Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The University of Vermont Health Network shared details Monday regarding the national search process to select a new President and Chief Executive Officer to replace John R Brumsted, MD, who retires in September 2022. A range of people from across the UVM Health Network has provided input that contributed to the development of a comprehensive job description to help identify and attract the best possible candidates. A 12-member search committee will work with the national executive recruiting firm, Spencer Stuart, to begin interviews this spring and narrow down finalists in the following months, with the goal of naming a new President and CEO prior to Dr Brumsted’s retirement.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health today is reporting 57 cases of COVID-19 for Sunday, down from Saturday's 95 and Friday's 131. The 7-day case average is 163. Hospitalizations and ICU stays have fallen dramatically the last few weeks. The CDC and Vermont are emphasizing serious health outcomes, such as hospitalizations and fatalities, and not overall cases, as the best measure of COVID's health impact at this time. There were no additional COVID-related deaths in Vermont since Thursday, for 607 statewide.

Vermont Business Magazine Commissioner of Financial Regulation Michael S Pieciak today ordered insolvent long-term care insurer Senior Health Insurance Company of Pennsylvania (SHIP) to immediately stop soliciting Vermont consumers to choose between unapproved benefit and rate changes. The Department is aware of more than twenty Vermont consumers with SHIP policies – some of whom may have purchased the policies from entities called Transport Life Insurance Company or American Travelers Life Insurance Company.

Vermont Business Magazine Framed by the Green Mountains blanketed in winter snow and the maple wood of Underhill, Vermont Governor Phil Scott kicked off the 2022 Vermont Maple Season by tapping the unofficial “first” maple tree at the University of Vermont Proctor Maple Research Center (PMRC). While Vermont’s maple industry is celebrated for its world-renowned quality, taste and nationwide leading annual production, the event also celebrated the important contributions of the Underhill facility to Vermont’s maple producers over the past 75 years. Research has allowed for greater yield per tap as the state faces reduced output from warmer weather. Still, in 2021, total maple syrup production was down 21 percent from 2020.

Vermont Business Magazine On March 3, Vermont State Game Wardens and collaborating agencies seized seven firearms and approximately 3,000 rounds of ammunition alleged to have been illegally possessed, as well as approximately 880 bags of suspected heroin and fentanyl and a large amount of US currency. The seizures took place during execution of a search warrant for evidence of deer taken illegally and for the illegal possession of firearms in Athens, Vermont.

Related Company: Comcast CableComcast announced Thursday it has increased the speeds of two of its Xfinity Internet tiers in the Northeast, at no additional cost to customers. The increase marks the 13th time in the past 12 years that Comcast has increased its speeds.
“There is a barrage of devices coming online every day and we are staying ahead of demand through faster speeds and best-in-class wireless gateways,” said Marcien Jenckes, Executive Vice President of Consumer Services for Comcast Cable. “We’re making it easier for families to get more value from the Internet, across more devices, and will continue to make our service a fast and reliable experience for customers.”
In the Northeast, the Xfinity Internet Blast tier now offers speeds of up to 105 Mbps (formerly 50 Mbps), and the Xfinity Extreme 105 tier offers speeds up to 150 Mbps (formerly 105 Mbps). This is the second time in two years that Comcast has doubled its Blast tier.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced his appointment of John Kascenska, PhD, of Burke, to the Vermont House of Representatives, representing House District Caledonia-4. Kascenska replaces former Representative Patrick Seymour (R-Sutton) who recently resigned. Kascenska is the founder and owner of Kingdom Adventures Mountain Guides, LLC in East Burke. His primary work incudes teaching urban first aid, wilderness first aid, and wilderness first responder training and certification courses through the SOLO Wilderness Medical School. During the winter months, he teaches courses in avalanche safety and rescue on Mt. Washington.

by Darren Springer, General Manager, Burlington Electric Department At key moments in Vermont’s history when we’ve been on the cusp of advancing critical renewable energy technologies and policies, there have always been tensions between the desire to make positive change, and the fears raised by critics who support the status quo. For example, when Burlington Electric was building the renewable McNeil Generating Station in the 1980’s to replace the Moran coal plant, there were posters warning that there would be no more trees once the new plant was operating. Instead, even as McNeil provides renewable energy from local wood that reduces New England’s reliance on fossil fuels, Vermont has maintained its forest cover through sustainable harvesting. The fears were not realized, and McNeil is now a critical resource for the region.

Vermont Business Magazine Evernorth closed its third multi-investor fund - Housing New England, Fund III – on March 4, 2022. This fund will provide equity to finance affordable housing in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. 21 investors committed a total of $82.5 million in equity making Housing New England, Fund III (HNE Fund III) a significant financial resource for the region’s critical affordable housing needs. The first new homes will be available in Lebanon, NH in August. In all, the fund will invest in 17 total developments, with 7 in Maine, 5 in New Hampshire and 5 in Vermont, creating 702 affordable apartments.

by Geoffrey Pizzutillo The first day of adult-use cannabis sales in Vermont is May 1, 2022, just a couple of months away, when residents and tourists 21 years of age or older will be able to purchase regulated cannabis and cannabis products. Top of mind, right now, for many Vermont farmers and small producers interested in participating in the emerging legal cannabis market is their ability to reach customers, an essential activity for any small business, yet, it is something Act 164 forbids, and local farmers and small producers demand change.

Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets Vibrant school gardens bustling with students learning to grow food. School cafeterias serving nutritious meals made with locally produced ingredients. Children taking field trips to local farms to pick up their community supported agriculture (CSA) share. These are just some of the impacts of the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets’ Farm to School and Early Childhood grant programs.

Vermont Business Magazine Sparrow Art Supply will be celebrating its grand opening on Friday, March 11, 2022, from 4 to 7 pm. Located at 52 Main Street, Middlebury, Sparrow Art Supply is central Vermont’s resource for artists—from hobbyists to aspiring amateurs to professionals. Anyone interested in being creative will be able to find what they need, from kids to adults.