Current News

Vermont Business Magazine At a VMEC Board meeting held on April 13, Assistant Director Patricia Giavara received a unanimous vote of approval to succeed Bob Zider, who had been with the Center over its 25+ year existence as Director & CEO. She was appointed to the position of Interim Director & CEO effective July 1, 2021.

Vermont Business Magazine Camping World Holdings, Inc (NYSE: CWH), America’s Recreation Dealer, today announced a land acquisition agreement for TC’s RV dealership in St. Albans City, VT. The acquisition is anticipated to close later this summer. The property will undergo a full renovation and expansion with an anticipated opening in mid to late 2022. This location will be the retailer’s first facility in the state of Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine Land O’Lakes, Inc, the parent company of Vermont Creamery, located in Websterville, VT, has donated nearly 40,000 pounds of Macaroni & Cheese to the Vermont Foodbank through the Land O’Lakes First Run Program. The First Run Program has donated more than 6 million pounds of product since it was established in 2010. The program is committed to donating truckloads of fresh product year-round, made specifically for food banks to help alleviate hunger across the United States.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Labor is reminding Vermonters to remain aware of attempts to steal personal information to commit unemployment insurance fraud. Coordinated attacks launched by scammers continue to be prevalent. Recently, the Department of labor has received reports of fraudulent text messages, which ask individuals to ‘Review your claim’ or ‘Verify your account.'

Vermont Business Magazine On Wednesday, July 7, Representative Peter Welch will be at the Fairbanks Museum to lend his support to the Fairbanks Museum’s planned Tang Science Annex. The 6,000-square-foot addition provides space for hands-on science exhibits, makes the Museum accessible, and will be the future home of the Community College of Vermont’s St Johnsbury site. Additionally, the Science Annex, as Vermont’s demonstration mass timber building, is designed to showcase the innovative use of local forest products.

Vermont Business Magazine Per last week’s announcement, the Department of Vermont Health Access has completed system changes that implement key provisions of the American Rescue Plan Act [Anchor] . Now, more than $25 million in new federal dollars are available to Vermonters who buy health plans through the state’s health insurance marketplace, Vermont Health Connect. Staff from the Department of Vermont Health Access are hosting a series of Health Insurance Town Halls this summer to help Vermonters take full advantage of the new funds. The first is Wednesday, July 7, at noon.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health is reporting today one new case of COVID-19 and no deaths, which remain at 258. There were two deaths last week but a total of only three in the last seven weeks. Meanwhile, the Delta variant is accounting for about 50 percent of new cases across the nation, with relatively low vaccinated states, like Missouri, showing the steepest increases in serious cases. Vermont has a vaccine rate of 82.4 percent, the highest in the nation for those receiving at least one dose and the highest for fully vaccinated (73.1 percent).

Vermont Business Magazine Commissioner of Financial Regulation Michael Pieciak announced today that the Department’s Banking, Insurance, and Captive Insurance Divisions have each received another 5-year accreditation from their national regulatory associations. Each accreditation team included experienced former state regulators who conducted in-depth reviews of each division’s policies, procedures, and operations to ensure they met best standards established by fellow regulators across the country. The accreditation teams found the department met or exceeded the accreditation standards and did not have any recommendations for improvement.

by Representative Lynn Dickinson The Vermont State College System has embraced a revolutionary, system-wide transformation so we can continue serving our students, the Vermont economy, and the Vermont communities that host our vibrant rural campuses. This is a big improvement from just last year when the pandemic hit, amplifying our budget challenges and forcing the VSCS to make an untenable decision: close campuses or face insolvency.

Vermont Business Magazine Torben Orla Nielsen, consular officer and science/technology attaché in Denmark’s Boston Consulate, met last Thursday with University of Vermont researchers and key leaders in Vermont’s energy sector at the university’s Davis Center. Nielsen said he came away impressed by the resourcefulness of business, government and non-profit leaders he met.

Vermont Business Magazine Omega Optical Holdings, LLC, a leading precision optics platform based in Brattleboro, announced today that it has completed the acquisition of Spectral Systems, LLC. Spectral strengthens and expands Omega's existing thin-film optical capabilities into a range of infrared applications and complements Omega's strategic focus on serving the most challenging applications in high-growth markets – primarily life sciences, aerospace, defense, and industrial technology. Spectral will continue to operate from its existing facilities in Hopewell Junction, NY, Danbury, CT and Jaffrey, NH, as a business unit of the newly-formed Omega Infrared division.

by Jeff Tieman, CEO of VAHHS One of the best parts of my job leading the hospital association is seeing members at our annual meeting. Each year we gather to share ideas and information, network with one another, meet new colleagues and spend some thoughtful time away from our daily work lives. Last year, we lost that important opportunity because of COVID-19. Over the past 18 months, we have accomplished so much as a community of hospitals but we have done it largely on Zoom screens and phone lines.