Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The University of Vermont Medical Center is committed to providing high quality care, and our number one priority is the safety of our patients, families and staff. This week, hospital leaders are reminding our community that in order to maintain a safe environment, we need everyone who comes through our doors to respect all hospital policies, including those related to COVID-19 and general behavior – and importantly, reminding all patients and visitors to respect our incredibly hardworking staff as they provide life-saving care.

Vermont Business Magazine Construction is underway in Bennington County and before autumn, 12,000 Vermont homes will have access to gig-speed internet from Fidium Fiber, a consumer internet service from Consolidated Communications (NASDAQ: CNSL). Fidium boasts symmetrical (same upload and download) speeds that are 10 times faster than the national average [1]. This new build is part of Consolidated’s fiber expansion plan to deliver fiber internet services to 200,000 Vermont homes by the end of 2025.

Vermont Business Magazine Hardwick Electric Department and Encore Renewable Energy celebrated a new 1.65 MWac solar array located at a former Hardwick gravel pit with a ribbon-cutting with Representative Chip Troiano, Senator Jane Kitchel, and Chair of the Hardwick Electric Department Board of Commissioners Lynne Gedanken. The solar array is expected to produce enough carbon-free electricity to power approximately 340 homes annually. 100% of the renewable generation will serve homes and businesses that receive electricity from Hardwick Electric Department.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, Democratic candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives Molly Gray unveiled her Federal Climate Agenda. Gray announced the Agenda at a press conference in Montpelier.

“There is decisive, climate-focused action that can be taken today to fundamentally change how America produces, taxes, and distributes our energy,” Gray said. “As we do this, we must bring our working families and every Vermont community along into a clean energy future.”

Vermont Business Magazine Deputy Commissioner of the Captive Insurance Division at the Department of Financial Regulation (DFR), David Provost, has announced his plan to retire at the end of the summer to ensure a smooth transition within the Department to new leadership.

“We wish Dave all the best in his future and we thank him for his immeasurable contribution to Vermonters and businesses around the world,” said Governor Phil Scott. “We are committed to appointing a replacement that will maintain the tone and standard Dave has set in Vermont.”

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA) Board of Commissioners announced this week that its annual award of federal housing tax credits will support the construction of 109 permanently affordable apartments in four communities across the state. The sale of this year’s tax credits to investors is expected to yield nearly $25 million in funding, which will cover an estimated 55 percent of total project development costs.

Vermont's housing funders will be able to leverage the impact of the tax credits and overcome pandemic-related increases in the cost of development by pairing the credits with an estimated $11.6 million in funding from the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), awarded through the Vermont Housing & Conversation Board.

Vermont Business Magazine Mayor Miro Weinberger announced the release by the City’s Planning Department of the 2021 Annual Report of the Burlington Police Department (BPD). This report will be presented at the Burlington Police Commission Meeting tonight.

This is the second Annual Report of this scope, and contains information on six subject areas: individuals who interacted with the police, incidents and offenses, pedestrian stops, traffic stops, arrests, and uses of force.

The report’s goals are to provide more information about the BPD to the community; to document racial disparities in policing; and to help identify, where possible, the causes of those disparities. This Annual Report is an expansion of the BPD’s long-standing commitment to transparency as a value that increases accountability, outcomes and public trust (see bottom for background on the BPD’s transparency efforts).

Vermont Business Magazine “I didn’t sleep last night. I kept thinking: What kind of nation are we when we watch our school children get gunned down and do nothing about it? Littleton, Red Lake, Newtown, Pittsburg, Parkland, Buffalo, Uvalde and too many other communities. We should do more than feel sickened and outraged by it all.

“Today, grieve for those beautiful humans killed in yet another depraved massacre, but tomorrow I am asking all of us to organize and MARCH and DEMAND change. It is the very least we can do for all those devastated families.

Vermont Business Magazine “Once again, I am heartbroken by a senseless act of gun violence. Nineteen people - eighteen children and a teacher - have been murdered while at school in Uvalde, Texas.

It calls to mind the Sandy Hook shooting. Nearly ten years have passed since that tragedy.

Vermont Business Magazine "We mourn the loss of these children and school staff in what is another horrific and senseless act of gun violence in our schools and communities. Our thoughts are with the families of the victims, and with our colleagues of the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District

Vermont Business Magazine “Our hearts are shattered for the 19 families whose children did not come home last night, and the loved ones of two brave educators. I’ve struggled to find the words to share in response to the horrible, gut-wrenching tragedy in Uvalde because we’ve gotten to a point where words are not enough. It’s time for us to come together as a nation to better protect the most innocent among us – our kids. In Vermont, we showed you can take meaningful action on commonsense gun safety measures to protect our citizens – upholding both their safety and their rights. It’s time for the federal government to take similar action. My heartfelt condolences and deepest sympathy go to the grieving families and the entire community suffering unimaginable pain.”

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Division for Historic Preservation and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation announce the approval of $74,718 in federal funding to 11 historic preservation projects through the Certified Local Government (CLG) program to support community-based preservation initiatives. Among the 11 projects receiving the funding are Windsor’s National Register of Historic Places nomination of Old South Church, built in 1798 by renowned architect Asher Benjamin; Calais’s history tour of cherished local landmarks; Cambridge Village’s National Register historic district nomination; Hartford’s documentation of the history and places of performing arts; and Rockingham’s conservation of the Meeting House grave markers—some of which date from 1776.