Current News

Vermont Business Magazine March 11 will mark one year since the first patient diagnosed with COVID-19 received care from the UVM Health Network. Since that time, the Network has worked vigorously to fight the pandemic, educate our communities and distribute vaccines to stop the spread – all while focusing on safely meeting the health care needs of our patients across Vermont and Northern New York. However, as with other hospitals and health systems across the country, we continue to address financial challenges resulting from the pandemic, with a $21.3 million loss to date in the current fiscal year, which began on October 1, 2020.

Vermont Business Magazine Last week was a big one for the non-profit Alburgh Family Clubhouse, Inc. On March 2, Alburgh voters approved building the center on school property with a 2-1 margin (404-200). And the next day, the childcare center was awarded $100,000 toward construction costs by the Hoehl Family Foundation. The Alburgh Family Clubhouse will serve 62 children: 16 infants, 10 toddlers, 18 preschoolers, and 18 school-age children, beginning with afterschool services for preschoolers and school age children in the Alburgh School in the Fall of 2021, and then adding infants and toddlers, and moving the preschool to the new Center in the Summer of 2022.

Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission TRORC assisted 14 towns and submitted 25 grant applications to the VTrans Better Roads program that was due last December. This funding is geared towards town road projects to conduct culvert and road erosion inventories, improve ditching, upgrade and install culverts, and upgrade large culverts and bridges. The TRO Region requested over $500,000 in grant funds totaling $890,000 in projects. As noted in the VTrans Better Roads program website that no funding or awards will be issued until appropriated by legislative action. This is expected to be July of 2021.

Vermont Business Magazine Lake Champlain Maritime Museum announced today that they are eliminating admission fees for 2021, making it free for everyone to visit. The museum will be open from May 22–October 17 featuring new all-outside exhibits, self-guided tours, and more. Last March, the museum made the difficult decision to remain closed for the 2020 season due to COVID-19. Amid the unprecedented challenges caused by the global pandemic, the museum found new ways to stay connected with enthusiastic audiences of all ages and continued to share important stories of history and ecology.

Vermont Business Magazine Elizabeth Kruska, President of the Vermont Bar Association and on behalf of the VBA Board of Bar Managers, released a statement honoring Judge Peter W Hall of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

Vermont Business Magazine Each year, the Vermont Agency of Agriculture works with partners around the world to connect Vermont agricultural businesses with new and exciting marketing opportunities. COVID-19 really mixed up our 2020 plan, but we adapted, went virtual, and had a lot of success. Building on this success, we have another incredible year of local, regional, national, and international marketing activities scheduled throughout 2021.

by Catherine Hamilton Addressing the root causes that lead to health issues is critical to building a healthier population and community. As we celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8, we want to recognize one of the most challenging perennial issues for women: their children’s access to high-quality, affordable child care. High-quality child care is at the very root of what helps children thrive and develop into healthy adults. It has profound impacts on a child’s lifelong health and wellbeing, as well as a parent’s ability to be present and focused at work. There are 11,466 children under the age of ten who represent nearly 10 percent of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont subscribers.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott on Friday announced further loosening of gathering restrictions for individuals and households that are fully vaccinated. COVID-19 vaccinations continue to be administered at an encouraging rate. Starting March 8th, people 55 years and older with certain high-risk health conditions can start making appointments. Starting March 15, people 16 years and older with certain high-risk health conditions can start making appointments.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont companies interested in selling their goods or services to the State of Vermont will want to attend this free webinar on March 10 at 10:30am. Join the Vermont Procurement Technical Assistance Center (VT PTAC) and the Office of Purchasing and Contracting (OPC) for an in-depth look at how to do business with the State of Vermont. This webinar will focus on working specifically with OPC, the division of the Department of Buildings and General Services (BGS) that oversees purchasing and contracting for the State of Vermont.

Community News Service Starting at 7 am Tuesday, March 2, the Community News Service at the University of Vermont dispatched student reporters to polling places across Vermont. These are there stories of real braving the cold to vote on Town Meeting Day.

by Carl Fowler Vermont's Amtrak trains have now been gone for almost a year. When they do return, we will be virtually initiating new services. This can’t wait any longer. For many months I've supported (albeit reluctantly) their suspension, because of the tragic second wave of the pandemic. But with vaccinations finally here, with new cases and deaths (albeit slowly) declining and the return of warmer weather, I think it's time to revisit this issue.

Vermont Business Magazine Xusana Davis, Vermont’s first Executive Director of Racial Equity, will join Northern Vermont University for a lecture and Q&A session on Tuesday, March 9, 11:30 am to 1 pm. The lecture is part of Northern Vermont University’s Spring Lecture and Arts Series. Appointed to the position in June 2019 by Governor Phil Scott, Davis works with state agencies to identify and address systemic racial disparities and support the state’s efforts to expand and diversify Vermont’s population.