Current News

Vermont Business Magazine In time for National Breastfeeding Month, Mascoma Bank has announced the installation of a Mamava lactation pod placed in the Mascoma Bank Operations Center in White River Junction, VT—underscoring its commitment to putting people’s needs first. Mascoma’s operations facility, housed approximately 110 employees pre-COVID-19, currently holds 30 employees, but that number is expected to rise as it becomes safer for people to return to the workplace.This is the second Mamava pod purchased by Mascoma—the first was installed at the bank's Pine Street branch in Burlington.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired welcomes you to The Great Brave Little State Challenge! The challenge is a blend of scavenger hunt, research, clue gathering and code cracking: a deep-dive into Vermontiana-new and old, online and outside, that one can do at home, camp or classroom, at your pace, solo, or with family or classmates, all within the current health guidelines. With contributions from a wide range of Vermonters from Senator Bernie Sanders to Grace Potter, guest appearances, twists and turns, time travel and a slice of pie, a splendid time is guaranteed for all.

by Bill Schubart A recent audit report by State Auditor Doug Hoffer lays bare the staggering cost of healthcare to Vermonters – $9,000 per year, almost $2,000 more than the national average. For a worker making Vermont’s minimum wage, that’s over 40% of their gross income of $22,500. The report details many of the drivers of this cost, but nowhere on the list is pharmaceuticals.

Vermont Business Magazine This September 2020 there is a full roster of events happening throughout the state of Vermont for Recovery Month. Come join the celebration! Stay tuned here and send us your events. This calendar will be updated regularly.

Vermont Business Magazine The Northern New England Region of the American Red Cross continues to deploy people to major disaster relief efforts, with an employee from Waterbury the latest assigned to the Hurricane Laura operation. Erica Fuller, a senior volunteer recruitment specialist, will report to Baton Rouge, LA, as a shelter worker Tuesday.

Vermont Business Magazine The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recognized Northern Counties Health Care (NCHC) in St Johnsbury for its outstanding commitment to quality care based on its performance last year. HHS grants quality awards to the highest performing Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) nationwide and health centers with significant quality improvement gains compared to the previous year. Northern Counties was designated as a National Quality Leader for being ranked in the top 1-2 percent of all health centers nationwide in clinical quality measures that promote diabetes health and behavioral health.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health is investigating a community outbreak of COVID-19 cases in Rutland County. The outbreak is associated with people who attended a private party at the Summit Lodge in Killington on August 19, 2020. The VDH also has released the state’s first Social Autopsy Report, an in-depth look at how those who died of a drug-related overdose interacted with state agencies. The VDH reported today that there were eight new cases statewide of COVID-19, all of which were in Chittenden County.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health is investigating a community outbreak of COVID-19 cases in Rutland County. The outbreak is associated with people who attended a private party at the Summit Lodge in Killington on August 19, 2020. To date, the Health Department has identified 14 cases among people who attended the event and their close contacts – meaning the virus has spread to one or more people who did not attend the private party. Health officials said Summit Lodge followed state protocols and guidance and has been a cooperative partner in the outbreak investigation. A pop-up test clinic will be held in Rutland City on September 2 from 9 am – 3 pm at the Rutland Office of Local Health in the Asa Bloomer Building. Registration is required.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health has released the state’s first Social Autopsy Report, an in-depth look at how those who died of a drug-related overdose interacted with state agencies, and where improvements in the state’s efforts can be made. The release coincides with the observance of International Opioid Awareness Day. The basic information of an overdose death indicates that the most common profile is of a young, single male with less than a college education.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Vermont Technical College (Vermont Tech) President Patricia Moulton Monday announced a $7.969 million contract awarded to Vermont Tech from the U.S. Army’s Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (IBAS) office as part of its National Imperative for Industrial Skills. The contract, which has an additional $4 million option, will establish the first advanced manufacturing education, research and development facility in Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, the Scott Milne for Lieutenant Governor campaign announced its campaign team heading into the general election. Building on his strong victory in the primary, Milne has rounded out his staff with an experienced group of diverse talents and backgrounds.

Vermont Business Magazine The Walter Cerf Community Fund, a component fund of the Vermont Community Foundation, has announced $77,740 in grants to twenty-five organizations, which build on over $60,000 in Cerf Fund grants already at work in the community in 2020 as part of multi-year commitments. This year’s awards represent a combination of competitive grants to organizations supporting basic needs, historic preservation, arts, and education, as well as a number of proactive grants to longstanding grantee partners that experienced significant disruption as a result of COVID-19 or served on the frontlines of pandemic response. Most grant recipients are based in Addison County or northern Rutland County.