Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Consolidated Communications (NASDAQ: CNSL), a leading broadband and business communications provider and Vermont's largest telecom, has launched new flexible broadband Internet plans that offer simplified, value-based pricing without data limits to small and medium-sized businesses.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott has signed a proclamation declaring October to be Independent Country Store Month in Vermont, recognizing how important the state’s country stores are to the cultural, economic and social lives of Vermonters. In signing the proclamation, Governor Scott acknowledged the integral role independent country stores have as an essential piece of Vermont communities and the tourism industry.

Vermont Business Magazine The Peace Corps announced yesterday that The University of Vermont ranked Number. 10 among Peace Corps Prep schools on the agency’s list of top certificate-issuing institutions in 2020. UVM issued 17 Prep certificates to the graduating class of 2020, and the program’s enrollment at the school reached 64 students during the 2019–20 academic year.

Vermont Business Magazine Hark, a Vermont-based web and graphic design firm, is excited to partner with the CDC, Harvard Global Health Institute, and the Halloween & Costume Association to help make Halloween both fun and safe this year during COVID-19. The founder of Hark, Jeffrey Harkness saw this project as a great follow up to the COVID work that Hark has been doing with the Vermont Department of Health.

Vermont Business Magazine Health Commissioner Mark Levine, MD, said at Friday’s press conference that a small number of COVID-19 cases have been connected to a Bennington golf tournament held over the weekend of September 19. Despite the currently limited number of cases, Dr Levine said this is yet another reminder “that despite all our good work here in Vermont, things can and will change quickly if we’re not careful.” The total number of cases VDH reported today is 13, which is the highest one-day number in almost two weeks.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott signed the $7.17 billion budget bill this morning as passed by the Legislature. He has several other bills, including the Act 250 bill, sitting on his desk. He said he would deliberate on them this weekend. Scott said at his press briefing this morning that he is disappointed by the condition of the Act 250 bill that was conceived as a major upgrade to the landmark legislation, which passed by the Legislature in 1970 and signed into law by Governor Deane Davis.

Vermont Business Magazine OneCare Vermont, Vermont’s Accountable Care Organization (ACO) on Thursday filed their 2021 budget with the Green Mountain Care Board (GMCB) as part of their annual budget review process. The budget supports the cooperative effort of thousands of providers across Vermont to stabilize health care costs and improve health for Vermonters.

Vermont Business Magazine Northwestern Medical Center in St Albans has hired Dean French, MD, as the hospital’s new Chief Executive Officer. Dr French joins NMC after 5 years of service as CEO of Community Medical Center in Missoula, Montana. Dr French will start at NMC on November 30. Dr French has 17 years of experience in hospital administration in roles including CEO, Chief Medical Officer, Chief Operations Officer, and Vice President of Medical Affairs and Quality.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Weekly unemployment claims were little changed again last week, but remain near their lowest levels now since the first week of March. However, there are still over 30,000 Vermonters receiving either regular or pandemic unemployment benefits. Nationally, claims decreased slightly last week.

For the week ending September 26, 2020, the Labor Department processed 601 Initial Claims, down 43 from the previous week and 352 more than the same time last year.

Comparing the data to the same time last year likely provides the best insight to current conditions.

Vermont Business Magazine MVP Health Care announced on Thursday a new partnership with Health Plans, Inc (HPI) to offer a first of its kind, level-funded plan to businesses in Vermont. Beginning January 1, 2021, employers with more than 50 employees will have access to MVP Health Care’s level-funded plan, which will offer employers an alternative to traditional fully insured or self-funded plan options. Administered by MVP Select Care, Inc, this new option provides the best of both worlds by offering the peace of mind of a fully insured plan with the cost savings potential of a self-funded plan.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Electric Cooperative is urging VEC members, both residential and non-residential, to apply for arrearage assistance financial support for over-due bills due to the COVID emergency. The Vermont COVID-19 Arrearage Assistance Program (VCAPP) was created by the Vermont Legislature and funded with $8 million from the federal CARES Act.

Vermont Business Magazine Beginning October 1st, 2020, Vermont seniors applying for 3SquaresVT are able to use a simple application and benefit renewal process as part of the new 3SquaresVT IN A SNAP program. The easy to use application is available to individuals and households age 60 or older and persons with disabilities.