Current News

Vermont Business Magazine On Wednesday, April 17, officials at Castleton University were alerted of a potential threat. Castleton Director of Public Safety Keith Molinari reviewed a recording of a current nursing faculty member making specific threats of violence against targeted members of the Castleton community. The recording is suspected to be up to two weeks old. The Castleton community was alerted of the potential threat through the University's emergency alert system on Wednesday afternoon. Castleton's Emergency Management Team is coordinating a response with regional law enforcement, who are further investigating.

Source: CASTLETON, VT (04/17/2019) 2:15 pm

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health is investigating an outbreak of gastrointestinal (GI) illness at Norwich University after more than two dozen students and staff reported being sick. Health officials say the administration at Norwich is cooperating in the investigation. Based on the symptoms and length of illness reported, norovirus is suspected but has not yet been confirmed through laboratory testing.

Norovirus is a common cause of gastrointestinal illness. Symptoms often include diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach cramps. People who are ill from a norovirus may also experience headaches, body aches and fever.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced the Department of Financial Regulation (DFR) has released an additional 259,315 pages of records related to the EB-5 and Jay Peak fraud. These newly-released documents are available now for download at eb5.vermont.gov/public-records. This marks the end of DFR records related to EB-5 and Jay Peak fraud. Per the Governor’s document disclosure plan, approximately a half million pages of documents from other agencies and departments, including the Agency of Commerce and Community Development, are being prepared for release and will be posted on a rolling basis.

Vermont Business Magazine LaunchVT has selected the eight Vermont startups that will be participating in its 2019 Accelerator Cohort. This is the seventh cohort of startups to come through LaunchVT’s acceleration program. Over the past six years LaunchVT has provided business development support, strategic coaching, and over $550,000 in cash and services to accelerate 43 Vermont startups.

Vermont Business Magazine Mach7 Technologies Inc, a Burlington company specializing in innovative data management solutions for healthcare providers, has been contracted by Virginia's Sentara Healthcare for its Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) modernization project. Financial terms were not disclosed. Sentara Healthcare is looking to modernize their PACS through a reconstructed architecture that will utilize Mach7's Enterprise Imaging Platform, which was implemented as part of a previous contract, as well as Mach7 Diagnostic Studio and Client Outlook's eUnity diagnostic viewer.

Vermont Business Magazine BioTek, a Winooski-based life science instrumentation firm has been granted $96,887 from the State‘s Vermont Training Program. BioTek will work with the Vermont Manufacturing Extension Center (VMEC) to develop and deliver the Lean Fundamentals (Lean 101) and Improving Workplace Communication curriculum.  The first training will incorporate classroom, simulation, and selection of real opportunities faced by those diverse teams from BioTek. The second training will be utilized to help support and sustain improvement in communication, so a culture of collaboration emerges, and productivity can be enhanced.

Vermont Research News Vermont has the lowest unemployment rate in the U.S. at 2.4 percent (tied with three other states), according to new data from the Public Assets Institute.  The report also found that Vermont wages grew faster than any state in New England, except New Hampshire in the last quarter. Yet the state still has the second lowest average wage in New England, at $19.70. Half of workers earn more than the median wage and half earn less.

Vermont Business Magazine Twenty Vermont entrepreneurs have been selected to participate in an executive-level training program starting April 19 at Vermont Technical College in Williston. Emerging Leaders is a free training program for entrepreneurs wanting to expand their small businesses. During the seven-month course, the 20 students work with their instructor and a network of industry experts to create a three-year strategic growth plan. 

“Since Vermont started hosting this class in 2016, we have had more than 250 applicants. It shows there is a real demand for a class like this in Vermont. This year we have 20 more enthusiastic entrepreneurs willing to put in the time to learn how to grow their business in Vermont,” said Darcy Carter, SBA Vermont District Director.

Vermont Business Magazine Opportunities to learn and excel shouldn’t be limited by age, income, distance, or any other factor that can adversely influence the trajectory of an individual’s personal and career ambitions. That’s why the College of Arts and Sciences and Continuing and Distance Education at the University of Vermont have combined efforts to launch a new Online Degree Completion program. Starting this fall, students will have access to a 60-credit online degree program that provides a flexible, affordable and convenient pathway to a B.A. with a major in Anthropology and a minor in English or Writing.

by Representative Heidi Scheuermann, R-Stowe For the first time - in recent memory anyway - our state's tourism and hospitality industry came to Montpelier en masse two weeks ago for our First Annual Tourism Day at the State House. Through my years in the House, I have seen far too often that many legislators and other state leaders simply don't understand the industry itself, or the incredible impact the industry has on our state as a whole. As such, investments made into the marketing of Vermont as a tourist destination have fallen further and further behind our competition - throughout the region, nationally, and globally. 
 

Vermont Business Magazine US Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) issued the following statement after President Donald Trump vetoed the resolution to end US support for the Saudi-led war in Yemen: "I am disappointed, but not surprised, that Trump has rejected the bi-partisan resolution to end U.S. involvement in the horrific war in Yemen...

by Brian J Sullivan, Esq, MSK Attorneys, Burlington For many years, employers in the travel and tourism sector of the Vermont economy have encountered difficulties in finding American workers to do important work to keep that industry functioning. Although important, that work is often menial in nature and requires performance of repetitive tasks. Finding local residents to empty the trash, clean floors and windows, wash dishes and bus tables has proven extremely challenging. Even after offering hourly rates above minimum wage, employers in this crucial sector of our economy have found that they must rely on aliens to perform that labor.

This phenomenon is not unique to Vermont.  Throughout the country, businesses with seasonal or periodic demand for entry-level employment have encountered the same challenges.