Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott and the Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD) today announced the opening of the application process for $67,845,000 in Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funding in response to the July 2023 floods. These funds will benefit communities most impacted in regions designated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in consultation with state officials. Designated Most Impacted and Distressed (MID) areas include Lamoille, Washington, Caledonia, Orleans, Rutland, Windham, and Windsor counties.

Vermont State Police On 04-16-2023 Vermont State Police began investigating the death of 39-year-old Justin Cutler.  He was found deceased in his residence with suspected drugs and drug paraphernalia near his body.  His body was transported to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner and an autopsy determined that his cause and manner of death was an accidental fentanyl overdose.  

Vermont Business Magazine The following is a joint statement of the National Education Association, the Vermont-NEA, and the Winooski Education Association on the detention of Winooski Superintendent Wilmer Chavarria: As educators, we are appalled at the unjust interrogation and detention of Winooski Superintendent Wilmer Chavarria – a U.S. citizen – as he and his husband attempted to return to the United States from a recent trip abroad. The assault on immigrants and migrants at the hands of border and immigration officials is appalling and represents the worst impulses of the current federal administration. Superintendent Chavarria – who was born in a Honduran refugee camp, grew up in Nicaragua and eventually earned a bachelor’s and two master’s degrees – has been a citizen since 2018.

Vermont Business Magazine Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), announced that Thursday at 10 a.m., the HELP Committee will hold a bipartisan hearing on the need to expand employee ownership in Vermont and throughout the country. Testifying at the hearing will be Brock Barton, the Chief Financial Officer of King Arthur Baking Company, a world-famous employee-owned business headquartered in Norwich, Vermont, whom Sanders invited to testify.

Vermont Business Magazine U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont) today met with Dylan Collins, a Vermonter and video journalist for the Agence France-Presse (AFP) news agency, who was attacked and wounded by Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) while reporting in Southern Lebanon. Representatives for Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) and Representative Becca Balint (D-Vermont-At Large) also attended the meeting.   

by Jules Older Much — so much — has been published, televised, blogged and podcast about artificial intelligence, universally known as AI. Much of that deluge has focused on AI and the future of work. I've occasionally added to this downpour, e.g. my thoughts on AI and psychotherapy and illustration. The bulk of prognostication has focused on two themes: Will jobs be lost to AI and if so, which jobs? Will jobs be created by AI and if so, which jobs? 

Vermont Business Magazine An organization that traces its roots back to first lady Eleanor Roosevelt and her efforts to boost observances of Mother’s Day has honored a University of Vermont Medical Center nurse whose impact as a caregiver, mother and advocate embody the support, inspiration and mentorship of mothers nationwide. The recognition highlights Kathleen Lynch’s decades of community service, advocacy and efforts in support of inclusion and awareness around Down syndrome. She also received a commendation from the Vermont General Assembly, which in May passed House Concurrent Resolution 93 recognizing her decades of service to both her profession and her community. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Labor (VDOL) and the Vermont National Guard (VTNG) have formalized a new partnership by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) under the PRIME Program, a statewide initiative designed to connect VTNG Service members and their families with meaningful civilian employment opportunities. The PRIME Program (Partnered Recruiting Initiative for Military and Employers) aims to improve recruitment and retention for the Vermont National Guard while simultaneously helping Vermont employers, including VDOL, fill critical workforce vacancies with qualified candidates.

Vermont Business Magazine U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-Vermont) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) this week introduced the bicameral 340B Pharmaceutical Access To Invest in Essential, Needed Treatments & Support (PATIENTS) Act, legislation that would protect the 340B drug pricing program and ensure patients—especially those in lower income and rural communities—can continue care with providers who utilize the program. U.S. Representative Doris Matsui (D-CA-07) has led companion legislation in the House of Representatives. 

Vermont Business Magazine Thanks to generous funding from Burlington law firm Paul Frank + Collins, United Way of Northwest Vermont’s Working Bridges program has launched a $10,000 Bridge Fund for Housing to support working Vermonters in finding and keeping housing in the Burlington area. United Way’s Working Bridges is an innovative program designed to improve job retention, stability and advancement by supporting employees with community resources. Using the workplace to connect with employees directly, Working Bridges resource coordinators help employees navigate life challenges impacting their ability to succeed at work.   

Vermont Business Magazine The who's who of Vermont's ski and snowboarding world will gather at Killington’s K1 Lodge on Saturday, October 18th to celebrate the Induction of the class of 2025 into the Vermont Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame. The event, hosted by the Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum, will also honor the recipients of the Paul Robbins Journalism Award, First Tracks Award, and the Bill McCollom Community Award. One of the highlights of the event will be the premier of short biographical films created for each inductee shown before their acceptance speeches.

Vermont Business Magazine U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont) this week introduced the Waste and Illegal Property Eradication (WIPE) Act and the Health Records Enhancement Act, bipartisan, bicameral bills that would improve, expand, and enhance protections for veterans under the Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act (PACT) Act in addition to eliminating burn pits to help prevent future toxic exposure cases. U.S. Representatives Raul Ruiz (D-CA-25) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL-12) introduced companion legislation for both bills in the House. U.S. Representative Claudia Tenney (R-NY-24) is a cosponsor of the Health Records Enhancement Act in the House.