Current News

Vermont Business Magazine In response to its growing medical injection molding business, advanced manufacturing company Nolato AB is finalizing two expansions in North America. Nolato GW and Nolato Contour, both leaders in plastic and silicone injection molding, have expanded to create space for multiple new programs Nolato is launching to support its steadily increasing medical business.

Nolato GW, formerly GW Plastics, recently completed a 3,000 ft² expansion of Class 8 cleanroom space for their silicone molding division, Nolato GW Silicones, in Royalton, VT. This addition is capable of housing up to 8-10 new silicone injection molding machines. This is the fourth expansion of Nolato GW Silicones since its inception in 2008 and comes on the heels of 30,000 ft² expansion of Nolato GW’s Manufacturing and Technology Center in Royalton, VT last year.

Vermont Business Magazine Fifty-Nine small businesses involved in the performing arts throughout 36 Vermont cities and towns have received more than $18.7 million in federal grants as of Aug. 3.

“We were thrilled to learn that we were among the many worthy venues in our home state of Vermont and across the nation who were awarded a Shuttered Venues Operators Grant. This infusion of funding will further stabilize our organization as we continue to navigate the pandemic and plan to resume in-person operations as soon as it is safe to do so for our audiences,” said Alissa Mello, Managing Director of Sandglass Theater in Putney. Sandglass Theater, which started in 1982 is a 60-seat theater specializing in puppetry.

Vermont Business Magazine When Rose Lucenti’s mother, Barbara Greenslit, unexpectedly needed end of life care last May, Barbara chose Gifford Health Care’s main campus to spend her remaining days.

“She insisted on coming to Gifford,” Lucenti said. “Because she preferred the care she received.”

Just as Barbara was settling into her room, the staff at Gifford was arranging for Rose’s sister to fly in from Arizona to be with her mother. It’s one example of how Gifford’s annual fundraiser, Last Mile, supports families and their loved ones going through this stressful time.

“None of this would have been able to happen without the Last Mile, the sponsors and the amount of money donated and raised every year at this event,” Lucenti said.

In its 16^th year, the Last Mile has raised more than $1 million for end of life care. This year’s event will take place over two weekends:

Vermont Business Magazine Many weather experts predict a destructive wildfire and hurricane season this year. The American Red Cross needs volunteers to help on the ground and blood and platelet donors to roll up a sleeve to maintain a stable blood supply in the face of emergencies.

“We’re preparing for another extremely busy disaster season, and it’s critical to have a trained, ready volunteer workforce to make sure we can provide relief at a moment’s notice,” said Kevin Mazuzan, Executive Director, American Red Cross Vermont Chapter. “This year’s wildfire season is already very active and dangerous because of the severe drought and dry woodlands across the west. And experts are predicting we could see 10 or more hurricanes in the upcoming weeks.”

Do you remember where you were one year ago challenged by a pandemic and wondering how to navigate your family’s health care? Community Health, Vermont’s largest Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) never closed, remaining safe and accessible throughout as a center for health care and wellness.

Vermont Business Magazine VSECU and the Vermont Foodbank celebrated 20 years of the Point to Point, powered by VSECU, a cycling and running event to raise funds and awareness to fight hunger in Vermont. Through this iconic summer event, thousands of caring participants have raised over $2,000,000 and helped to provide more than 3.3 million meals to Vermonters in need.

At the celebration on the State House Lawn, VSECU and the Vermont Foodbank announced that over $102,000 has been added to that total so far this year. Fundraising continues for the next two weeks. Donations can be made online at thepointtopoint.org.

Southwestern Vermont Health Care’s (SVHC) Medical Matters Weekly with Dr. Trey Dobson—a weekly interactive, multiplatform medical-themed talk show—will feature Art Groux, the executive director of the Bennington Rescue Squad on its August 11 program. The show will air at 12 p.m. Groux will discuss local and national trends within Emergency Medical Services (EMS).

The show is produced with cooperation from Catamount Access Television (CAT-TV). Viewers can see Medical Matters Weekly on Facebook at facebook.com/svmedicalcenter and facebook.com/CATTVBennington. The show is also available to view or download a podcast on www.svhealthcare.org/medicalmatters.

Vermont Business Magazine The Burlington City Council will be considering a resolution to restore 8 sworn officer positions at the Burlington Police Department, bringing the office cap from 74 to 82 as recommended unanimously by the Burlington Police Commission last Monday. Mayor Weinberger released the following statement prior the start of the Council’s deliberation:

“In just over a year we have lost nearly 20 of our police officers, and today, we face the very real possibility of losing an equal amount or more in the weeks and months to come, according to a recent survey completed by the BPOA which revealed that more than 50% of our remaining officers are actively seeking new employment. If that happens, we will cease to have a functional police department in the City of Burlington.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced that cities, towns and villages expecting to receive American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Local Fiscal Recovery (ARPA-LRF) funds should receive their payments in the next few days. The State disbursed the first payment of $29 million in ARPA-LRF to 274 eligible local governments today, August 9.

As the result of grants of State fiscal recovery ARPA funds to the Vermont League of Cities and Towns (VLCT) and Vermont’s 11 regional planning commissions, the Administration has benefited from coordinated outreach to eligible communities over the course of the last several months. Every municipality responded through the certification process within a very short timeline to ensure a speedy disbursement of the funds.

Vermont Business Magazine People’s United Bank awards $2,500 Early Promise Scholarship to Boys & Girls Club of Burlington member, Najma Malawia. Malawia is enrolled in the fall 2021 semester at Champlain College as an Education Major.

People’s United Bank has been a major supporter of the Boys & Girls Club of Burlington for more than 15 years, helping to ensure that quality education is possible to those who seek it. “We are thrilled to provide a scholarship once again to a very deserving Boys & Girls Club member. We know that Najma will do well at Champlain College. People’s United Bank has been a longtime supporter of the Club and their hard work in supporting kids as they pursue their future.” Kathy Schirling, SVP, Director of Marketing and Community Services, People’s United Bank.

Vermont Business Magazine The United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that Dennis Duffy II, 38, of Winooski, pleaded not guilty today in United States District Court in Burlington to two sets of fraud charges. U.S. District Judge William Sessions III released Duffy on conditions pending trial, which has not been scheduled.