Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today detailed efforts to strengthen and expand higher education opportunities in Vermont, an important piece of the strategy to reverse the state’s aging demographic and workforce challenges. According to the 2017 State of Higher Education in Vermont report, Vermont colleges and universities attracted more than 44,000 students a year and employed more than 11,000 Vermonters in 2015. More than half of the students were from out-of-state. An analysis by the Association of Vermont Independent Colleges recently showed that Vermont’s independent colleges alone contributed more than $2 billion annually to Vermont’s economy. 

Vermont Business Magazine The most expensive hotel in the United States can be found in the western state of Montana, according to a new survey by Luxury-Hotels.com. Twin Farms in Barnard, Vermont, ranked fifth priciest in the nation and twice the cost of staying at the Waldorf Astoria in Beverly Hills. Most of the top ten were out West.

​Vermont Business Magazine Today, AARP announced the awardees for its 2019 AARP Community Challenge grant program, including two recipients right here in Vermont. A total of nearly $1.6 million will be distributed to fund 159 “quick action” projects across the country, helping communities make immediate improvements and jumpstart long-term progress to support residents of all ages. In Vermont, grants totaling more than $42,000 were awarded to the cities of Newport and Bennington for specific community development projects in those communities.

Vermont Business Magazine A Vermont high school skilled trades teacher is among 50 teachers and teacher teams from across the country who were named today as semifinalists for the 2019 Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence. Baxter Weed, a teacher at Cold Hollow Career Center in Enosburg Falls, and his skilled trades program, are in the running for a share of $1 million in total cash awards.

Weed, who teaches automotive technology, was chosen by an independent panel of judges from among a field of 749 skilled trades teachers who applied for the prize. The semifinalists—some competing as individuals and some as teacher teams—hail from 26 states and specialize in trades including manufacturing, welding, construction, automotive and agriculture mechanics.

Vermont Business Magazine Hazelett has been designing and manufacturing continuous casting machines for the global metal industries for 100 years. Hazelett technology is used in metal manufacturing processes worldwide to cast aluminum, copper, zinc, and lead into metal strip and bar used to create countless products. Today, over 100 Hazelett twin-belt continuous casting machines are operating in more than 24 countries. Hazelett will celebrate its century of manufacturing on Thursday at its Colchester plant.

by John Pelletier, Director of the Center for Financial Literacy at Champlain College On July 10, 2019, Fitch, a major credit agency, reduced Vermont’s bond rating. This was expected, after Moody’s, another large credit agency reduced Vermont’s bond rating in October 2018. Both rating agencies have the same concerns about Vermont and it’s economy.  As a result, future state and municipal borrowings costs will increase.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Labor has launched its newly designed website. The revamped site, which went live on Monday, July 8, 2019, offers users an uncluttered design and streamlined layout that is easier to navigate, and provides an overall more customer-focused experience.

Vermont Business Magazine The locally owned and operated Mt Philo Inn in Charlotte has been awarded the 2018 TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence. The achievement celebrates hospitality businesses that have earned great traveler reviews on TripAdvisor over the past year. Certificate of Excellence recipients include accommodations, restaurants and attractions located all over the world that have continually delivered a quality customer experience.

Vermont Business Magazine The Burlington Electric Department issued a peak day alert for tomorrow, July 17, as part of its Defeat the Peak program launched two summers ago, encouraging members of the Burlington community to reduce their energy usage tomorrow from 4:00-7:00pm.

Vermont Business Magazine National Life’s sixth annual Do Good Fest attracted an estimated 10,000 people on Saturday and raised $50,000 for cancer patients. With this year’s $50,000 donation, Branches of Hope, the cancer patient fund at Central Vermont Medical Center, has received a total of $185,000 in contributions from the Do Good Fest since 2014. Patients who may be out of work while undergoing cancer treatment can draw money from the fund to help cover bills and unexpected expenses.

Vermont Business Magazine Aspenti Health will now provide confirmation urine toxicology testing for Northwestern Medical Center (NMC). Northwestern Medical Center is recognized as one of the Top 100 Rural & Community Hospitals in the United States by iVantage Health Analytics and The Chartis Center for Rural Health. This type of recognition showcases Northwestern Medical Center's strength as a vital and valued community resource.

Vermont Business Magazine Rutland Regional Medical Center is celebrating a milestone in the construction phase of the new Thomas W Huebner Medical Office Building, with a “topping off” event to place one of the final beams on the structure. The beam will be painted white, and available for physicians, nurses, staff, volunteers, construction teams, and community members to sign later this week.

In April, Rutland Regional Medical Center broke ground on the new 37,000 square foot, two story medical office building named for former President and CEO Thomas W. Huebner. The building will house ENT (Ears, Nose & Throat) & Audiology, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, and the Vermont Orthopaedic Clinic (VOC) medical practices. The projected cost of the project is $23,883,569. The building is currently on budget and scheduled for June 2020 completion.