Current News

by Devon Green VAHHS Vice President of Governmental Relations Part of the governor’s proposal included a $1.25 million tax incentive for nurses which would provide a 100% waiver of income tax in the first year, a 70% waiver of income tax in year two, and a 50% waiver of income tax in year three.

Vermont Business Magazine The Small Business Administration is accepting applications for the 2021 Vermont Emerging Leaders Program which will be held virtually and is slated to begin in the spring. Emerging Leaders is an intensive executive-level series intended to accelerate the growth of high-potential small businesses in America’s underserved cities and rural areas.

Vermont Business Magazine Even amid the pandemic, tobacco use remains a serious public health threat. In addition to tobacco-related death and disease, smoking also increases the risk of the most severe impacts of COVID-19, making ending tobacco use more important than ever. This year’s “State of Tobacco Control” report from the American Lung Association grades federal and state efforts to reduce tobacco use and calls for meaningful policies that will save lives. The report finds that Vermont had mixed grades on its efforts to reduce and prevent tobacco use, earning two failing grades for tobacco prevention and control funding and for flavored tobacco products, with the state earning an A and two Bs in the remaining categories.

Vermont Business Magazine The American Hospital Association (AHA) today announced Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC) in Bennington, Vermont, as the 2020 recipient of the Rural Hospital Leadership Award. The award recognizes small or rural hospital leaders who guide their hospital and community through transformational change on the road to health care reform. They display outstanding leadership, responsiveness to their community’s health needs and demonstrate a collaborative community process that has led to measurable outcomes.

Vermont Business Magazine This February, Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC) will host four webinars focused on a range of public health topics designed for women in the community. This engaging webinar series women will gain knowledge and skills aimed at improving their physical, emotional, and social wellbeing from knowledgeable community partners.

“Healthy women are an integral part of a healthy community,” said Rory Price, SVMC’s coordinator of Population Health. “We are thrilled to provide opportunities for learning, sharing, and discussion, all within a judgment-free environment.”

Vermont Business Magazine January is Cervical Health Awareness Month, and Planned Parenthood of Northern New England (PPNNE) is now following new cervical cancer screening guidelines established by the American Cancer Society. Starting at age 25, people with a cervix should get an HPV (Human Papillomavirus) test every five years. For individuals ages 65 and older, cervical cancer screening guidance remains the same.

Vermont Business Magazine It started when now world-famous Bernie-mitten-maker Jen Ellis gifted Outright Vermont 1 of 3 pairs of newly made mitts in a ‘coming out of hiatus’ moment. 'This hard for them. I just wanted to give them a shoutout, you know, like, ‘Hang in there. This is not going to last forever, and when it's over, you can go out and hug all your friends and be your awesome selves, out in public'.’

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Labor is aware of a mailing and printing process error that impacts 1099-G tax documents that were mailed on Friday and Saturday (January 29 – 30). If you received a 1099 from VDOL, they are asking that you DO NOT OPEN IT. VDOL will send you a self-addressed stamped envelope in which to return it. VDOL suspects a printing error resulted in some people getting someone's else's information. This could have occurred even if the address information appears correct.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health is reporting 425 new cases of COVID-19 since Friday and three more deaths for a total of 175 statewide. Despite the anticipated snowstorm, the vaccine clinics will be open Tuesday. However, people may reschedule their appointments. Over 50,000 Vermonters have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and about 17,000 have received both.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced that he has appointed Monica Hutt, currently the commissioner of the Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living, as chief prevention officer, and Maggie Gendron as deputy secretary of the Agency of Natural Resources.

Vermont Business Magazine The director of Vermont Law School’s (VLS) Environmental Justice Clinic (EJC) has been appointed by President Joseph Biden, Jr, to a prominent role in his administration fighting racial and economic disparities in environmental policies. Marianne Engelman-Lado has been named deputy general counsel for environmental initiatives at the Environmental Protection Agency.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont State Treasurer Beth Pearce today marked the 1st ever National Unclaimed Property Day by reminding Vermonters that it’s never been easier to claim their missing money using a new, online system that the Treasurer’s Office launched last summer. Vermonters can quickly search 760,000 properties valued at more than $99 million by visiting MissingMoney.Vermont.Gov.