Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The American Lung Association today applauded and thanked Senators Virginia Lyons and Deborah Ingram and the Vermont Legislature for passing legislation (S.86) to raise the age of sale of all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, from 18 to 21. The House passed it last week 124-14. It would take effect September 1, 2019.

Vermont Business Magazine Norwich University’s Design Build Collaborative along with partners Downstreet Housing & Community Development and Washington County Mental Health Services announced today the near completion of LIFT, an affordable, energy-efficient tiny house designed and built by Norwich University students and faculty as a prototype for residents in need.

Leadership from all three organizations gathered on Friday, April 26, at Norwich University to announce the initiative and to showcase LIFT (rendering pictured), the first house completed under this project.

The partnership:

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Attorney General TJ Donovan announced today that an Oregon court has enjoined the federal government from implementing a new Title X funding regulation. Vermont joined the lawsuit to protect the basic healthcare needs of 10,000 Vermonters. Title X is the only national federal grant program that is dedicated solely to providing comprehensive family planning and preventative health care, such as cancer screenings. In Vermont, the only recipient of Title X funds are 10 Planned Parenthood health care centers located around the state.

Vermont Business Magazine The ninth annual Slow Living Summit will take place in Brattleboro on Thursday, June 6 and Friday, June 7. Presented by Strolling of the Heifers and Windham Grows, the Summit’s focus is “The Future of Women in Food Entrepreneurship” and its goal is to bring together diverse entrepreneurs in the farm and food industries, providing them with tools, resources, and mentorship they need to grow socially responsible businesses.

Vermont Business Magazine Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC) Foundation has renamed its annual Vision Award for Distinguished Community Service for Sean Casey, a member of the SVHC Board of Trustees, who passed away suddenly last month. “Sean’s passing came as a tremendous shock to all of us and to the community,” said SVHC’s President and CEO Thomas A Dee, FACHE. “We miss his intellect, his sense of humor, and his generosity of spirit. In fact, Sean is exactly the type of person that we acknowledge for distinguished community service.” 

Tommy Harmon, the chair of the Board of Trustees added, “When one of our board members recommended we change the name of the award to reflect Sean’s legacy, everyone agreed. We will all take pride in calling it the Sean L Casey Distinguished Community Service Award.” 

by Rob Roper Recently the Lake Champlain Chamber of Commerce surveyed 500 young professionals, primarily Burlington area residents between the ages of 22 and 34, and learned that over 40% intend to leave Vermont. Why? The high cost of housing, the overall high cost of living, and the lack of upwardly mobile career paths. While the high number eyeing the exits may come as a shock, the reasons are not. We’ve known for a long time these are things that need fixing.

Vermont Business Magazine On April 16, the Castleton University Women’s Hockey Team presented a donation of $2,831 in the form of a giant pink check, to the Foley Cancer Center in support of RRMC’s Breast Care Program. These proceeds were raised from the annual Pink the Rink event held on January 25, 2019 at Spartan Arena. Among those present at the presentation were physicians and staff from the Foley Cancer Center, Castleton University President Karen Scolforo, Athletic Director Deanna Tyson, Head Coach Mike Venezia, and members of the ice hockey team.

Vermont Business Magazine Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc (NYSE: BHLB) reported GAAP net income of $24 million, or $0.51 per share, in the first quarter of 2019. The non-GAAP measure of core earnings totaled $28 million, or $0.60 per share. Non-core expenses were primarily composed of merger and restructuring charges. The Board authorized the repurchase of 2.4 million common shares for the period expiring on March 31, 2020. This replaces the Company's existing unused 500,000 share repurchase authorization. Berkshire Bank has branches in southwestern Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine The 3rd Annual Southern Vermont Economy Summit will take place on May 23rd at the Grand Summit Lodge at Mount Snow in Dover, Vermont. Registration is now open at www.SoVermontSummit.com. The perennial event’s focus is to connect economic development practitioners, private and public sector employers, investors, and all levels of government across Southern Vermont’s Bennington and Windham Counties. Speakers and sessions for the day long event are chosen and structured in order to share knowledge and best practices relevant for increasing capacity and collaboration in the region. This year’s theme is “Investing in Southern Vermont’s Future”. 

Vermont Business Magazine The last commencement ceremony of Green Mountain College’s 185-year legacy will be held on Sunday, May 19, 2019 at 10 am. The administration and the board of trustees of the College elected to break with tradition this year and will not have a single commencement speaker. In place of a commencement address the graduates, their families and friends will hear remarks from a selection of speakers ranging from a long-serving member of the faculty, current and former trustees, an alum and a graduating senior selected by a panel of students, faculty and staff.

Vermont Business Magazine Norwich University President Richard W. Schneider announced to trustees on Thursday, April 25, that Professor Emeritus Don Wallace, who retired in 2017 after over five decades of teaching in Norwich’s Mechanical Engineering Department and passed away in November 2018, left in his will over $3 million to the David Crawford School of Engineering (DCSE).

Leonine Public Affairs With only three weeks left in the 2019 legislative session there are a number of high profile issues that have yet to be resolved. The session may go longer but if lawmakers adjourn in 18 weeks, as scheduled, the last day of the session will be May 18. It does appear legislative leadership is trying to stick to this schedule. Morning committees in the Senate will shut down one week from today which is typically a sign that the budget and revenue bills will be resolved two weeks later.