Current News

by Jeff Tieman, VAHHS President and CEO After living in DC for 15 years, I have many fond memories at the US Capitol. Being in the gallery when the Affordable Care Act passed the House of Representatives. Sitting on a Capitol Hill train with Senator John McCain. Walking the flower-strewn grounds in springtime. Last week, those images gave way to TV footage that was so startling I had trouble believing it was real. I texted a friend who works in the Senate and was glad to find him in his home office.

Vermont Agency of Agriculture Did you know, most agriculture products that are not animal products or grain, fiber, and oil field crops are considered specialty crops by USDA. The most common specialty crops we see in Vermont are fruits and vegetables; culinary herbs, spices, and medicinal plants; nursery, floriculture, horticulture, and Christmas trees; honey; hops; maple syrup; and mushrooms. You might be asking yourself, why does this definition even matter?

Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger I recently made the difficult decision to veto the City Council’s proposed Charter Change to establish an independent community control board of the Police Department. I had multiple concerns with the details of this proposal that I discuss more in a memo to the City Council and follow-up statement. Fundamentally, I was concerned both that the proposal as written would further compromise our ability to provide the public safety services that the public expects, and that it was highly likely to fail at later stages of the Charter Change process – which would have resulted in setting back efforts for needed reform by years.

Burlington Fire Department Saturday morning at 0514 hours, the Burlington Emergency Communications Center received several 911 calls reporting a possible structure fire at 199 King Street, a six unit apartment building in the City of Burlington. Preliminary investigation into the fatal structure fire at 199 King Street reveal it to be accidental in nature. It was determined that one of the occupants fell asleep with smoking materials that ignited nearby combustibles. While we are not releasing the victim’s personal information, we can confirm that the victims were a 31 year old male and a 55 year old male.

Vermont Business Magazine Earlier this week ACCD hosted a webinar for Vermont businesses regarding updates to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). You can now view a recording of the webinar, which included ACCD leadership, the Vermont Department of Labor, the Vermont Bankers Association, and the Small Business Administration (SBA) Vermont District Office talking about updates to the program.

​by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine For everyone, 2020 is the year of the COVID-19 pandemic. There is usually a defining story every year. But never one like this one. Terms like “unprecedented times” and “star 6 to unmute” have become so familiar they’re even used as punchlines. In fact either of the top two stories this year would qualify as the biggest story in the nearly 50-year history of Vermont Business Magazine.

Vermont Business Magazine In response to today’s structure fire at 199 King Street, Mayor Miro Weinberger released the following statement: “Early this morning, Burlington lost two residents in the City’s first fatal fire since June 2012. My heart goes out to the friends and loved ones of the deceased, and the other five households who are now displaced. I walked the burned-out building with Fire Chief Steven Locke soon after it had been stabilized. I commend the Burlington firefighters who responded to this tragedy within minutes of the emergency call."

Leonine Public Affairs Republican Governor Phil Scott issued his inaugural address to a televised audience from the executive office building instead of giving the traditional speech in the House chamber. These unusual commencement events are the result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. History was made when Representative Jill Krowinski, D-Burlington, and Senator Becca Balint, D-Windham, were elected House Speaker and Senate President Pro Tem respectively. Along with the swearing in of Democratic Lieutenant Governor Molly Gray this marks the first time in Vermont history that both chambers of the General Assembly are led by women.

Vermont Business Magazine Venture 7 Advisors is pleased to announce that Oatmeal Studios, a division of Excelsior Integrated based in Lee, MA, was acquired by Biely & Shoaf Company of Seattle, Washington. Venture 7 served as the exclusive merger and acquisition advisor to Excelsior Integrated in the sale of Oatmeal Studios. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Oatmeal Studios was founded in Vermont and the two existing account executives will remain here.

Vermont Business Magazine Human Services Secretary Mike Smith said at Friday’s press conference that 21,000 Vermonters have now been vaccinated, adding that Vermont ranks second in the nation in the rate of doses distributed per 100,000 people. Currently, health care workers and residents of long-term care facilities are being vaccinated. Vermont plans to use age grouping to determine who can receive the vaccine next based on our primary objective — to save lives, he said. The VDH reported today that there were 202 new cases of COVID-19, the third highest single-day total since the start of the pandemic and the second straight day of more than 200 cases. There was also one additional death for 155.

Vermont Business Magazine This statement was issued by US Attorney Christina E Nolan in response to inquiries received over the last two days from the press and the public regarding the violence in Washington, DC, and whether the Vermont office will investigate and prosecute perpetrators.