Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Late Wednesday evening, the City of Burlington received results from its Wastewater Monitoring Program that detected mutation signatures associated with the Omicron variant, which was first detected in South Africa in late November. The presence of the Omicron-related mutations was very limited. Though the finding is not definitive until it has been confirmed through genomic sequencing of a laboratory-confirmed positive PCR test result, these results indicate that the Omicron variant may be present in Burlington at a low level. The Omicron variant has been confirmed in 39 states according to the CDC, including in all of Vermont’s neighboring states and Quebec, but has not yet been identified in Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine PC Construction received two awards last week at the annual meeting of the Associated General Contractors of Vermont (AGC/VT). The company earned a Best Builders Award in the Heavy Industrial Renovation category for its work on the Green Mountain Power Dam in Middlesex. The $2.1 million Middlesex Dam project, which completed in November 2020, included the installation of new vertical rock anchors along the crest of the dam, concrete resurfacing along the crest, and rock stabilization in the spillway. The work required careful planning and extensive safety precautions to transform the dam’s crest into a functional, accessible and safe construction site for both employees and heavy equipment.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced his appointment of Thom Walsh, PhD, MS, MSPT to the Green Mountain Care Board (GMBC). Dr Walsh is a professor of health policy who holds academic appointments at the Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice and Boise State University’s College of Health Science. He is also a physical therapist and orthopedic clinical specialist who has practiced across the country, including at Dartmouth Hitchcock in New Hampshire.

Vermont Business Magazine Norwich University President Mark Anarumo announced that Danielle Pelczarski, deputy commandant of the California State University Maritime Academy in Vallejo, California, has been named senior vice president and chief of staff, effective March 2022. Pelczarski replaces Dave Whaley, who assisted in creating the position over 18 months ago while serving simultaneously as secretary to the Board of Trustees and senior philanthropic advisor to the development office, full time positions he will retain upon Pelczarski’s arrival.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health on Wednesday reported another surge of COVID-19 cases for a total of 661 (Wednesday 348), after several quieter days. This follows 532 on Sunday and last Friday's record of 740 cases. VDH also reported a spike in COVID-related fatalities with another eight for 448 statewide. There have been 16 deaths in the last three days.

Vermont Business Magazine Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD) Secretary Lindsay Kurrle issued a memo to the Vermont business community today outlining steps they can take to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace as the holidays and new year approach. In addition, at the direction of Governor Phil Scott, ACCD has announced a webinar for business owners on Monday, December 20 at 3 pm with multiple state agencies and officials available to further outline guidance and recommended protocols, as well as answer questions from the business community. Today’s memo, “COVID-19 Business Guidance for the Road Ahead” outlines key recommendations for all businesses including: Encouraging employees to get vaccinated and boosted when eligible and to take advantage of free and available testing when needed. Reviewing all workplace safety protocols, related to COVID-19 and beyond, to reduce the need for hospital visits of any kind as a result of workplace incidents. Enhancing COVID-19 mitigation with “Vaccine or Test & Mask” requirements for all employees. Certain public-facing businesses should consider enacting proof of vaccination or negative test policies for customers.

Vermont Business Magazine The holidays are a time to travel and see friends and family. In addition to the special consideration we all must give to preventing the spread of Covid-19, Vermonters are reminded that this time of year also brings with it unpredictable winter weather and icy roads. Most car crashes in Vermont occur between November and January, which means it is important to make sure your children are safely buckled up, and car or booster seats are properly installed and secured.

Vermont Business Magazine A gift of $1 million to Saint Michael’s College from Antonietta “Toni” Boucher to honor her late husband, Henry “Bud” Boucher, Jr, will support the institution’s Career Education Center. Mr. Boucher died in January 2021. The Career Education Center long has been an integral part of the student experience at Saint Michael’s, offering comprehensive career readiness training throughout each student’s four years.

Vermont Business Magazine US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA is investing $5.2 billion to build and improve critical rural infrastructure in 46 states and Puerto Rico. The funding reflects the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to Building a Better America in rural communities and will help expand access to high-speed internet, clean water and reliable electricity in people’s homes and businesses across rural America. Included among the investments are seven projects in Vermont and New Hampshire representing $8,446,700.

Vermont Business Magazine Omega Optical Holdings, LLC, a Brattleboro-based leading precision optics platform backed by Artemis Capital Partners, announced today that it has completed the acquisition of Evaporated Metal Films Corp (EMF) and Optometrics Corporation from Dynasil Corporation of America, Inc. Financial terms were not released.

Vermont Business Magazine THINKMD, a Burlington-based healthcare technology company, has been awarded a $2.3 million technology development grant by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and has closed a $4 million financing round led by health technology investors. THINKMD is a social impact, mission-driven technology company focused on making its clinical intelligence technology universally available so that anyone, anywhere can make better healthcare decisions for themselves and their communities. The company’s solutions are currently active in 10 countries and help any user identify how sick a person is, what illness they may have and what next steps to take.

Vermont Business Magazine US Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) says he is proud to announce that a longtime member of his staff, Chris Saunders, has been nominated by President Joe Biden to serve as the co-chair of the Northern Border Regional Commission. The Northern Border Regional Commission is a partnership between the states of Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire and New York which promotes community and economic development along the border between the United States and Canada.