Current News
by katie
Vermont Business Magazine The University of Vermont and the institution’s two newest employee bargaining units, represented by UVM Staff United (UVMSU), have agreed to the terms of their first contract, which will raise wages for all union members and will especially benefit the lowest paid employees.
Union members completed voting today in support of the proposed contract and the university’s Board of Trustees has unanimously expressed its support.
Under the terms of the new contract, UVM will:
- Establish a new minimum wage for employees in the two bargaining units of $20 per hour, far above both state and federal minimum wage rates.
- Increase the base salaries of each UVMSU employee by at least $3,500, retroactive to July 2021.
- Provide two additional 3% increases to base pay of UVMSU employees in July 2022 and again in July 2023.
by katie
Vermont Business Magazine With the continuation of the COVID-19 pandemic and a projected shortage of between 37,800 and 124,000 physicians by 2034, launching the careers of new doctors has never been more important. On Sunday, May 22, at 3 p.m., the Larner College of Medicine will celebrate the start of 118 new physicians’ careers at the medical Class of 2022 Commencement ceremony at the University of Vermont’s Ira Allen Chapel. (Get the link to the ceremony livestream.)
Key players in the Larner College of Medicine’s ceremony include Dean Richard L. Page, M.D., Senior Associate Dean for Medical Education Christa Zehle, M.D., Faculty Marshal Mary Cushman, M.D., M.Sc., and Student Marshal Patrick Clarke. Page and UVM Medical Center Chief Medical Officer Isabelle Desjardins, M.D., will deliver welcome remarks and then guest speaker Senator Bernie Sanders will deliver the Commencement address.
by katie
Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) announces the closure of VT 103 Bridge #16 over the Williams River just south of Smokeshire Road as part of the VT 103 Bridge #16 Deck Replacement Project. VTrans plans to implement a traffic shift on VT 103 onto the temporary roadway and bridge constructed to carry vehicles over the Williams River during the closure period.
Starting TOMORROW, Friday, May 20, VT 103 Bridge #16 over Williams River will be closed and traffic will be shifted onto the temporary bridge constructed downstream from the existing bridge. The closure and traffic shift will remain in place 24-hours a day, 7 days a week throughout the closure period. The closure period is anticipated to be in effect starting Friday, May 20, through October 2022. The start of the closure is weather dependent.
by katie
Vermont Business Magazine Today, the Vermont Department of Labor released data on the Vermont economy for the time period covering April 2022. According to household data, the seasonally-adjusted statewide unemployment rate for April was 2.5 percent. This reflects a decrease of one-tenth of one percentage point from the prior month’s revised estimate. The March seasonally-adjusted statewide unemployment rate was revised down to 2.6 percent due to the inclusion of additional information.
by katie
Vermont Business Magazine Starting Sunday, May 22, at 6:00 p.m., night work will begin on Shelburne Street under lane reductions with the full roadway closure taking effect by 8 p.m. between Ledge Road and Hoover Street. Nightly closures of Shelburne Street will continue through the week, Sunday, May 22 to Thursday, May 26, between 8:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
Shelburne Street will reopen to a single lane with alternating one-way traffic between Ledge Road and Hoover Street throughout the daytime hours between 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. starting Monday, May 23, and continuing through Friday, May 27. Please note, that the open travel surface will be gravel during this time. Motorists should expect significant delays. During the daytime hours, when Shelburne Street is reduced to one lane with alternating one-way traffic, motorists are strongly encouraged to continue to use the detour route and avoid the area. Delays through the work zone will be significant. Flaggers or a Uniformed Traffic Officer will be present at the intersection of Howard Street and Pine Street to direct traffic.
by tim
Vermont Business Magazine The Red Clover Inn, a premier Rutland/Killington destination, has reopened for accommodations and private events. New owners Mark Allen and Venetia Riso continue to restore and reimagine the property in a rustic, elegant style in Mendon.
by tim
Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott Thursday announced action on seven bills, passed by the General Assembly. He vetoed H.534, An act relating to expanding eligibility for expungement and sealing of criminal history records for nonviolent offenses and H. 505, An act relating to the creation of the Drug Use Standards Advisory Board within the Vermont Sentencing Commission; let H.744, An act relating to the approval of an amendment to the charter of the city of Burlington and H.523, An act relating to reducing hydrofluorocarbon emissions become law without his signature; and signed into law H.287, H.500 and H.553.
by tim
Vermont Business Magazine The estate of William E. “Bill” Kelly, PhD, a beloved political science professor at Alabama’s Auburn University, has presented a remarkable gift of more than $2.3 million to Saint Michael’s College, his undergraduate alma mater in Colchester, Vermont. Kelly completed two years of Air Force ROTC and earned a bachelor’s degree in government from Saint Michael’s, did graduate work at the University of Arizona, received his master’s from New Mexico State, and his doctorate from the University of Nebraska before joining the Political Science Department at Auburn University in the fall of 1973. He remained there until his death.
by tim
Vermont Business Magazine The COVID-19 Surveillance Report focuses on the data and indicators most useful to help monitor and determine risk of COVID-19 in Vermont. It will be updated every Wednesday. These weekly reports will replace the daily COVID-19 Case Dashboard. The final dashboard update was on May 18.
by tim
Vermont Business Magazine GlobalFoundries Inc (GF) and Motorola Solutions today announced a long-term agreement to safeguard the supply of innovative chip solutions for Motorola Solutions' radios, which are widely used by public safety, critical infrastructure and enterprise organizations across the world. Motorola Solutions is a leading global provider of two-way radios for first responders, providing secure, flexible and reliable emergency communications. Several critical chips the company designs for its public safety, professional and commercial radios are manufactured in Vermont by GF.
by tim
Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) In just a few moments, the Senate will pass H.R. 7691, an emergency supplemental to provide funding to Ukraine and to stem the global hunger crisis exacerbated by Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked war. It is a shame that because of the actions of one Senator we could not pass this urgently needed bill, which will receive overwhelming bipartisan support, last week. To confront Vladimir Putin on the global stage, we must stand united.
by tim
Vermont Business Magazine Americans will hit the road this summer despite record gasoline prices, according to a new report. Average gas prices nationally today are $4.59 per gallon, up 49 cents from a month ago. In Vermont today, gas prices are $4.71/g on average, up 24 cents since last week, up 63 cents from last month and up $1.79 from a year ago.