Current News

Vermont Business Magazine In its 30th Annual Lamplighter Awards, The New England Society for Healthcare Communications (NESHCo) honored the VNA & Hospice of the Southwest Region with a gold award for its work in healthcare marketing. The Lamplighters were established to showcase and honor excellence in healthcare communications throughout the New England region. The 2020 competition totaled 282 entries which were judged by other healthcare marketing societies across the country.

“This is such an honor,” says Bernadette C. Robin director of marketing and business development for the VNAHSR. “It is extremely gratifying to have marketing and creative professionals around the country recognize our work and to be honored with an impressive peer group from around New England.”

Vermont Business Magazine Any time it’s not possible to keep a 6-foot distance from others who are not part of your household, the Vermont law requires you wear a facial covering beginning August 1. This includes both indoor and outdoor public spaces and group living settings (for example, long-term care facilities, nursing homes, apartment and condo complexes). Governor Scott had been leaving it up to Vermonters to "do the right thing" and where a mask in these situations, but as cases around the nation surged in July, he is now mandating mask wearing starting on Saturday. As of today, the Vermont Department of Health is reporting two cases of COVID-19 for a statewide total of 1,402, which is the fewest cases in any state.

Vermont Business Magazine Ledyard Financial Group, Inc (ticker symbol LFGP), the holding company for Ledyard National Bank with a branch in Vermont, announced today record quarterly earnings for the second quarter and year-to-date 2020. Net income for the quarter ended June 30, 2020, was $1,637,173 or $0.52 per share compared to $1,563,045 or $0.50 per share for the same period in 2019, an increase of $74,128 or 4.7%. Net income for the six months ended June 30, 2020, was $3,258,112 or $1.03 per share compared to $2,870,804 or $0.91 per share for the same period in 2019, an increase of $387,308 or 13.5%.

Vermont Business Magazine Mark your calendars for Tuesdays at 10 a.m. for free interactive webinars to help Vermonters looking for training and certificate programs – and how to get financial aid. Beginning Tuesday, Auguset 4, Vermont Student Assistance Corp. will host weekly informational sessions via its popular “Zoom room” format, guiding participants through the financial aid process, choosing training and certificate programs for their interests – and more.

Vermont Business Magazine The current pandemic and racial tensions have shed light once again on the inequities that exist in society, especially within our healthcare system. In an effort to help solve these healthcare inequities, Saint Michael’s College has launched an online Health Equity Graduate Certificate program. The program takes aim at one of greatest challenges facing the United States and world by providing community members, professionals and college graduates with the skills needed to tackle topics such as the health implications of race-based systems of inequity; linkages between poverty and opportunity to live a healthy life; and the challenges of rural health.

Vermont Business Magazine Norwich University will host the seventh International Symposium of Military Academies (ISOMA), to be Oct. 4 through Oct. 8, 2021, on its Northfield, Vermont, campus. To coincide with the conference, the university is seeking papers to be published in a special ISOMA edition of Norwich's Journal of Peace and War Studies (JPWS) aligned with the theme, “Preparing Military Leaders to Effectively Resolve 21st Century Service Challenges.”

ISOMA works within the framework of the International Association of Military Academies (IAMA), which promotes knowledge and competency sharing among member military academies. Paper abstracts can be submitted through September 2020 here: https://www.cvent.com/c/abstracts/36c255ca-fa89-424a-b645-d99408e64f68.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Secretary of State Jim Condos is encouraging all Vermont voters to ensure that they exercise their right to vote in the upcoming August 11^th Statewide Primary Elections. For those voters who have requested early/absentee ballots, Secretary Condos recommends the voter follow all instructions to properly vote their ballot, and return it to the Clerk in time to be counted on August 11^th.

“While thousands of Vermonters vote by mail every election cycle, for many the process is new this year,” said Secretary Condos. “It is important to follow all instructions for your ballot, including sealing and signing the certificate envelope and returning the two unvoted ballots.”

Vermont Business Magazine The second quarter of 2020 began with many businesses reeling from the shutdown of the global economy caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Most economic indicators posted disastrous results while the US government and Federal Reserve rushed to enact legislation or policies to soften some of the worst impacts of the crisis. By quarter end, the Citizens Business Conditions Index showed surprising stability (decreasing only from 60.8 to 60.3) as those unprecedented actions have reversed the U.S. economy’s trajectory. In Vermont, the index is slightly down from earlier in the year, 50.7 from 50.6, but up .2 year to year.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Democratic Party chair, Terje Anderson, informed the Party’s Executive Committee of his resignation last Thursday. Anderson told the committee that he will be stepping down from his responsibilities as Chair to focus on his health.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Transportation (AOT) has issued a grant solicitation for new infrastructure projects that improve access and safety for bicyclists and pedestrians. In 2019, awards totaled $3.6 million for construction and planning projects throughout the state.

“These projects make it possible for more people to walk and bike safely in Vermont communities,” said Transportation Secretary Joe Flynn. “Municipalities across Vermont understand that providing good facilities for walking and bicycling are key factors for livability that can stimulate economic development in our downtowns and improve public health. In light of the current pandemic, providing safe ways for Vermonters to walk and bike is especially important. Supporting our downtowns is critical in helping jumpstart our economy.”

Vermont Business Magazine Burlington Electric Department (BED) issued a peak alert for today/Monday, July 27 as part of its Defeat the Peak program launched during summer 2017, encouraging members of the Burlington community to reduce their energy usage today from 4:00-7:00pm. VEC asks members to conserve electricity today (Monday) and tomorrow (Tuesday) from 5-10 pm.

Vermont Business Magazine With full support from the Town of Hartford Select Board, The Hartford Business Revolving Loan Fund Committee (HBRLF) announces the opening on July 24, 2020 of a Business Recovery Grant Program funded by $50,000 from its Revolving Loan Account. All Hartford qualifying businesses may apply for a $2,000 grant, intended to provide recovery support for COVID – 19 related issues. Up to 25 grants will be made in the initial grant round, using a blind lottery process. Subject to demand, an additional round of grants is anticipated, if necessary. Green Mountain Economic Development Corporation (GMEDC) which manages HBRLF is facilitating the process.