Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Late Monday evening the Burlington City Council voted by a margin of 8-4 to raise the authorized cap of officers at the Burlington Police Department to 79 officers. With an additional 8 officers at the Airport currently, this action effectively raises the cap from 74 to 87 officers.

Vermont Business Magazine Mayor Weinberger on Monday announced next steps toward ending the unsafe living conditions at the Sears Lane encampment, and expanding short- and mid-term housing services in Burlington during this period of acute housing shortage. Dangerous incidents at the site have included police and federal law enforcement partners executing a warrant following a month-long narcotics investigation and a camper pointing an assault-style airsoft gun (a replica pellet gun) at Burlington Fire personnel who were responding to a medical call. The Fire Department has also determined that some of the structures that have been erected illegally on the site pose a significant fire risk to occupants and other campers on the site.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, the US Department of Agriculture, Rural Development — VT/NH (RD) announced that its $28,271,073 direct loan to the Rutland Regional Medical Center (RRMC) for constructing the Thomas W. Huebner Medical Office Building closed at a 2.25% interest rate, significantly lower than the 3.875% rate at origination. The reduction is expected to save $10,769,125 over the 35-year loan term. USDA Community Facility loans allow interest rates to go lower at the time of closing but never higher than at obligation.

by Julie Lowell, Public Assets Institute The pandemic has demanded quick responses from government over the past 18 months, from protecting public health to making sure Vermonters had food, shelter, and financial security during an unprecedented economic rollercoaster. On the whole, our government has gotten a lot of things right: access to testing and treatment for COVID-19, a massive vaccine rollout in a matter of weeks, and financial support to Vermonters who needed it. Most of the funding came from the feds, but the Vermont Legislature and the governor deserve a lot of credit for their part in the pandemic response.

Vermont Business Magazine Mamava, the category creator of freestanding lactation suites, announces the acquisition of its manufacturing operations based in Springfield, Vermont. The business will now operate as Mamava Manufacturing, a wholly owned subsidiary of Mamava, Inc. This vertical integration provides greater autonomy in new product development, enhances Mamava’s design capabilities, and creates production efficiencies that will both improve customer experience and drive business growth. There are currently 1,900+ Mamava pods across all 50 states and Puerto Rico.

by John McClaughry I consider myself a long time champion of local democracy. I co-wrote with Frank Bryan a book subtitled “recreating democracy on a local scale” (The Vermont Papers, 1989). But over the years I have occasionally had the thought that there can also be a problem with local democracy, when powerful outside forces are brought to bear on local decision making.

Vermont Business Magazine Marathon Health, an employer health provider, announces the launch of a first-of-its-kind virtual primary care solution called Marathon Health Anywhere. The program leverages dedicated care teams and remote monitoring tools to ensure that companies can provide high-quality, advanced primary care to all employees — no matter where they live.

​Vermont Business Magazine Southwestern Vermont Health Care’s (SVHC) Medical Matters Weekly with Dr. Trey Dobson—a weekly interactive, multiplatform medical-themed talk show—will feature Brown University’s Associate Vice President for Campus Life and Executive Director of Health and Wellness Vanessa Britto, MD, on its October 20 program. The show will air at 12 p.m. She will share the university’s pioneering role as one of the first institutions to mandate COVID vaccines for students and staff.

Vermont Business Magazine If your job was adversely affected by COVID-19, you may be eligible for no cost trainings. Through a legislature-funded program to upskill and reskill the state’s workforce, Vermonters can choose from over 100 no cost trainings and classes at one of the Vermont State Colleges System institutions. The Vermont State Colleges System in coordination with the Vermont Department of Labor is once again offering FREE classes and trainings (Act 9) for Vermonters who have been adversely affected by COVID-19.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health today is reporting that cases fell modestly for the second straight day with 202 cases of COVID-19 (down 39 cases) after setting a pandemic record Saturday. The three worst days for cases have all come since mid-September, as the Delta variant has taken over since early July. The Scott Administration will update the COVID situation at their regular press briefing Tuesday at noon. The VDH also today reported one additional death for 346 statewide. There are 41 people hospitalized (up three from Sunday) with 11 in the ICU (unchanged). Hospitalizations are high but also have been stable.

​Vermont Business Magazine The Scott Administration today outlined a comprehensive plan to address the housing needs of Vermonters experiencing homelessness, including the need to fully fund Governor Scott’s $249 million Housing Recovery Plan which includes historic funding for permanent housing for the homeless. As part of this plan, Administration officials announced an extension to the current General Assistance (GA) Emergency Housing Program until December 31, and other meaningful actions to support Vermonters experiencing homelessness and permanent housing development.

Vermont Business Magazine On Friday, October 15th the Vermont Legislative Apportionment Board (LAB) voted 4-3 in favor of approving a draft map proposal for Vermont House legislative districts to send to local Boards of Civil Authority (BCAs) for feedback on the proposed district subdivisions. The draft map contains 150 single member districts, which is a change from the current map utilizing both single and multi-member districts.