Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Bar Harbor Bank & Trust has made a donation to the Vermont Chamber Foundation for The Vermont Futures Project, a data-driven initiative to secure Vermont’s economic future. The Vermont Futures Project is an independent non-partisan organization with a goal of providing a vision that supports and encourages long-term economic growth for Vermont, providing data and recommendations to achieve this goal. The Vermont Futures Project will position the economy in the center of a statewide discussion about Vermont’s future, enriching that discussion with data, benchmarks, and research – demonstrating how a healthy economy provides opportunities for people and contributes to Vermont’s unique quality of life.

Vermont Business Magazine The Snelling Center for Government is pleased to announce the graduates of the Vermont School Leadership Project Class of 2018. The culminating celebration for the Class of 2018 took place on November 10, 2018 at Lake Morey Resort in Fairlee. These 25 school leaders were joined by family and friends for the occasion, which included a keynote address by social entrepreneur and educator, Hal Colston. Colston shared personal examples of educators who had inspired him along the way and encouraged the group to work from their heart with compassion to help all students feel a sense of value and belonging. Colston’s message highlighted the important role educators fill in creating meaningful communities to improve not only the lives of students but also the needs of society.

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General TJ Donovan announced today that four state agencies have established a working group to study the opportunities and challenges presented by blockchain technology. In addition to the Attorney General’s Office, the Department of Financial Regulation (DFR), the Secretary of State, and the Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD) will make up the working group. The working group will engage stakeholders and interested industry experts.

Vermont Business Magazine Norwich University announced a new Master’s in Athletic Training beginning Fall 2019, at which point the Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences program will serve as an on-ramp to the master’s degree in a five-year program. Starting in fall 2019, the Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training program will begin the transition to an accelerated Master’s in Athletic Training program, allowing students to earn their Bachelors of Health Sciences and Master’s in Athletic training in five years. A “3+2” program, students will begin graduate level course work in their fourth year, then continue through the summer and fifth year. The first Masters class is expected to complete their degrees in the spring of 2024.

Vermont Business Magazine Carol Audette and Steve Lipkin, leading Realtors in Vermont, announced today that their two teams will merge effective January 2019, becoming the top selling real estate team in Vermont for both number of properties sold and total sales volume. The newly formed “Lipkin Audette Team” will continue to benefit from their affiliation with Coldwell Banker Hickok & Boardman Realty, a premiere, full-service brokerage with headquarters in Burlington.

Photo courtesy Lipkin Audette Team

Vermont Business Magazine Trustees of Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health (D-HH) announced Friday that they have unanimously approved and endorsed a plan for a major new construction project, estimated to cost approximately $130 million, including a third inpatient tower on the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC) campus in Lebanon.

At their quarterly meeting on Dec. 7, the Board enthusiastically affirmed a plan presented by D-HH leadership that would implement the first major capital improvement to the Lebanon campus since the 2015 opening of the Williamson Translational Research Building. The project plan includes a 132,000 square-foot, 60-bed inpatient tower, along with renovation and expansion of DHMC’s Emergency Department, and the proposed construction of a new parking garage on site.

Vermont Business Magazine The Burlington Business Association , in close collaboration with the Church Street Marketplace , is pleased to announce the implementation of a holiday street ambassador team. Recognized by their bright yellow jackets from Chocolate Thunder Security , the ambassadors will be present downtown this holiday season, working to ensure visitors have an inviting, informed and safe visit to Vermont’s largest city.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Arts Council has awarded grants to artists, arts organizations, and communities throughout Vermont. The projects funded through these grants are as vital and varied as the state's creative sector -- ranging from a Cultural Facilities Grant that helps fund the installation of an ADA-compliant elevator to a Creation Grant of $4,000 that will enable a poet to create new work. FY2019 grants were awarded in the categories of Artist Development, Artists in Schools, Arts Impact, Arts Partnership, Creation, Cultural Facilities, and Head Start Arts Integration. The Council awarded 110 grants totaling $518,688. A full list of grantees is available on the Vermont Arts Council website.

Vermont Business Magazine NorthCountry Federal Credit Union presented at $50,000 grant award to COTS this afternoon at COTS’ main program and housing facility, 95 North Avenue.

This generous grant will support COTS’ work to end homelessness in our community. COTS is the largest service provider for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in Vermont. The nonprofit organization provides year-round emergency program shelters for single adults and families with children; homelessness prevention services; and transitional and permanent housing.

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General T.J. Donovan yesterday joined a multistate coalition to file an amicus brief in support of a lawsuit brought by the ACLU to protect asylum seekers. The suit challenges the federal government’s efforts to prevent people who have not entered the country at a designated “port of entry” from applying for asylum in the United States. Over 6,000 Central American immigrants, including over 1,000 children, are currently stranded outside California ports of entry waiting for an opportunity to present their asylum claims to federal immigration officials. The suit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

Event part of Governor’s “Capitol for a Day” initiative

Vermont Business Magazine As part of Governor Phil Scott’s “Capitol for a Day” initiative, he toured a wildlife underpass project along Route 15 in Wolcott on lands owned by the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department. The project promotes safe movement of wildlife under the road and is being completed through a partnership with VTrans, Vermont Fish & Wildlife, The Nature Conservancy and the town of Wolcott.

Vermont Business Magazine Thursday, Governor Phil Scott announced the appointment of Sarah Squirrell to be the next Commissioner of the Vermont Department of Mental Health. Squirrell will take over on January 1, 2019, for Mourning Fox who has been serving as the Interim Commissioner since Melissa Bailey’s departure in October. Fox will resume his position as Deputy Commissioner, a role he has been serving in for the last two years.