Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Beginning Tuesday, June 15th, Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC), part of Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC), is updating its visitation policy for hospital visitors and medical practice patients as well as expanding its visiting hours. The change follows an announcement by Vermont Governor Phil Scott Monday that discontinued COVID-related restrictions now that the state has reached a vaccination rate of 80 percent of eligible people. Visiting hours have been expanded to 9 am – 7 pm daily.

Vermont Business Magazine Monday night, the Burlington City Council voted unanimously to affirm the current ownership structure of the Burlington International Airport (BTV), which is a municipal department of the City operating as a separately reported enterprise fund. The vote followed a presentation by Burlington City Attorney Eileen Blackwood of a report produced by her office in January of 2020, which lays out the history of the Burlington International Airport and addresses questions of regional governance.

Vermont Business Magazine The American Red Cross is experiencing a severe blood shortage as the number of trauma cases, organ transplants and elective surgeries rise – and deplete the nation’s blood inventory. Donors of all blood types – especially type O and those giving platelets – are urged to make an appointment to give as soon as possible to prevent further impact to patients. Right now, hospitals are responding to an atypically high number of traumas and emergency room visits, as well as overdoses and resulting transplants. In comparison to 2019, the Red Cross has seen demand from trauma centers climb by 10% in 2021 − more than five times the growth of other facilities that provide blood transfusions.

by John McClaughry Periodically, it seems, concerned citizens of Vermont gather to revive the idea of creating an inspiring Vision for the state’s future. Last month the largely federally-funded Vermont Council on Rural Development released the draft of its “Vermont Proposition.” It draws on the ideas, they claim, of thousands of participants at 22 “rural summits” around the state.

Vermont Business Magazine “I think I want to try running track next year,” an 11-year-old girl tells her dad, who looks down at her with a surprised smile. They are both breathing hard, and the girl is visibly reverberating with excitement and pride. The pair had just finished a 5K that capped an eight-week session of Girls on the Run Vermont. The program is open to girls in elementary school, and their Heart & Sole program has a specialized curriculum for middle school girls. Each lesson is designed to engage their confidence, positive decision making, physical, social, and emotional competencies.

Vermont Business Magazine Tuesday, June 15, Attorney General TJ Donovan and Deputy Commissioner Megan Tierney-Ward of the Department of Disabilities, Aging & Independent Living (DAIL) will recognize World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. Launched in 2006 by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and the World Health Organization, World Elder Abuse Awareness Day aims to provide an opportunity for communities around the world to promote a better understanding of abuse and neglect of older persons by raising awareness of the cultural, social, economic, and demographic processes affecting elder abuse and neglect.

Vermont Business Magazine Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC), part of Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC), has announced that their anesthesiology services will now be provided through SVMC Anesthesiology and Dartmouth-Hitchcock Putnam Physicians. The practice has hired several highly experienced anesthesiologists.

Vermont Business Magazine Secretary of State Jim Condos has issued new guidance regarding compliance with Vermont Open Meeting Law provisions, following the Governor’s decision to let the state of emergency, declared in 2020 in response to COVID-19, lapse. The state of emergency will expire on June 15th at midnight, according to statements made by the Governor. As a result of this decision, the temporary open meeting measures enacted by the Vermont Legislature tied to the declared emergency will no longer be in effect as of 12:01am on Wednesday, June 16th.

Vermont Business Magazine Goodrich Farm in Salisbury, Vermont, has been recognized with a 2021 US Dairy Sustainability Award for Outstanding Dairy Farm Sustainability. The farm was one of three farms chosen nationally to receive the award and was selected for its many sustainable initiatives including its role in a unique regional partnership to create renewable energy, recycle food waste, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions through the creation of one of the largest on-farm anaerobic digesters in the US.

Associated General Contractors We just watched the Governor announce the conclusion and withdrawal of Vermont’s Emergency Orders and pandemic restrictions. Thank you, and Congratulations. As a country we could never have predicted what a virus like COVID-19 would do to peoples lives, the economy or the sense of safety lost by the pandemic. By the middle of March of 2020, we saw the writing on the wall and then Governor Phil Scotts “Stay Home Stay Safe” order meant we were in a serious crisis. Through this crisis many heroes rose from the ashes like the phoenix to restart our lives and we want to congratulate the general contractors, subcontractors, electricians, and other members of the association for their contribution to a job well done.

Vermont Business Magazine FEMA's Region 1 COVID-19 Recovery Task Force will hold a webinar TODAY at 4:00pm outlining healthy buildings principles and strategies to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and improve indoor air quality.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont State Police is returning to fully normal operations following Gov. Phil Scott’s announcement Monday, June 14, that more than 80% of eligible Vermonters have received at least one dose of vaccine for COVID-19. The 80 percent vaccinated figure represents the threshold level for the end of coronavirus-related restrictions in Vermont and the expiration of the state of emergency, which was first announced more than 15 months ago, on March 13, 2020.