Current News

Vermont Business Magazine During the most recent quarter, the Vermont Economic Development Authority (VEDA) approved $5.1 million in financing to support commercial, agricultural, small business and energy development projects throughout Vermont. "Several exciting commercial, small business and energy projects were approved for loan assistance," said Jo Bradley, VEDA's Chief Executive Officer. "In addition, VEDA's Farm Operating Loan Program continues to provide cash flow relief to Vermont's dairy farmers to help them withstand the pressures of several years of low milk prices."

Included among the commercial financing approvals was:

by Bill Schubart The nation was appalled by televised scenes on America’s southern border of ICE forcibly separating children from their parents after a Justice Department ruling that to do so was legal and would deter further migration. Americans reacted quickly and the separations ended after a few days, although some several hundred families still have yet to be reunited.

by Louis Josephson, PhD It’s hard to turn on the radio or visit your favorite online news source these days without coming across a feature story or in-depth series about the state of mental health treatment here in Vermont and nationwide. More often than not, the media pays a good deal of attention to system inadequacies, regulatory and/or clinical missteps, perceived waste, and poorly coordinated care. Fair enough.

At the same time we’re seeing a lot more coverage of the steadily rising need for quality psychiatric and addiction services as increasing numbers of citizens from all walks of life struggle with serious mental illness and substance abuse. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention just issued a report indicating that suicide rates are up 33 percent since 1999, and that more than 47,000 Americans killed themselves in 2017.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Center for Independent Living, a statewide disability rights organization, recognized a Burlington restaurant on Nov. 29 for its commitment to accessibility. Butch & Babe’s owner Kortnee Bush received the Rosemary J. Miller Dining for All Award. Bush opened the Old North End eatery in 2015. Butch & Babe’s serves up good American food and a welcoming family and neighborhood atmosphere.

Cleary Buckley, a local architect who nominated the restaurant for the award, commented on the eatery’s accessible bar seating. “I especially think they did a great job creating a seated height bar that feels comfortable and welcoming to all — and not just a mandatory three-foot section like I see at so many other bars.”

Vermont Business Magazine Threshold 360 has announced that Vermont’s long-serving Deputy Commissioner of Tourism and Marketing, Steven Cook, will join their team as Director of Marketing. Cook will serve as a resource for domestic and international tourism destinations as they apply Threshold 360’s immersive experiences within their cities, towns, and communities.

Vermont Business Magazine Lake Champlain Chocolates Organic Bar line is the real deal in gourmet chocolate bars, crafted from fair trade certified chocolate and only the highest quality ingredients to create irresistible and award-winning flavors. With the busy holiday season upon us, Lake Champlain Chocolates (LCC) said in a press release that it is ready to bring joy to the season with irresistible chocolate gifts. The landscape of the chocolate industry has transformed over the past 35 years – with LCC continuing to be a leader in the marketplace. Premium chocolate is a sweet spot in the industry, showing double digit growth (+10.5% in $ and +16.7% units) over the last 52 weeks, according to the National Confectioners Association (NCA).

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.