Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that Paul Hendler, 49, of Burlington, pleaded not guilty today in United States District Court in Burlington to federal forgery and false statement charges. U.S. Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle released Hendler on conditions pending trial. In 2011, the U.S. Attorney’s Office first charged Hendler in a wide-ranging fraud indictment that accused Hendler of committing a variety of frauds against individuals and businesses. Hendler eventually pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money laundering and in 2015 was sent to prison. The court also ordered Hendler to pay restitution to multiple victims in a total amount of about $555,000.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, House Speaker Jill Krowinski issued the following statement on the tri-partisan passage of gun-violence prevention bill, S.30. "This bill takes a much-needed step in closing the “Charleston Loophole,” ensuring that law enforcement agencies have time to conduct a background check before someone can purchase a firearm."

Vermont Business Magazine Amtrak has cancelled passenger rail service on The Vermonter Saturday due to the impending storm. Meanwhile, VTrans is working closely with our surrounding states to ensure accurate and effective messaging of commercial vehicle (CV) restrictions during the weekend snowstorm. Except for the potential activation of the VT-9 Chain Up law for CVs in Searsburg and Woodford, Vermont is not restricting the movement of CVs.

​Relief Funding, Awards and New Members

Vermont Business Magazine For a second year, the Southwestern Vermont Chamber of Commerce hosted their annual membership meeting digitally to an audience of over 50 viewers. The Chamber’s annual membership meeting, promoted as the biggest night for businesses in the region, took place digitally on Thursday January 27, 2022 and featured a dazzling array of musical performances, wine sabering, annual awards, a digital sparkling wine toast, virtual door prizes every 15 minutes, budget approval and visionary speeches by both President of the Board of Directors and the Executive Director.

Vermont Business Magazine This week, the Vermont Chamber of Commerce hosted the annual Vermont Economic Conference virtually. Over the course of two days, nearly 400 business leaders, economists, and equity professionals discussed the economic outlook for the year ahead and engaged in diversity, equity, and inclusion centered discussions. Growing and retaining Vermont’s workforce to address the labor shortage is the top priority of the Vermont Chamber this year. In November 2021, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released data citing 23,000 open jobs in Vermont. With a demographic crisis compounded by the pandemic, the viability of the state labor force is dependent upon on the ability to welcome a diverse new population to live and work in Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Corrections detected three new incarcerated individual cases of COVID-19 through medical isolation testing at Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility (CRCF) in South Burlington, and one through outbreak testing at Northeast Correctional Complex (NECC) in St Johnsbury. Vermont DOC conducted the tests on January 25 and 26, with results returned January 27 and 28.

Vermont Business Magazine Burlington's Progressive City Councilors issued the following statement on Thursday opposing the appointment of Acting Chief Jon Murad as permanent Chief of Police of Burlington, and calling on the Weinberger Administration to use the resources provided by the Council in December to expand the pool of applicants. This is just the latest act in what has been a tumultuous few years for the BPD.

AccuWeather Global Weather Center A major East Coast snowstorm is expected to impact portions of the Middle Atlantic coast and Northeast states Friday night through Saturday night, which may deliver well over a foot of snow to parts of the Northeast along with powerful wind gusts and extensive drifting of snow. Only southern and eastern parts of Vermont are expected to be impacted and by lesser amounts of snow from coastal areas.

Vermont Business Magazine Kaman Composites – Vermont, Inc, an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Kaman Corporation (NYSE:KAMN), announces the expansion of its medical imaging program through the recent new partnership with Mirion Technologies, a major medical equipment manufacturer. Kaman will be supplying surgical C-Arm tabletops to Mirion, with first deliveries set to begin in the second quarter of 2022.

Vermont Business Magazine Citizens Bank announced Thursday that the quarterly national Citizens Business Conditions Index (CBCI) was 54.4 for the fourth quarter, down from 57.8 at the end of September, but still in expansionary territory. Following particularly high readings in the second and third quarters, the latest index value still reflects the demand momentum that is driving business conditions. Meanwhile, Vermont increased 1.1% since last quarter, and 7% year-to-year in 2021. The bank’s footprint – which includes New England - also saw increases: 1.1% since last quarter and 3% since last year. New Hampshire’s business conditions index increased 7.6% since last quarter, yielding a 4% increase from this point last year.

Vermont Business Magazine Central Vermont Home Health & Hospice (CVHHH) raised over $80,000 in November and December of 2021. Mary Kate Mohlman, Montpelier resident and Vice Chair of CVHHH’s Board of Directors, supported fundraising efforts as Honorary Chair of CVHHH’s Fall Appeal. CVHHH is a nonprofit healthcare provider that delivers care regardless of a person’s insurance status or their ability to pay for the care they receive. Money raised goes right back into supporting programming and services that CVHHH delivers and for which the organization is not fully reimbursed by Medicare, Medicaid, or private insurers.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont), Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) and Representative Peter Welch (D-Vermont) announced Thursday that six Vermont arts organizations will be receiving a combined $500,000 in funding through the federal American Rescue Plan Act.

In a joint statement, Leahy, Sanders and Welch said: “The arts was one of the hardest hit sectors in the country as the pandemic shuttered performance spaces and galleries. In Vermont, which has some the highest participation in the arts in the nation, the closing of arts spaces has been challenging for both artists and the Vermonters who love their work, and whose lives are enriched by what they produce. These grants will help arts organizations recover so we can all continue to enjoy the creativity and talent of Vermont’s artists and performers.”