Current News

by John R Brumsted, MD, The UVM Health Network COVID-19 has forced health care providers into a balancing act: Even as we step up to meet the demands of this pandemic, we haven’t forgotten about our patients who require non-COVID care. This newsletter has examples of both priorities. There’s a story of surviving COVID-19, illustrating the resilience, expertise and community support needed to combat this illness. And there’s a story about expanded video-visit technology, which allows us to meet patients where they are. We’ve also taken precautions to minimize the risk of in-person visits when the situation calls for it. The common thread: We are here for our communities, now and into the future.

Vermont Business Magazine Charitable giving has been at the heart of Community Bank throughout its more than 150-year history and most recently, the bank donated $45,000 to support local communities during this unprecedented time. The bank has celebrated National Good Neighbor Day (Sept. 28) over the last few years by making donations of time and money to local non-profits. In response to the impact COVID-19 has made on local nonprofits, Community Bank is paying it forward and celebrating Good Neighbor Day early this year.

The bank has made monetary donations to local nonprofits, helping to ensure that they can continue to support community members throughout the bank’s four-state footprint, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Massachusetts.

Vermont Business Magazine Operation Clean Sweep is coming to Burlington April 29 – May 8 2020. Street sweeping is vital to Lake health and our health. Sweeping picks up sediment and leafy debris which contains phosphorus and prevents it from entering the Lake where it can fuel cyanobacteria blooms. This also keeps the roads safer by clearing them of debris and protects homes and infrastructure by limiting flooding from clogged storm drains. I

Vermont Business Magazine Ledyard Financial Group, Inc (Ticker Symbol: LFGP) announced today a regular quarterly dividend of $0.19 payable June 5, 2020, to shareholders of record as of May 15, 2020. Ledyard Financial Group, Inc, headquartered in Hanover, New Hampshire, is the holding company for Ledyard National Bank. Ledyard National Bank, with a branch in Norwich, Vermont, was founded in 1991 and is a full service community bank offering a broad range of banking, investment, tax and wealth management services.

Vermont Business Magazine People's United Financial, Inc (NASDAQ: PBCT) today announced that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.3515625 per share on the Company's Fixed-to-Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock. The dividend is payable on March 15, 2018 to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 1, 2018.

People's United Financial, Inc., a diversified financial services company with $44 billion in total assets, provides commercial and retail banking, as well as wealth management services through a network of approximately 400 branches in Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.

Vermont Business Magazine Modeling indicates Vermonters’ actions in maintaining social distancing are clearly connected to significantly slowing the spread of the virus. But as the nation reached a grim benchmark of 50,000 deaths associated with COVID-19, Governor Phil Scott emphasized the need for continued – and even expanded – vigilance. The Stay Home, Stay Safe order is still critical, and each of us must remain committed to doing our part to help prevent the spread of the virus and protect the vulnerable by following all social distancing and public health guidance. Today's numbers reveal that there were two new cases for a total of 827, one additional death for 44 and total hospitalizations fell by 12 to 32.

Vermont Business Magazine To honor front line healthcare workers during the coronavirus pandemic, the University of Vermont will illuminate the Davis Center in blue lights each night beginning about 8 pm. UVM plans to light the Davis Center in blue indefinitely.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today at his press briefing outlined some additional openings as part of the phased restart of Vermont’s economy, introduced last week. The new order will allow outdoor operations, some construction and manufacturing to operate with five or fewer employees (up from two), while outdoor retail operations like garden centers are allowed up to 10 total people between staff and customers. Farmers markets with strict social distancing guidelines will reopen May 1. Employees of currently opened or reopening businesses are required to wear face masks; customers are encouraged but not mandated to do so.

Vermont Business Magazine A recent study reveals some important Vermont statistics, including that the state ranks near the top in healthcare. Vermont placed fifth overall in the rankings, with New England states Massachusetts and Connecticut in the top two spots, North Dakota third and Iowa fourth. Vermont ranked well for total insurance coverage, overall health and infant survival, while struggling with staffing and insurance premium costs.

Vermont Business Magazine Hardwick's Town Manager has signed a Financial Award Letter from the Economic Development Administration (EDA) for a $3 million investment in the Hardwick Yellow Barn Accelerator Project. The EDA investment is funded under its Public Works Program of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965. The award is the latest development in a three-year effort to establish a best-in-class production space for new and expanding businesses. The project - called "Yellow Barn" for short - will consist of a new multi-purpose accelerator alongside an adaptive reuse of the historic yellow barn, which is already an iconic presence along the Route 15 gateway to downtown Hardwick.

Vermont Business Magazine This week, the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) issued a series of recommendations for reforming the Bennington Police Department (BPD). The report was commissioned by town officials after the Vermont Branches of the NAACP and ACLU of Vermont demanded an investigation, following revelations that Bennington officials withheld relevant evidence from Attorney General T.J. Donovan’s investigation into the harassment of Vermont state legislator Kiah Morris.

Vermont Business Magazine Standard Solar, Inc, a leading solar energy company based in Maryland, has announced the completion of a 3.2 megawatt (MW) solar project in Wallingford, Vermont. The project, owned and operated by Standard Solar, will provide clean energy to Vermont’s electric utilities under the state’s Standard Offer Program.