Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Bennington Regional Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with Hopridge Farms presented the fifth annual Southern Vermont Summer Homebrew Festival this past weekend. The festival was held at 802 Restroom’s new complex on Shields Drive in Bennington from noon to 4 pm with patrons enjoying unlimited samples of home-brewed beer, wine, mead, cider and more, plus entertainment and eats from Hound Dogs food truck.

The festival saw over 400 patrons throughout the day while the best homebrewers encouraged everyone to try their newest brews. This year the festival claims to have the best of the best in terms of homebrewing.   With over 100 different brews, this year featured a select 19 brewers. 

Vermont Business Magazine Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH, and the plaintiffs in the Title IX class action lawsuit pending in New Hampshire federal court have reached a settlement, President Philip J Hanlon ’77 announced today in an email to the College community. The settlement is subject to approval by the court, which includes a monetary component of $14 million, a statement released by Dartmouth and the plaintiffs said.

Vermont Business Magazine Veterans Administration Medical Center in White River Junction, as part of the VA system, has implemented the MISSION Act on June 6. But one of the lesser known provisions of the law established a new urgent care benefit that allows eligible veterans access to urgent and walk-in care at participating clinics in their communities. This is a giant step forward in terms of convenience for patients in Vermont and New Hampshire, as eligible veterans do not need to get prior authorization from VA to visit an urgent care provider in VA’s network.

This urgent care benefit is meant to give Veterans a convenient way to get treatment for minor injuries and illnesses such as colds, strep throat and pink eye. To be eligible for urgent and walk-in care, Veterans must be enrolled in the VA health care system and have received care through VA from either a VA or community provider within the past 24 months.

Vermont Business Magazine Comcast announced today it is expanding eligibility for Internet Essentials, which is the nation’s largest and most comprehensive broadband adoption program, to include all qualified low-income households in its service area. The expansion is the most significant change in the program’s history and the company estimates that nearly three million additional low-income households, including households with people with disabilities, are now eligible to apply. This number includes nearly 26,000 households across the state of Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine Former Vermont Agency of Human Services Secretary Al Gobeille has been named Executive Vice President for Operations (EVP) at the University of Vermont Health Network following a national search. He will begin his new role on September 1. This is a newly-created role designed to lead integration efforts to improve efficiencies and quality of care provided by its eight affiliated organizations.

Vermont Business Magazine Downs Rachlin Martin has announced that Patti Komline, Gabrielle Malina and Andrew Brewer are joining the DRM Government and Public Affairs group. Komline served as a Republican legislator in the Vermont House of Representatives for 12 years and was a member on several standing committees during her tenure, including the Judiciary, Health Care, and Ways and Means committees. She also successfully directed two lieutenant governor campaigns for now-Governor Phil Scott.

Vermont Business Magazine The US Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $440,000 grant to the Town of Brattleboro to make critical water infrastructure improvements needed to support commercial development. The project, to be located in a Tax Cuts and Jobs Act designated Opportunity Zone, will be matched with $320,000 in local funds and is expected to help create nearly 200 jobs and generate $27.5 million in private investment.

Vermont Business Magazine Healthy Alliance Independent Practice Association (IPA) and MVP Health Care today announced a partnership that will provide funding to community based organizations (CBOs) in the Albany, NY-region. Approximately $800,000 will be distributed to a select group of non-profits whose services will improve the overall health of those in need. The funding will also be used to connect the social service providers to medical providers via Unite Us, a state-of-the-art technology platform that digitally connects the two sectors for referrals and tracking purposes. MVP also provides health insurance across Vermont. 

Vermont Business Magazine New Media Investment Group Inc (NYSE: NEWM) and Gannett Co, Inc (NYSE: GCI) announced Monday that New Media and Gannett have entered into a definitive agreement pursuant to which New Media will acquire Gannett for a combination of cash and stock. The sale includes Gannett's Burlington Free Press (Free Press Media) and USA Today, as well as New Media's GateHouse group. GateHouse has been a significant publisher of weeklies and shoppers, which more recently has been acquiring daily newspapers. The sale of Gannett to New Media was expected and is valued at about $1.38 billion. The new company will be known as Gannett and be based at Gannett's headquarters in McLean, VA, and be the largest newspaper company in the US. 

Vermont Business Magazine Mark your calendars - tickets for the 2019 HomeLight Killington Cup go on sale Wednesday, August 21 at 9 am ET. The HomeLight Killington Cup takes place November 29-December 1, 2019 and features Audi FIS Women’s Ski World Cup giant slalom and slalom races, as well as free concerts throughout the weekend and more entertainment options to be announced.

Vermont Business Magazine Southwestern Vermont Regional Cancer Center (SVRCC), part of Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC) and Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC), is now offering a new treatment for those with primary brain cancer: tumor-treating fields. The new option provides an entirely new type of treatment for those with new or reoccurring Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM), a type of malignant tumor that usually affects the brains of adults. SVRCC is the second center in the state, after University of Vermont Medical Center, to offer the treatment.

Vermont Business Magazine A new record was set for Vermont cheeses at the prestigious American Cheese Society’s 36^th Annual Awards competition (ACS) in Richmond, Virginia. Vermont producers, big and small, collectively took home 44 ribbons, marking Vermont’s best showing to date. Additionally, five Vermont cheeses were finalists for the Best of Show.