Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources is providing $3.75 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grants to help manufactured housing communities address water infrastructure and 3-Acre stormwater issues. This funding (https://bit.ly/3BXr9Lw) will ensure residents in these communities have access to safe drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, and drainage systems. Examples of eligible activities include assessing what projects could be undertaken in the future, designing, and permitting these projects, connecting to municipal water or wastewater, retrofitting stormwater practices, meeting 3-Acre stormwater requirements, installing drinking water or wastewater projects, and more.

Norman James, 86, of Waterbury Center, passed away peacefully with his family by his side on May 29, 2022, at Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital, in St Johnsbury, Vermont. Norman graduated from Spaulding high school, class of 1953. He served in the US Air Force from 1955 - 1959 where he received training in armed forces radio and television services. Upon his honorable discharge, Norman was hired by WDEV as a radio announcer and news reporter. Norman transitioned to governmental and political news reporting for WCAX before returning to WDEV as their political reporter and news director. During his tenure, Norman received the prestigious Aiken fellowship award. Norman is preceded in death by his wife of 38 years, Lindel.

by Anson Tebbetts This year Vermont legislators made record investments in our rural communities, agriculture, and the environment. Based upon Governor Phil Scott’s proposals, legislators allocated dollars to farmers, producers and those making their living off the land. The Governor’s Future of Agriculture Commission offered new policy and program recommendations, and legislators listened. This winter the Commission proposed investing in food related businesses so they could grow and feed people in Vermont and beyond. A $40 million dollar Community Recovery and Revitalization program led by the Agency of Commerce and Community Development will issue grants to businesses to invest in new infrastructure, such as storage, distribution, waste management and meat processing for Vermont companies.

Vermont Business Magazine Winooski residents will soon be able to enjoy ‘Sweat, Flex & Chill’ thanks to a recently launched crowdfunding campaign. The campaign is sponsored by the Vermont Department of Housing and Community Development’s Better Places program and led by the Fight for Kids Foundation.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Community Foundation and the Vermont Department of Health have announced that Track Two, the second round of the recently announced Health Equity grant program, is now open. The Health Equity grant program is for community-based organizations that are working to address health disparities in Vermont. Track Two is designed primarily for organizations building internal capacity. Organizations applying for Track Two can request different kinds of technical assistance that will strengthen their organization and/or communities.

by Jeff Tieman, CEO, Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems Last week, our nation’s gun violence epidemic spread to a Tulsa, Oklahoma, hospital where an aggrieved patient shot and killed four innocent people including another patient, two doctors and a receptionist. Hospitals and health care settings are places of healing and hope. Together we must do everything possible to ensure they are not sites of death and destruction. More broadly, it is vital that our nation and state work to understand the tragic problem of mass shootings and summon the courage to address it.

by Susan Green, Dartmouth On Saturday morning, May 28, the Geisel School of Medicine’s 99 graduates joyously gathered with family and friends outdoors on Dartmouth’s Class of 1978 Life Sciences Center lawn to celebrate the close of their academic studies and the beginning of their careers as physicians.

Vermont Business Magazine Berkshire Bank, a leading socially responsible community bank with office locations in New England and New York, will host Xtraordinary Day (X-Day) on Wednesday, June 8. All branches and offices across five states – MA, NY, VT, CT, and RI will close from 12pm - 4pm for concurrent day of service events. Closing the entire Company for the afternoon will harness the collective power of over 1,000 Berkshire employees to make a positive impact and strengthen the communities where we live, work, and raise families.

Vermont Business Magazine The University of Vermont Health Network – Home Health & Hospice has announced that Cindy Bruzzese, MPA, MSB, and Allan Ramsay, MD, are the recipients of the Madison-Deane award for Excellence in End-of-Life Care for 2020 and 2021, respectively. The Excellence in End-of-Life Care award was established in 2017 and is presented annually to a Vermont individual, group, or organization that exemplifies the vision of Dr. James Madison and Dr. Robert Deane, who sought to transform end-of-life care in Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine Community Bank will support local food pantries and food banks in honor of National Hunger Awareness month by collecting non-perishable food items and donations. Community Bank holds food donations annually to support local food banks and food pantries in its four-state footprint which includes New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Massachusetts. Locally, Vermont region branches will be donating and contributing to local food pantries, food banks, and food shelves of their choice

​Vermont State Police Members of the Vermont State Police in conjunction with the Springfield Police Department are investigating a suspicious death reported Monday afternoon, June 6, 2022, in Springfield. The investigation began when Springfield police received a call at 12:18 pm. Monday from a resident who lives in the area of Greeley Road reporting that what appeared to be the body of a deceased adult man was found alongside the road, in the area of 99 Greeley Road. Springfield police requested assistance from the Vermont State Police at about 1:10 p.m. Monday.

Vermont Business Magazine A gathering today of grantees and program officials helped recognize an historic investment in the Working Lands Enterprise Initiative this fiscal year and the historic and future impacts of the program. Governor Phil Scott and the Vermont Legislature committed $5.2 million dollars to the program this fiscal year, facilitating grants to 59 Vermont businesses. This marks the most significant investment in the 10 years of the program, with a total investment of over 12 million since 2012. Today’s gathering included a number of grantees since 2020 to highlight the programs important reach and impact despite the effects of the pandemic.