Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Christina Nolan, former United States Attorney in Vermont, announced today that she will run for US Senate as a Republican. After leaving the US Attorney's office, Nolan, 42, joined the Burlington-based law firm Sheehey Furlong & Behm PC last April. She would likely face Democratic Congressman Peter Welch in the general election this November, to fill the seat held by retiring Senator Patrick Leahy. Vermont has never sent a woman to Congress.

Vermont Business Magazine On February 22, Governor Phil Scott returned without signature and vetoed S.30, "An act relating to prohibiting possession of firearms within hospital buildings." The governor, referring to the sweeping gun laws he signed into law in 2018, said in the veto letter to the Legislature that, "It's my belief that we need to give these new provisions more time to be fully understood and utilized, and that the Legislature should focus on educating Vermonters on these changes – and on addressing Vermont’s mental health crisis – before additional gun laws are passed."

VPR and Vermont PBS To what extent do you think climate change will affect life in Vermont over the next 30 years? Would you recommend an 18-year-old stay in or leave Vermont? Is access to high-speed internet a problem for you or your family, or not? VPR and Vermont PBS have released the results of a statewide poll that asked hundreds of Vermonters these questions and more.

Vermont Business Magazine The Regional Development Corporations of Vermont are part of a new Community Navigator Pilot Program (CNPP) that will deliver technical assistance service contracts to aid Vermont business recovery. This program is part of a national initiative through the Vermont Small Business Development Center (VtSBDC) as part of the Small Business Administration’s CNPP. Funding for the program is coming through the Small Business Administration and Vermont’s COVID community development block grant program (CDBG-CV). U.S. Housing and Urban Development’s CDBG program provides federal funds, passed through the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD).

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott announced the appointment of Miranda Gray, to be the next Deputy Commissioner of the Child Development Division (CDD) of the Department for Children and Families (DCF) within the Agency of Human Services. Gray will lead the Department’s childcare and early learning work. She spent 15 years working in various roles within the Economic Services Division before coming to CDD as Interim Deputy Commissioner.

Vermont Business Magazine GlobalFoundries Inc (Nasdaq: GFS) has issued the following statement in response to the decision from Vermont’s Public Utilities Commission (PUC) on the company’s petition to become a self-managed utility (SMU). GF said it is committed to the state's energy and environmental goals and that it will move ahead with its petition to become a self-managed utility at the Essex Junction site. GF employs about 2,200 in Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems (VAHHS) responded today to the Vermont Agency of Human Service’s health care access report on wait times for certain medical specialties. The assessment has been underway since the fall of 2021. The report itself uses various methodologies to compare services and wait times for medical appointments. It also makes regional, national and global comparisons. Hospital leaders welcomed the review but cautioned that it should be used to reveal opportunities for improvement and not to confuse or mislead from the challenges—some very unique to Vermont and some global—facing health care today.

by Devon Green, VP of Government Relations, VAHHS When Representative Fagan from the House Appropriations Committee asked me to quickly pull together all of our chief nursing officers to discuss workforce and increasing clinical education opportunities, I knew it was a tall order. Our chief nursing officers are working the floor right now due to staffing shortages. In the end, the only time that worked was 6:30 am on Friday. Luckily, key legislators and several representatives from higher education accommodated our schedule, and our chief nursing officers had the opportunity to advocate for increasing resources towards the shared faculty model, preceptor pay, back-filling clinical positions that are used for instruction and livable stipends for nurses pursuing advanced degrees.

by John McClaughry Earlier this month the Scott Administration released the Report of the Governor’s Commission on the Future of Agriculture. The Report is well-written and constructive, but for many people seriously concerned with this subject, it is likely to be a disappointment. The 33-page Report purports to chart a path forward to cope with today’s crucial challenges and opportunities. It does a good job explaining that “agriculture is a principal engine for Vermont’s rural economy,” and that our farming sector – especially its largest component, dairy farming – is essential to preserving Vermont’s scenery and indeed its iconic character. Point taken.

Vermont Business Magazine Southwestern Vermont Health Care’s (SVHC) Medical Matters Weekly with Dr Trey Dobson welcomes Lea Davison, an Olympic mountain biker, at noon on Wednesday, February 23. Davison is a two-time Olympian from Jericho, Vermont. She is a graduate of Middlebury College, where she competed as a downhill ski racer. She began mountain bike racing in 2001. Her career highlights include a silver medal at the 2016 World Championships, bronze medal at the 2014 World Championships, and 3rd overall in the 2015 World Cup series.

Vermont Business Magazine 175 Vermont businesses from diverse industries completed the latest annual economic survey in January regarding the outlook of Vermont’s small- to medium-sized businesses. 78% of the business owners who responded have fewer than 25 employees. The survey, presented by Davis and Hodgdon CPAs and the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, revealed that there is less pessimism in business owners’ attitudes about the Vermont and US economies than in previous years. While pandemic-related issues continue to affect most businesses, owners remain optimistic about their operations and profitability. Over half (55%) of the business owners surveyed acknowledge that the pandemic has permanently changed the way they do business.

Vermont Business Magazine Daniel J Misleh, a prominent spokesperson on the Catholic approach to climate change and founder of Catholic Climate Covenant, will be the 2022 Commencement speaker at Saint Michael’s College during this year’s ceremony on Sunday, May 15, President Lorraine Sterritt announced. Catholic Climate Covenant that Misleh founded is a partnership of 20 national Catholic organizations engaged in a serious and sustained conversation about climate change, focused on promotion of the common good, protection of the poor, and the exercise of prudence.