Current News

Vermont Business Magazine During his Orleans County Capitol for a Day tour this week, Governor Phil Scott announced a new grant program available to help Vermont communities use outdoor recreation opportunities to grow their local economies. The Vermont Outdoor Recreation Communities pilot grant program, proposed by the Scott Administration and passed by the Legislature in Act 194, will award grants ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 to one or more Vermont localities to support development of “outdoor recreation friendly” communities.

The program was a recommendation from the Governor’s Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economic Collaborative (VOREC), which is working toward four primary goals:

Vermont Business Magazine On Tuesday Secretary of State Jim Condos joined Senators Chris Pearson and Michael Sirotkin, Representative Linda Myers, Deputy Secretary of Commerce & Community Development Ted Brady, and local business leaders at Stonecutter Spirits Highball Social in Burlington to discuss ongoing efforts to increase access and ease of use for business owners, entrepreneurs, and citizens who need to interact with Vermont government agencies.

Vermont Business Magazine Representatives Bob Goodlatte (R-Virginia), Peter Welch (D-Vermont), and Steve Womack (R-Arkansas) released the following statement on President Trump’s proposal to lift a federal ban on summer sales of gasoline containing 15 percent ethanol. The limit now is 10 percent. Welch, among others, had been an early supporter of ethanol until the repercussions of using corn for fuel became evident.

“Efforts to prop up the ethanol industry have been a well-intentioned flop, and today’s announcement from the current administration will profoundly impact consumers. By proposing to allow the sale of high-level ethanol blends during summer months, the administration has chosen to support a one-sided solution that further helps ethanol producers while punishing hardworking Americans.

Vermont Business Magazine Northern Vermont University-Johnson has received a five-year grant from the US Department of Education to boost student retention, broadening campus initiatives implemented in previous years that improved retention of first-year students. The $1.8 million Title III Strengthening Institutions grant, which began Oct. 1, will support measures to enhance student success through retention and graduation. The grant will enable NVU-Johnson to bolster academic and career advising, increase opportunities for undergraduate research and internships, and modify large, introductory courses that most first- and second-year students take in various disciplines. The grant creates integrated academic support for students and continues NVU-Johnson’s strong first-year experience with support for years 2-4.

Vermont Business Magazine Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development Anne Hazlett on Monday announced that the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $181 million in 88 projects that will build community infrastructure and facilities in 27 states including Vermont. USDA has approved a loan for $7.4 million for the City of Winooski. This Rural Development investment will help the Downtown Revitalization Project become a reality for the City of Winooski by funding the streetscaping portion. The current streetscape and traffic layout do not promote alternative modes of transportation. Pedestrian crossings are limited, and bicycle accommodations do not exist. This loan will help to alleviate these problems. The underground utilities work will be financed through a commercial lender for $6.5 million.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott was in the Northeast Kingdom today and while in Albany announced the allocation of $2.8 million in state tax incentives for 16 projects, supporting more than $324 million in downtown and village center construction and rehabilitation efforts. At a press conference Tuesday, the governor praised local efforts to revitalize communities and showcased the Albany Community Trust’s effort to re-open and expand the Albany General Store, which closed due to a fire in 2014.

by Maia Segura, Vermont Business Magazine In the landscape of hospitality, Vermont hosts a plethora of unusual lodging experiences. Destination travelers can opt to stay in a yurt, carriage house, teepee, sugarhouse, or even a barn with costs that can be upwards of $1100 per night. These locations, despite the price tag, are getting booked with greater frequency.

Vermont Business Magazine The Champlain College Center for Financial Literacy is receiving $200,000 over the course of two years from the Northfield Savings Bank Foundation (NSBF), the charitable arm of Northfield Savings Bank, to help Vermont educators implement new financial literacy education standards. Along with the grant from NSBF, the Center is also receiving $45,000 in funding from the National Life Group Foundation; and $16,000 from Next Gen Personal Finance.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the State of Vermont was awarded a total of $18,966,000 in Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund (SRF) grants to finance community-based water infrastructure projects, such as upgrades to municipal sewage plants and public drinking water systems.

“Communities across Vermont will enjoy cleaner water and make important infrastructure upgrades thanks to this funding,” said EPA New England Regional Administrator Alexandra Dunn. “These low-cost loans further EPA’s commitment to ensuring American communities have access to clean water, safe drinking water and the infrastructure necessary to support local needs.”

Vermont Business Magazine The Visiting Nurse Association of Chittenden and Grand Isle Counties has changed its name to The University of Vermont Health Network Home Health & Hospice. The new name and brand identity signify a formal affiliation with The University of Vermont Health Network, which began on January 1, 2018. The UVM Health Network Home Health & Hospice is the first affiliate of The UVM Health Network to provide post-acute, community-based care.

“This new name reflects our partnership with The UVM Health Network’s member hospitals and physician organization and our shared commitment to providing seamless, patient-centered care across all providers. High-quality home health and hospice services are integral to a fully integrated, regional health care system. Our new name and brand identity align with our role in the Network,” said Judy Peterson, The UVM Health Network Home Health & Hospice president and CEO.

Vermont Business Magazine Copley Hospital has completed its 2018 Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) and posted the results and implementation plan on its website, copleyvt.org. Through the CHNA process, Copley has determined the top health needs of the community are: Preventative Care, Mental Health, Chronic Health Conditions, and Substance Use/Abuse. The Hospital has developed an implementation plan for addressing these needs including services/programs the hospital already offers, new services/programs the hospital may add, other organizations the hospital may partner with and metrics the hospital will use to track progress.

Vermont Business Magazine The Friends of Norris Cotton Cancer Center has announced the election of seven new members, including three from Vermont, and a new chairperson to its Lebanon Board of Directors and two new members to its Friends South board. As active community members, each person will serve as an ambassador for Dartmouth-Hitchcock Norris Cotton Cancer Center to people in Vermont and New Hampshire, finding ways to increase awareness and fundraising for this nationally recognized center.

“The Friends of Norris Cotton Cancer Center plays a crucial role in achieving the Cancer Center’s mission,” says Steven Leach, MD, cancer center director. “The Friends’ ongoing work with the people in our region – producing events, conveying important information to the community as well as bringing important messages back – creates a strong relationship with the people we serve. I very much look forward to working with these new Friends.”