Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Northern Vermont University (NVU) has announced the launch of their new online Master of Arts in Education with a Concentration in Digital Media Instruction program. Featuring Discovery Education’s high-quality professional development content, NVU’s innovative program is designed for classroom teachers, educational technology specialists, and other instructional professionals seeking an affordable, flexible way to enhance their professional credentials and improve their classroom practice. Discovery Education is the leader in standards-aligned digital curriculum resources, engaging content, and professional learning for K-12 classrooms.

Vermont Business Magazine The Ben & Jerry’s Foundation has awarded Lamoille Housing Partnership (LHP) a Vermont Economic Justice Grant. The grant will support the affordable housing nonprofit’s continued efforts to reduce housing barriers in Lamoille County and the Town of Hardwick.

Vermont Business Magazine Hula, a collaborative innovation campus on the shores of Lake Champlain, will partner with LaunchVT in a series of initiatives designed to identify, support and grow Vermont businesses. In 2020, Hula will host all LaunchVT events, including their flagship business accelerator program. The partnership will increase support for startups as they continue to grow after the program. LaunchVT works to develop and accelerate the next generation of businesses and the ecosystem at Hula will provide integral exposure, opportunity and connectivity for growing businesses.

Vermont Business Magazine The United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that Rebecca Armell, 46, of Shelburne, pleaded guilty yesterday in United States District Court in Burlington to a charge of credit card fraud. The total embezzlement including other actions by Armell may total around $290,000. US District Judge Christina Reiss released Armell on conditions pending sentencing, which has been scheduled for May 1. On December 2, 2019, the United States Attorney filed a one-count information charging Armell with access device fraud. According to the information, in 2018, while employed at the Chimney Sweep in Shelburne, Armell misused the company’s Lowe’s credit card to obtain merchandise having a value in excess of $1000.

Vermont Business Magazine eQHealth Solutions, a leader in population health management for commercial and government entities, has developed the first-ever care management technology certified by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The Certification was given to the Software as a Service (SaaS) solution eQHealth Solutions created for the care management business area of the State of Vermont’s Medicaid program.

Vermont Business Magazine– Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), Representative Nydia Velázquez (D-NY) and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) sent a letter Monday demanding that the Trump administration end its delay in federal disaster assistance Puerto Rico in the face of the island’s urgent humanitarian needs following hundreds of earthquakes and aftershocks, just two years after Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico.

"The hurricane devastated the island and today, tens of thousands of people are still living under tarp roofs,” the members of Congress wrote. “In recent days, the quakes have cost millions in damages, destroyed hundreds of homes, caused widespread electricity blackouts, and forced residents to resort to sleeping in roofless shelters due to the fear of being buried in their own homes by another earthquake."

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont State Treasurer Beth Pearce today launched a video to raise awareness about the VermontABLE program and provide information about how Vermonters with disabilities can enroll in the tax-free investment plan to save for qualified expenses.VermontABLE gives individuals with disabilities the ability to invest up to $15,000 annually without impacting eligibility for certain benefits, like Medicaid and SSI. Participants can invest savings through five different investment options, and access online electronic funds transfers, easy withdrawals, and a loadable debit card. As of the most recent reporting quarter, VermontABLE participants had an average account balance of $4,772.09, which is approximately $2,700 over the benefit cliff level for individuals on means-tested programs.

by John McClaughry Health care is again moving to center stage in this election year. A year ago the Trump Administration released a respectable report (“Reforming America’s Healthcare System Through Choice and Competition”) but neither Democrats nor Republicans have shown much interest in it since no major legislation can pass both House and Senate. Accordingly the Trump Administration has been confined to making changes in insurance and tax regulations, and proposing price controls to reduce pharmaceutical costs (which the 2018 plan rejected.)

Vermont Business Magazine Tracy Upton is a registered nurse, a career caregiver and skilled provider who has worked in primary care and pediatrics for 23 years. She cares about quality. Upton’s 17 years of direct patient care experience is being applied more strategically now in her role as the quality improvement manager. Upton works closely with Community Health’s medical director and clinical director to prioritize ways to make the delivery of health care at Community Health more effective, more efficient, and more geared toward addressing patient’s health needs before issues arise.

Vermont Business Magazine Every day is a prescription drug take-back day at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC), part of Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC), where a drug take-back box in the lobby has allowed members of the public to anonymously dispose of 1,145 pounds of unwanted medications since its installation in July 2017. Totals are growing each year: from 199 pounds in 2017 to 427 pounds in 2018 and 519 pounds in 2019.

Vermont Business Magazine Runamok Maple, a Fairfax, Vermont-based producer of pure, barrel-aged, infused, and smoked organic maple syrups, has teamed up with fellow Burlington, Vermont-based brand Citizen Cider to once again release Tree Tapper, a maple-based hard cider that features Runamok Maple syrup as its main ingredient. Back by popular demand, Tree Tapper is entering its third year as a limited-edition cider – and this time around it will be abundantly available throughout the Northeast region. As a cider on the dry side of the spectrum, Tree Tapper has a balanced sweetness with notes of oak, maple, and Belgian candi syrup, giving it rich and hearty characteristics. At 6.9%, it’s the perfect cider to share among friends, enjoy after a long day of tapping trees, or following a day on the ski slopes.

Vermont Business Magazine City and State leaders clipped the ribbon on 60 new apartments in South Burlington as part of a long-planned – and now coming to life – new City Center. The apartments, named Garden Street Apartments, were developed by Snyder Braverman Development Company with an agreement to sell the building to the Champlain Housing Trust and Housing Vermont. The apartments will remain affordable forever.