Current News
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Vermont Business Magazine The American Red Cross of New Hampshire & Vermont has announced several new members to the organization’s Board of Directors for fiscal year 2020.
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Vermont Business Magazine The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF) has announced the expansion of its nationwide Care Center Network with the selection of eight additional sites, including the University of Vermont Medical Center. The PFF’s Care Center Network, a collection of medical centers with expertise in accurately diagnosing and treating individuals with pulmonary fibrosis (PF), now has 68 sites in 33 states. The eight new sites will increase access to high-quality care and services that are critical to the local PF community.
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Vermont Business Magazine Over the past several years, Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC) has trained hundreds of people to become licensed nursing assistants (LNA). Many have gone on to rewarding careers in the health system’s skilled nursing facilities or in the hospital’s inpatient units. Prospective students should apply by August 16.
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Vermont Business Magazine Monday marked the beginning of health care delivery to Vermont and New Hampshire veterans under the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) contract awarded to Optum Public Sector Solutions, Inc.
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Vermont Business Magazine SeaComm Federal Credit Union recently celebrated the groundbreaking for its seventh retail branch location at 1680 Shelburne Road in South Burlington, VT. The planned 3,500 sq. foot building is schedule to be completed by year-end. SeaComm is a member owned financial cooperative based in Massena, NY with more than 47,300 members and assets over $550 million. The credit union has branches in Massena, Potsdam, Malone, Canton, Ogdensburg and Plattsburgh NY. Membership is open to anyone who lives, works, worships or attends school in St. Lawrence, Franklin, Clinton or Essex Counties in NY and Grand Isle, Franklin and Chittenden Counties of Vermont.
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Vermont Business Magazine Cult designer toy brand Superplastic announced new funding today and launched an innovative animated entertainment division focused on bringing its popular characters to life. The company's first two synthetic celebrities, Janky and Guggimon, officially dropped today on Instagram. Craft Ventures led the $10 million Series A with participation from luminary investors including Founders Fund's Cyan Banister, Global Village, Betaworks, Index Ventures, Canaan, Scooter Braun, Kevin Weil, Scott Belsky, Shrug Capital, and many others.
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by John McClaughry Under a directive from the Federal EPA, Vermont has spent $66 million over the past three years to cope with serious phosphorus pollution in parts of Lake Champlain. State Auditor of Accounts Doug Hoffer has just released a Report on how that money is being spent, and the results obtained. Before getting to Hoffer’s findings – which are very significant – it’s worth asking why the Champlain Basin has a serious phosphorus problem. Lakes surrounded by wilderness rarely exhibit such a problem. Naturally occurring phosphorus in the soil leaches into waterways and lakes, and arrives at an equilibrium without creating the blue green algae blooms that have seriously reduced Lake Champlain’s water quality.
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by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Vermont budget writers should not get comfortable with the windfall tax revenue surplus the state enjoyed in the recently concluded fiscal year (June 30), because much of it was generated by one-time events. The General Fund surplus was nearly $60 million. And while you might want to walk on eggshells around it, two state economists told Governor Scott and key legislators that even with their concerns, the economy is still doing well and tax revenues the next couple of years should increase another $20-25 million.
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by Vermont Governor Phil Scott and New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu America’s governors and Canada’s premiers work closely together to advance shared priorities and address issues of concern. Over the last two years, we have watched closely as our federal governments negotiated a new trade agreement that has a very large impact on our economies. Now, after these negotiations concluded and a new, and better, trade agreement – known as the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) – was put forward, we are still waiting for the agreement to be reviewed, and ratified, by the US Congress.
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Encourages Community to Reduce Energy Usage from 3:00-7:00pm
Vermont Business Magazine The Burlington Electric Department issued a peak alert for Tuesday, July 30 as part of its Defeat the Peak program launched two summers ago, encouraging members of the Burlington community to reduce their energy usage from 3:00-7:00pm on that day.
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by Brandon Arcari, Vermont Business Magazine The farm families of St. Albans Cooperative Creamery voted to approve a merger with Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) July 29. The vote, with 108 of the 307 voting members casting a vote, was 99-9 in favor of the merger.
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Vermont Business Magazine Job growth in the United States is a hot topic right now as unemployment is the lowest it’s been since the 50’s. The US unemployment rate is 3.7 percent, while Vermont, with the nation's lowest, stands at a historic 2.1 percent (June, seasonally adjusted). Monthly jobs reports are causing stock market fluctuations as well. There are many variables that go into that report, such as the types of jobs, the industries, and the expected term (seasonal vs full-time). In Vermont, Substance Abuse, Behavior Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors represent the fastest growing occupation, with a 160 percent increase over the last 10 years.