Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Superior Technical Ceramics (STC), has been awarded $116,683 through the Vermont Training Program (VTP). The funding will support the implementation of a new learning management system. Since being acquired by Artemis, a capital investment company, in October 2018, STC has formulized a new strategy to increase the company’s value over the next 5 years. Focusing on employee development and transformation into a sustainable culture, the manufacturer partnered with Vermont Manufacturing Extension Center (VMEC) to take part in its Lean Leadership Transformation Program.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced the appointments of Laurel Mackin of Thetford and Michael R. McCarthy of Georgia to fill assistant judge vacancies in Orange and Franklin counties, respectively. “Both Laurel and Mike have displayed a strong commitment to public service and dedication to their communities,” said Governor Scott. “I’m confident they will serve with distinction in these important roles.”

Vermont Business Magazine Weekly unemployment numbers rose by a handful of claims last week, but remain low. Summer usually brings low claim levels, but sub-300 claims indicates very low volume. Initial claims for the week of August 3, 2019, totaled 296, up 7 from last week. Claims were 23 fewer than they were at this time last year.

Altogether 3,411 new and continuing claims were filed, a decrease of 35 from a week ago, and 91 fewer than a year ago.

Nationwide, for the week ending July 27, initial jobless claims decreased to 209,000, down 8,000. The 4-week moving average increased 250 to 212,250.

For most weeks of 2017 and 2018 claims were lower than the year before, but have been up and down in 2019. This suggests the labor situation has settled after several years of a tighter and tighter labor market following the Great Recession of 10 years ago.

​Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont State Police is investigating a fatal officer-involved shooting involving members of the Montpelier Police Department. Preliminary investigation indicates the incident occurred shortly after 5:30 am Friday, August 9, 2019, on Spring Street. The man who was shot was transported to Central Vermont Medical Center in Berlin, where he was pronounced deceased. The deceased man is identified as Mark Johnson, 62, of Montpelier.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont small group health insurance rate requests have been reduced by regulators, but still represent double-digit increases for 2020. The Green Mountain Care Board (GMCB) announced today its decision regarding BlueCross BlueShield of Vermont’s (BCBSVT) and MVP Health Care’s (MVP) requested rate increases for insurance plans offered through Vermont Health Connect (VHC) in 2020. Amended from the original filings, BCBSVT was granted a 12.4 percent increase (requested a 14.3% to 14.5% average annual rate increase) while MVP received a 10.1 percent increase (requested a 10.9% average annual rate increase).

“The Board is very frustrated about the unaffordable rate increases but must adhere to our statutory obligations,” said Board Chair Kevin Mullin.

Vermont Business Magazine The University of Vermont Medical Center Interim President, Dr Steve Leffler, today announced that Kate FitzPatrick, Chief Nursing Officer, DNP, RN, FAAN, will be leaving the organization on October 1. FitzPatrick, who also serves as Associate Dean for Academic and Practice Integration at the University of Vermont College of Nursing and Health Sciences, has accepted a position as the new System Senior Nursing Vice President for Practice and Clinical Development at Jefferson Health in Philadelphia, a 14-hospital health system in the greater Philadelphia region.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont), Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Thursday announced in Burlington that the University of Vermont is receiving $6.6 million from the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Health Resources and Services Administration’s Rural Communities Opioid Response Program for Rural Centers of Excellence on Substance Use Disorders.

Vermont Business Magazine The Snelling Center for Government is pleased to announce the Vermont School Leadership Project Class of 2020.

Vermont Business Magazine Among an increase of college closures and mergers, Sterling College in Vermont is bucking the trend by expanding its campus to a second site in Kentucky. After a competitive application process this spring, the first cohort of 12 students for the leading-edge Wendell Berry Farming Program of Sterling College, inspired by iconic American poet, novelist, activist, farmer and Kentucky native Wendell Berry, will begin studies in Henry County, Kentucky, in late August. With courses like Agroecology and Landscape, Food and Culture, students will spend their junior and senior years learning ways to contribute to the revitalization and renewal of rural agrarian communities in Kentucky and beyond.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) and Rep. Terri Sewell (D-Ala.) led a group of 19 Senators and 120 US Representatives demanding that the Department of Agriculture withdraw its “disastrous rule” that would kick over 3 million people off of food assistance. This would include Vermont's program which is called 3SquaresVT.

The Trump Administration’s proposed rule would end the streamlined eligibility option (what the administration calls a loophole) for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, aka, food stamps) for people who have already demonstrated that they qualify for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. According to the Administration’s own estimates, this proposal would strip benefits from 3.1 million people — nearly one in 10 recipients of nutrition assistance.

Vermont Fish & Wildlife Last observed in Vermont in 1997, the climbing fern has been spotted again growing in the Northeast Kingdom, according to Vermont Fish & Wildlife’s botanist Bob Popp. Considered extirpated in the state, the climbing fern (Lygodium palmatum), was confirmed by botanist Art Gilman along a VELCO-owned powerline. Powerlines in Vermont can be hotspots for rare, threatened, and endangered plants, and VELCO is working with botanists to conserve the fern.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Wood Works Council has announced the top 20 cheeseboard champs for the 2019 Vermont Cheeseboard Championship. The top 20 finalists that will be going to the final judging round are as follows (alphabetical by first name): Adam Claussen, Anne Selzelsky, Brent Karner, Dave Ferry, David Gonyon, David Lewis, Ed Roberts, Erin Ennis, Mark Debelstein, Matt Williams, Mike Rainville, Paul Christiansen, Peter Crane, Phil Biondo, Phil Mayer, Randy Crossman, Randy Pratico, Steve Hadeka, Travis Johnson & Will Boyea.