Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Following new limits on how federal Title X funding can be used, Health Commissioner Mark Levine, MD notified the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that it will stop using those funds provided to Planned Parenthood of Northern New England for family planning services in Vermont. Instead, the Vermont Department of Health will use State funds that have been reserved to ensure these services can continue.

Title X is a federal grant program created in 1970 dedicated to providing comprehensive family planning and related preventive health services to low-income families or uninsured people who might not otherwise have access to these basic health care services. HHS recently issued a Final Rule that prevents Title X funds from being used to provide the full range of family planning and reproductive health care services.

Vermont Business Magazine The who's who of Vermont's ski and snowboarding world will gather at The Lodge at Spruce Peak in Stowe on Saturday, November 2nd for a festive dinner and silent auction to celebrate the Induction of the class of 2019 into the Vermont Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame. The event, hosted by the Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum in Stowe, will also honor the recipients of the Paul Robbins Award and First Tracks Award. One of the highlights of the evening will be the showing of short biographical films created for each inductee.

Vermont Business Magazine Planned Parenthood Federation of America on Monday announced that the Trump administration, through what PPFA called an unethical and dangerous gag rule, has forced Planned Parenthood grantees out of Title X, the nation’s decades-old program for affordable birth control and reproductive health care. Planned Parenthood health centers has been a part of the program since it was created, nearly 50 years ago, and have collectively been the largest provider, serving 40 percent of all patients who get care through the Title X program. In Vermont, Planned Parenthood of Northern New England (PPNNE) serves 11,000 people who access affordable birth control, STD testing, cancer screenings, and more through Title X.

Vermont Business Magazine Ledyard Financial Group, Inc (Ticker Symbol: LFGP) today announced that its Board of Directors on July 26, 2019, authorized a stock repurchase plan pursuant to which Ledyard Financial Group may repurchase up to 120,000 shares of its common stock. Ledyard’s Board of Directors and management team are committed to maximizing shareholder value and feel the recent increase in the dividend along with the stock repurchase plan demonstrate their commitment to this goal. Ledyard is based in Hanover, NH, with a branch in Norwich, VT.

Public Assets Institute Private employers added 600 jobs in July. So far this year, the private sector has created 3,000 new jobs, showing growth for the last four straight months. Unemployment held steady at 2.1 percent for the third straight month, and Vermont’s labor force has increased every month this year.

Vermont Business Magazine The US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) White River Junction VA Medical Center is pleased to announce a successful day of surgeries in the new and improved operating room. After an unfortunate flooding that occurred June of 2018, the medical center was able to turn this event into something to look forward to; a state of the art operating room.

Vermont Business Magazine Dr George Terwilliger has recently joined Grace Cottage as Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Emergency Department Medical Director, and Hospitalist Director. He assumed these positions after the July 30 retirement of former CMO Dr Christopher Schmidt and the decision of former Emergency Department Director Dr Kimona Alin to dedicate her time exclusively to her role as a hospital physician.

As a member of the senior leadership team, Dr Terwilliger oversees the medical care of all patients and the functions performed by medical staff. He may be called upon to help assess and diagnose needs and plans of actions for individuals and families. He is responsible for setting medical policies, guidelines, and for ensuring strict safety and quality programs and procedures. He serves as leader, mentor and team builder. Dr. Terwilliger will also serve as a part-time physician in the Emergency Department.

In partnership with customers, Green Mountain Power’s (GMP) pioneering stored energy programs win national recognition as the company again earns a spot on the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) Top 10. This is the third year in a row that GMP has landed on this prestigious list for most battery storage connected to the grid. With continued cost pressures from the bulk grid, batteries are key because it is a proactive way GMP can help drive down costs for customers, while also increasing resiliency with more frequent and severe storms.

The Vermont Chamber of Commerce has selected Al Gobeille, health care leader and founder of Gobeille Hospitality, as the 2019 Citizen of the Year. Al Gobeille will be celebrated at an awards dinner on Tuesday, November 19 at the Hilton Burlington Hotel.

by Bruce Edwards, Vermont Business Magazine It’s considered the largest downtown construction project undertaken by the Vermont Agency of Transportation: an estimated $80 million rail and bridge replacement in the heart of Middlebury’s downtown. For the last two years VTrans and Middlebury have laid the groundwork for the heavy lifting that will take place next summer which will try the fortitude of residents, visitors and most significantly downtown merchants who will bear the brunt of the disruption.

by Bruce Edwards, Vermont Business Magazine With declining enrollments coupled with ever increasing overhead, surviving as a small college these days is more of a challenge. This year alone, three small, private Vermont colleges have closed their doors: Southern Vermont College, Green Mountain College and the College of St Joseph, and Marlboro College has merged with the University of Bridgewater in Connecticut.

by Bruce Edwards, Vermont Business Magazine Agri-Mark’s Cabot cheese plant is one of Addison County’s largest employers, with 115 workers producing more than 70 million pounds of Vermont cheddar a year. Agri-Mark spokesman Doug DiMento said the plant is running at full capacity to meet demand for its cheese products.