Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Rutland Regional Planning Commission (RRPC) is pleased to announce the final design of the Wildcat Road Wetland Restoration Feasibility Study in Chittenden. RRPC worked with the Town of Chittenden, Green Mountain National Forest and Enman Kesselring Consulting Engineers of Rutland on the design. The goal of the project was to assess how road relocation or repair may reduce nutrient and sediment loading to East Creek, restore the wetland and increase floodplain access to East Creek.

by Ali Dieng In the State of Vermont, a large proportion of the local New American population is made up of individuals who were resettled to the state with refugee status. Refugee resettlement in Chittenden County began in the early 1980s and it is now the most ethnically diverse county in the state. Despite these significant, ongoing demographic changes, opportunities for civic engagement remain vastly inaccessible for New Americans in the area.

Vermont Business Magazine Hunger Free Vermont and 130 other Vermont businesses and organizations are urging Governor Phil Scott to NOT lift the State Emergency Order. Loss of funds tied to the declaration of emergency that are helping households afford basic needs in this unprecedented time would be detrimental to Vermont's economy and health.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Department of Corrections Commissioner James Baker issued the following statement regarding Joshua Russ, a former community corrections officer, entering a “no contest” plea to charges of sexual exploitation of an inmate and prohibited acts in Windham County Superior Court. “The majority of the people who work for the Vermont Department of Corrections are the most compassionate, selfless public servants I’ve met in my 45-plus years in the criminal justice field. What Joshua Russ did is a betrayal of trust to every person in Vermont DOC."

Vermont Business Magazine The University of Vermont will require students to be fully vaccinated against the coronavirus once at least one of the vaccines receives full approval from the US Food and Drug Administration. The requirement will apply to all students entering or returning for the fall of 2021—including undergraduate, graduate, medical, and continuing and distance education students; both full-time and part-time students will be subject to the requirement. Once the current Emergency Use Authorization is lifted for any of the vaccines, and full FDA approval is granted, students will be required to have proof of their vaccination.

Vermont Business Magazine The University of Vermont Health Network today announced the appointment of Anya Rader Wallack, PhD, as Senior Vice President for Strategic Communications. Wallack, originally from Vermont, is a Professor at the Brown University School of Public Health in Providence, RI. She has worked in high-level health policy positions for former Vermont Governors Howard Dean and Peter Shumlin, and former Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced the appointments of two deputy commissioners, as well over 120 appointments to State boards and commissions since April 1.

Vermont Business Magazine Today Vermont State Colleges System Board of Trustees Chair Lynn Dickinson and Chancellor Sophie Zdatny were joined on Vermont Technical College’s Randolph campus by all four institution Presidents and the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation to announce additional scholarship and free tuition opportunities for Vermont students. They announced the availability of over $16 million in student scholarships and free tuition programs for Vermonters in the upcoming academic year. This includes Welcome Home Scholarships of up to $5,000 for Vermonters transferring home to VSCS institutions from out-of-state schools or those who might be returning to school after leaving last year.

Vermont Business Magazine Mike Smith, Secretary of the Vermont Agency of Human Services, announced today that Emily J Hawes has been appointed by Governor Phil Scott to be Commissioner of the Department of Mental Health beginning July 4. Hawes will assume the responsibility for day-to-day operations and management of DMH in place of Commissioner Sarah Squirrell, who is moving out of state with her family.

Vermont Business Magazine Following yesterday’s enactment of S.48, which will protect public safety while removing barriers to licensure for qualified nurses wishing to practice in Vermont, Secretary of State Jim Condos and Office of Professional Regulation Director Lauren Hibbert applauded the Legislature and the Governor for their support and passage of the Nursing Licensure Compact bill.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott Tuesday signed the state budget (H.439, An act relating to making appropriations for the support of government) for state fiscal year 2022, which begins July 1. The $7.315 billion budget prioritizes growing the economy, including funding small business pandemic relief, community revitalization projects and tourism marketing Career Technical Education programs and centers, adult training and re-training, state colleges, worker relocation grants and more.