enhance the physical, cultural, spiritual, and wellness environment of the people in the town of Woodstock and surrounding communities. The fund awards grants ranging from $1,000-$7,500. Applications will be accepted from organizations and projects serving the towns of Barnard, Bridgewater, Hartland, Pomfret, Reading, and/or Woodstock. Applicants must be serving one or more of these communities to be eligible to apply.