Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The University of Vermont (UVM)—in collaboration with 28 universities and institutions—is poised to advance its status as a prominent institution in hydrological research.

This new initiative was made possible through the tireless efforts of Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., with transformative support of up to $25 million over the next five years from the federal government. It establishes the Cooperative Institute for Research to Operations in Hydrology (CIROH), a national consortium of science and services to provide actionable water resources intelligence to improve a national water model and flood forecasting.

​Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Land Trust is accepting applications for the 2022 Eric Rozendaal Memorial Award to recognize business innovation, environmental practices, and giving back. The $5,000 award is intended for land stewardship, innovation, and service to community. Farmers are eligible who are actively working on or managing a commercial farm operation in the state, are residents of Vermont, and have not received this award in the past. Applications are accepted until June 30, 2022.

Vermont Business Magazine Do North Coworking and Northern Vermont University announce applications are now being accepted for the first four-month cohort for the new Forest Products Accelerator program. The program is designed to support companies in the startup and seed stages throughout North America that are commercializing new and improved products, services, and technology. Through this program, participating companies will receive expert advice and tools to build a market-validated business case, model, and operating plan, and make connections with industry players and resources.

Vermont Business Magazine It’s almost time for spring turkey hunting in Vermont. Youth and novice turkey hunting weekend is April 23 and 24 this year, and the regular spring turkey season is May 1-31. To hunt turkeys on April 23 and 24, a youth must be 15 or younger and must have completed a hunter education course and possess a hunting license, a turkey hunting license and a free youth turkey hunting tag.

VermontBiz and the Vermont Chamber of Commerce revealed the ranking of the top 50 Best Places to Work in Vermont 2022, at a ceremony on April 6th at the DoubleTree Hotel. There were over 300 people in attendance. The number 1 company in each category is: Small (15-99 employees) – New England Excess Exchange Ltd; Medium (100-249 employees) – New England Air Systems LLC; Large (250+ employees) - Edward Jones.

Vermont Business Magazine On April 6, Governor Scott signed bills of the following titles: H.628, An act relating to amending a birth certificate to reflect gender identity; H.722, An act relating to reapportioning the final representative districts of the House of Representatives and the senatorial districts of the Senate. On H.628 he said, “This bill takes an important step forward towards building a more equitable Vermont. Working to make our state more welcoming and inclusive for all must be a priority, and this is another important step towards that goal. I want to thank the legislators, advocates, and members of my Administration for working together to advance this bipartisan initiative and I’m happy to sign it into law.”

Vermont Business Magazine There were plenty of reasons why Sydney Swindell, Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), wanted to open her new practice, Fyzical Therapy & Balance Center, in Vermont. For starters, Vermont’s aging population, famously among the nation’s oldest, would provide a ready and growing market for her services. She also understood that our state’s extremely active population, regardless of age, would need her; as Sydney observes, while an active lifestyle boosts personal fitness and health, it can also increase risk of injury.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health today is reporting 219 cases of COVID-19 for Tuesday. The VDH reported no additional deaths for 620 statewide. As the Omicron BA.2 variant is now the most common coronavirus variant in New England (84 percent), overall cases have increased 22 percent in the region over the last week; hospitalizations have increased 2 percent and are rising this week.

Vermont Business Magazine Providers and patient care teams across the UVM Health Network in both Vermont and New York’s North Country are now connected via Epic, a single electronic health record (EHR) system, hospital and Health Network officials announced Wednesday, after Alice Hyde Medical Center (AHMC), Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital (CVPH), Elizabethtown Community Hospital (ECH) -- including nearly 40 North Country ambulatory practices -- launched the EHR on Saturday, April 2.

Vermont Business Magazine Mia Schultz, president of the Rutland Area Branch of the NAACP, will deliver the commencement address at Castleton's 235th graduation ceremony on Saturday, May 14. Schultz is an educator, organizer, and problem solver - as well as an ardent champion of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and promoting the voices of people of color throughout Vermont. She was named president of the Rutland Area NAACP chapter in 2021.

Vermont Business Magazine As the US continues to make progress with the vaccination rollout, the attention is now turning to how quickly we can recover from the pandemic and return to something resembling economic normality. Research by TOP Data indicates that some states are faring much better than others, with the Pandemic Recovery Index revealing that Vermont is recovering best overall, with large states like New York and California struggling in comparison.

Vermont Business Magazine 1% for the Planet — the global network of individuals and businesses that has donated more than $350 million to support environmental nonprofits around the globe — today announced the launch of an innovative philanthropic fund providing environmentally focused investments and grants. The new 1% for the Planet Impact Fund at National Philanthropic Trust (“Planet Impact Fund”) is available to donors of all sizes with a commitment to the environment.