Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Today the Vermont Senate voted on S.226, an omnibus housing bill that reforms permitting and land use regulations to make it easier to develop new housing, provides tax incentives and grants to promote housing development, and makes housing more affordable for the middle class. The bill reads in part: "The purpose of this chapter is to enable formation of special municipal and 16 regional land banks to revitalize communities by vesting the banks with the 17 authority to purchase, own, and convey real property that is blighted or vacant."

Average Health Insurance Premiums and Cost Burden Fall; Areas of Needed Improvement Emerge

Vermont Business Magazine Nearly 97% of all Vermonters have health insurance, matching the state’s highest insured rate on record. According to the 2021 Vermont Household Health Insurance Survey released today, almost 600,000 Vermonters are covered. The data is consistent with studies from the US Census Bureau which found that, in 2020, Vermont ranked second in the nation for its percentage of people with health insurance

Supporting electrification infrastructure and equity for Vermonters

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont House has passed comprehensive transportation and appropriations bills that include significant investments in the state’s efforts to electrify the economy, including funding for advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) in public power communities. VPPSA represents its 11 community-owned electric utility members as a leading advocate for this funding and celebrates reaching this stage in the legislative process.

Vermont Business Magazine Tuesday morning, Lieutenant Governor Molly Gray and colleagues from across the nation met with Vice President Kamala Harris in Washington, DC, to discuss the needs of states coming out of the pandemic, particularly rural broadband access. Since taking Office in January 2021, Gray has consistently advocated to close the broadband gap in Vermont, convening experts, supporting increased federal funding, as well as calling for increased state investments in telehealth. Gray also made the case that broadband access must be considered the modern day highway for human rights, including the right to health, education, and government participation.

Vermont Business Magazine TIME announced today that Green Mountain Power (GMP) is named one of the top 100 influential companies in the world. The annual TIME100 Most Influential Companies list highlights companies making an extraordinary impact around the world. GMP was chosen for its pioneering grid transformation work including large-scale projects and its innovative home battery storage programs that provide power to customers during outages and save millions for all customers by driving down costs and carbon emissions. GMP is also doing groundbreaking work to integrate electric vehicles into the grid to benefit all.

Vermont Business Magazine The University of Vermont Health Network has agreed to commercial contract terms with UnitedHealthcare (UHC) for the coming contract year. The agreement runs through March 31, 2023, and affects about 2,900 subscribers (about 2,000 in Vermont) and their families in Vermont and Northern New York who have UHC coverage through their employers. UHC has been leaning on hospital groups across the East to lower their costs.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health today is reporting 87 cases of COVID-19 for Monday. There were 56 Sunday, 104 on Saturday and 143 Friday. Cases have fallen by 11 percent in the last week (131 cases). The VDH reported two additional deaths today for 617 statewide. There have been 13 fatalities in March. The state is on pace for the fewest COVID-related deaths since last July.

Vermont Business Magazine CATIC, a regional title insurance company, announced six, $10,000 gifts to affordable housing nonprofits serving every region of the State of Vermont. The six organizations are: Champlain Housing Trust; Downstreet Housing and Community Development; Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity, Franklin/Grand Isle; NeighborWorks of Western Vermont; RuralEdge; Windham and Windsor Housing Trust.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Scott and the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation announced on Monday March 28 the award of nearly 5 million dollars in funding to 24 outdoor recreation projects statewide including three - in Groton, Cabot and Montpelier - that will help extend the Cross Vermont Trail network.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Department of Corrections Commissioner Nicholas Deml announced key leadership changes Tuesday at Northern State Correctional Facility (NSCF) in Newport. NSCF Superintendent Scott Martin has been placed on paid administrative leave and will not be returning to his position. Assistant Superintendent Mike Koehler will serve as Acting Superintendent until further notice.

Vermont Business Magazine On Monday night the Barton Village Trustees voted unanimously to recommend the sale of Barton Electric Department (BED) to Vermont Electric Cooperative (VEC). The vote followed a three-year process of developing a long-term plan for Barton Village and Barton Electric, including almost three years of contracting with VEC for services, following the departure of Barton’s manager and line workers in April 2019. The decision is the result of a thorough process that included a Request for Proposal, “Sale of Assets of Barton Electric Department” issued by the Village Trustees on September 27, 2021, and delivered to Vermont’s distribution utilities, including all municipal electric utilities.

Photos courtesy of VOREC, Onion River Outdoors, Timber & Stone, Kaden Apparel

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Outdoor Business Alliance (VOBA) received a $150,000 grant from the Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economic Collaborative (VOREC) Community Grant Program for workforce development and business assistance in the outdoor recreation sector in Washington, Caledonia, and Rutland Counties.