Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Green Mountain Power (GMP) announced today that its growing network of stored energy reduced about $3 million in costs for all GMP customers so far in 2020 by cutting power demand during energy peaks, especially during the hot, dry summer. This network includes home batteries, utility-scale Tesla Power Pack batteries at solar sites, and carbon-reducing devices like electric vehicle smart chargers. This builds on more than $2 million in savings over the last two years as GMP pioneered industry-leading battery programs in partnership with its customers.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Attorney General TJ Donovan has announced that Vermont will receive an extra $10.5 million this year as part of a settlement 22 years ago with the tobacco industry. This is a payout from an agreement reached in 2018 that Vermont had negotiated considering disputes for 2018 and 2022. Research shows additional funding spent on prevention has a multiplier effect and saves states millions on health care costs.

Vermont Business Magazine Northern Counties Health Care (NCHC) and Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital (NVRH) are pleased to announce the creation of a new partnership, Northern Express Care – St. Johnsbury. Northern Express Care will be a walk-in health center open to anyone who requires convenient primary care services. Located at the corner of Railroad Street and Eastern Avenue in downtown St. Johnsbury, Northern Express Care will offer evening and weekend hours, no appointment necessary, to provide community members with the care they need, when they need it.

Vermont Business Magazine Springfield Medical Care Systems and Springfield Hospital filed on September 18 a reorganization plan under Chapter 11 of the US Bankruptcy code. The two organizations, Springfield Medical Care Systems and Springfield Hospital, propose restructuring as independent operating companies. This reorganization will focus the network of federally qualified health centers on core primary care capabilities, including medical, dental and behavioral health services. Springfield Hospital will continue operations, offering a full range of inpatient medical and psychiatric care, emergency and specialty care services, as well as its adult day care program. Although the two organizations will operate separately, they will continue to collaborate and coordinate healthcare for our patients as we have in the past.

Vermont Business Magazine “It’s incredibly important that people get flu vaccines this year,” said Community Health Director of Quality Tracy Upton, RN. So, Community Health has arranged weekday and Saturday clinics for adults and children, and offers an online appointment schedule for current Community Health patients. “Established patients can call to schedule an appointment or signup online on our website,” Upton said. "Flu vaccines are available to everyone, not only Community Health patients.”

Vermont Business Magazine OVR Technology, the Burlington-based leader in providing scent solutions for VR, AR, and other digital environments, will bring its newly released technology platform, the Architecture of Scent, to the VRARA Global Summit 2020, at which CEO Aaron Wisniewski will also be a featured speaker on October 1 at 2:30 pm EST. The Architecture of Scent combines hardware, software, and scentware to precisely replicate complex sensory experiences in the digital world. Since launching its cornerstone product in May 2020, OVR Technology has signed on to partner with a range of content developers interested in its innovative tool for creating multisensory VR/AR environments.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont), Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) and Representative Peter Welch (D-Vermont) announced Monday that three Vermont organizations have received $1.15 million in federal funds from the US Treasury Department’s Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund. The grants will enable financial institutions to provide business development support and increase lending and investment activity in low-income and economically distressed communities.

The CDFI Fund awarded $187.3 million in grants and loans to 357 community credit unions, loan funds and other financial institutions across the country that provide affordable financial products and services in economically distressed areas.

Three Vermont programs received funds through these awards:

· The Flexible Capital Fund, L3C, received $125,000

· Opportunities Credit Union received $375,000

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont department of Health is reporting today three new cases of COVID-19 and 14 new cases since Friday. The VDH is also reminding Vermonters that it’s more important than ever to get your flu shot this year ─ when both flu viruses and the new coronavirus may be spreading at the same time.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont), Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) and Representative Peter Welch (D-Vermont) have sent an oversight letter to the US Department of Agriculture, following the Department’s award of the Farmers to Families Food Box contract to two out-of-state entities. The Delegation’s letter raises concerns about the continuity of operations in Vermont’s feeding program through October, the end of the federal program. The Abbey Group, a food service company based in Enosburg Falls, distributed 568,682 food boxes containing local Vermont produce regionally from May through mid-September. The USDA selected Costa Fruit and Produce, based in Massachusetts, and Sysco, based in Texas, to distribute food boxes in Vermont for the third and final phase of the Farmers to Families Food Box program.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (VAAFM) is pleased to announce that the Farm Service Agency (FSA) of the USDA has awarded $402,550 to the State of Vermont as a part of the Organic Certification Cost Share Program. The application is now open for certified operations to apply for these funds. Certified organic operations may receive reimbursement of up to 50 percent of their direct certification costs paid between October 1 and September 30 annually, not to exceed $500 per certification scope.

by Vermont Secretary of State Jim Condos Many of us love going to the polls on Election Day. Joining in-person with our friends, family, and neighbors to participate in the civic process is something I look forward to every election year. As Vermont’s Chief Election Official, it is my responsibility to ensure we can all safely exercise our sacred right to vote. My office’s planning for the 2020 elections during COVID-19 has been driven by two unwavering goals: preserving every Vermont voter’s right to vote, and protecting the health and safety of voters, Town Clerks and election workers.

Vermont Business Magazine On January 7, you returned to session with a mixture of hope and excitement, to do the work of government - to solve problems and help people. I remember that well from my years in the Legislature... It’s hard to explain - but I know you understand - how distant that day feels from today. None of us could have ever imagined what was about to happen.