Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The morning of February 3 began as many others have this season for the Castleton University alpine ski team: a successful first run by the women had the Spartans sitting atop the team leaderboard with five racers among the top 10 individuals. The men's race got off to a quick start for the Spartans as well; Paul Rechberger and Logan Mackie each sat in the top five after strong opening runs. It wasn't until Babson College's Victor Wiacek took his first run that the day changed drastically for Wiacek and two Castleton women's skiers.

Vermont Business Magazine Representative Peter Welch (D-Vermont) along with Representative Pete Stauber (R-Minn) has reintroduced in the new Congress legislation to extend the North Country National Scenic Trail from Crowne Point, NY into Addison County, linking it to the Appalachian National Scenic Trail via Vermont’s Long Trail. Both the Senate and the House are expected to approve public lands legislation that incorporates Welch’s bill, clearing the way for President Trump to sign it into law.

Vermont Business Magazine The funds from the TD Charitable Foundation will support the creation of Norwich University’s Design Build Collaborative. Building on the seven different affordable housing prototypes Norwich has developed since 2011, the Collaborative will not only continue to design and prototype regionally informed, resilient housing, but also organize and coordinate related research and programs between the schools that make up the College of Professional Schools: Architecture + Art; Business & Management; David Crawford School of Engineering; and Nursing to produce and site additional affordable homes in the next several years. The houses built through the Collaborative will be created for low-income Vermonters, providing a cost-effective means of homeownership.

Vermont Business Magazine The Walter Cerf Community Fund (WCCF), a component fund of the Vermont Community Foundation, announces $251,060 in grants to 35 organizations to support work through summer 2019. The grants from the 2018 application round, some of which will be awarded over three years, support a range of organizations and projects focused on the arts, education, historic preservation, social services, and the needs of underserved populations—reflecting the pattern of giving established by Walter Cerf during his lifetime. The Cerf Fund’s giving since its establishment in 2001 is part of the lasting charitable legacy of a remarkable and generous man who wanted to make a difference in Addison County and Brandon.

Vermont Business Magazine LendingTree, the nation's leading online loan marketplace, today released its report comparing mortgage rates by state. California is lowest at 4.74%. New York is highest at 4.96%. Vermont is at 4.87% (38th). New Hampshire is 23rd at 4.84%.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, Patrick McKee, President & CEO at Wake Robin in Shelburne announced that he will be retiring from his position by Labor Day 2019. McKee has served as President and CEO of the non-profit, Lifecare Community since May 2014. During McKee’s tenure at Wake Robin, he has overseen the development and management of the Maple Expansion Project, which includes construction of a new apartment building, an expanded community center, and expansion and updates to the Linden Health Center. 

“We will be conducting a nationwide search for our next President and CEO,” said Eric Hanson, Wake Robin Board Chair. “Patrick has been a great asset to Wake Robin as we have navigated growth of facility and programming during his tenure. We will miss his calm demeanor, leadership and wry sense of humor.”

by Dustin A Degree The Legislature’s Next Generation Commission was asked to “develop a plan to encourage Vermonters to live and work in Vermont.”  Six months later, it reported that “Vermont faces critical demographic shifts” and we must “implement bold strategies immediately if it is to retain its economic vitality…”It noted finding skilled workers to fill available jobs will become more difficult for employers, hurting our economy and our ability to support vital public services and invest in our priorities.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced the appointment of Lisa Hango as Representative for the Franklin-5 district serving Highgate, Franklin, Berkshire, and Richford in the House of Representatives. Hango, a Republican, will serve the two-seat district along with Representative Charen Fegard (D). Hango, a resident of Berkshire, was appointed to fill the seat vacated by Joshua Aldrich, also a Republican.

“Lisa has dedicated a great deal of time to supporting her Franklin County community, serving on numerous boards, including the Berkshire school board and now serving as the vice chair of the Northern Mountain Valley Union District,” said Governor Scott. “She will be a great addition to the Legislature and represent the people of Franklin-5 well.”

Vermont Business Magazine Gifford Health Care seeks applicants for the 2019 Philip D. Levesque Memorial Community Award, a $1,000 grant given annually to a local organization involved in the arts, health, community development, education, or the environment. The Gifford Board of Trustees established the award in 1994 in memory of Levesque, Gifford’s beloved president and chief executive officer from 1973-1994.

“Philip Levesque was an admired leader who was dedicated to serving our communities in the White River Valley,” said Ashley Lincoln, Gifford director of development and public relations. “His legacy of generosity continues through this award, and we look forward to reviewing applications from the many community-focused organizations in our area.”

Vermont Business Magazine Alpine Telehealth, a new Brattleboro, Vermont company, aims to tackle the ongoing crisis in the mental health system in Vermont using telemedicine to provide remote access to mental health treatment. Telemedicine is the practice of remote diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions video-conferencing technology to remotely connect health care professionals with individuals in need of care. 

Vermonters in the midst of a mental health crisis often wait days, even weeks in hospital emergency departments without receiving needed treatment while they await placement in one of the limited inpatient psychiatric beds throughout the state. Additionally, many primary care providers lack the medical expertise to provide the most effective mental health treatment,​ ​which results in many individuals with a mental illness not receiving the quality care they require. 

by John McClaughry Last summer the Joint Fiscal Office awarded a legislatively-mandated contract to Resources for the Future, a Washington consulting firm, “to analyze the costs and benefits for Vermont of adopting and implementing policies to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions caused by Vermont’s consumption of fossil fuels.”

Vermont Business Magazine Southwestern Vermont Council on Aging (SVCOA) and Community Care Network – Rutland Mental Health Services today announced a new partnership that provides free caregiver counseling to family caregivers in Rutland County in 2019. The program, which will focus on reducing caregiver stress, will help participants learn and implement strategies for stress reduction, limit the physical and emotional impacts of caregiving, encourage caregivers to engage in better self-care, improve overall mental health and expand their support systems. In an effort to accommodate the needs and schedules of caregivers, the counseling service will be offered in-home as well as at SVCOA’s administrative office in Rutland.