Current News

Vermont Business Magazine On June 10, 1918, Putnam Memorial Hospital, now known as Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC), opened to patients. A century later that 30-bed hospital has grown into one of New England’s leading rural healthcare systems. “A hundred years of caring for generation after generation in Bennington County and beyond is certainly a milestone worth celebrating,” said Thomas A. Dee, FACHE, SVHC’s president and CEO “Equally worthy of celebration is what SVHC is today—one of the best and most innovative community health care systems in the region—and how we are growing our services to meet the needs of the future.”

Vermont Business Magazine Seven child care and preschool providers around the state that are located within 200 feet of current or former dry cleaning businesses are partnering with state agencies to assess indoor air quality to ensure they are not impacted by chemicals associated with dry cleaning. The assessment work is precautionary, and the state stands ready to provide mitigation support if needed.

State officials emphasized that this proactive effort is based on an understanding of the potential impact of chemicals used by dry cleaners. At this time there have been no reported cases of illnesses linked to this issue and there have not been any issues reported with any of the children’s programs being tested. All seven child care and preschool facilities are open and operating as usual.

Vermont Business Magazine States are making modest improvements in personal finance education standards, but they still have a long way to go, including Vermont which earned a "D," according to the third report card on state efforts to improve financial literacy in American high schools. John Pelletier, director of the Center for Financial Literacy at Champlain College, which produced the report card, says American high schools have improved incrementally, in part because previous report cards have energized debates and legislation in many states.

Vermont Business Magazine Six University of Vermont students from theCommunity Development and Applied Economics department in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences are featured in the new bookCensored 2018: Press Freedoms in a “Post Truth” Society. An annual anthology published by California-based media watchdog organization Project Censored,Censored 2018 compiles the top 25 student-written investigative news stories from the past year. The six UVM students -- Clare Charlesworth, Audrey Tuck, Bridgette McShea, Olivia Jones, Emily von Weise and Kätchen McElwain -- developed and submitted their stories as part of their spring 2017 classJournalism 2.0with Community Development and Applied Economics (CDAE) professorRob Williams.

USA News GroupThe tide has turned with regard to public perception of marijuana use and the movement toward legalizing pot is moving in a wave. Seven jurisdictions are most likely to approve legal use of cannabis in 2018. Some of the leading cannabis companies already preparing for the onslaught of new demand include Supreme Pharmaceuticals Inc. (TSX-V: FIRE) (OTC: SPRWF), MedReleaf Corp. (OTC: MEDFF), GW Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: GWPH),and MYM Nutraceuticals Inc. (CSE: MYM) (OTC: MYMMF).

It's evident that the tide has turned with regard to public perception of marijuana use.

CBS News conducted a poll in 1979 that found only 27% support for a nationwide legalization of recreational pot in the U.S. In April of this year, it conducted the same poll and found that support for nationwide legalization had more than doubled to an all-time record of 61% in favor.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott is one of 12 governors who today sent a letter to Congress advocating for quick action to reauthorize the Children’s Health Insurance program (CHIP). "We believe covering children and pregnant women without disruption is one thing we can all agree on."

Vermont Business Magazine The Brattleboro Retreat today announced it has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for Behavioral Health Care Accreditation by demonstrating continuous compliance with its performance standards. The Gold Seal of Approval is a symbol of quality that reflects an organization’s commitment to providing safe and effective care.

Vermont Business Magazine KSV, a marketing and advertising agency with considerable expertise in sustainable energy marketing, recently won recertification as a B Corporation, meaning the Burlington-based company voluntarily meets a higher standard of public transparency, legal accountability and verified performance. Certified B – the B stands for “Benefit” – Corporations use the power of business to solve social, environmental and economic problems. Benchmarking and measuring the company’s social impact lets consumers, clients and employees know that a company is serious about doing good and doing well.

Vermont Business MagazineDue to considerable interest, Governor Phil Scott has moved the location of his, Monday, December 18Education Summit to Plumley Armory at Norwich University in Northfield. The venue was changed to accommodate the large number of registration requests, and the capacity of Plumley Armory ensures everyone who RSVP’d will be able to participate.

​Vermont Business MagazineNational Life GroupannouncedTuesdaythat the annual budget of its charitable foundation will double to $2 million next year, reflecting the company’s strong sales and earnings growth over the past decade.Part of theNational Life Group Foundation’sincreased funding will go toward launchingMain Street Grants, a new project designed to support revitalization of downtowns. Another new initiative targeting ways to combat childhood hunger is currently being developed and will be announced in coming weeks.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is pleased to announce the selection of a contractor to conduct the first phase of the Lake Carmi In-Lake Phosphorus Management Project. The objective of this phase is to identify the most cost-effective strategy to reduce in-lake phosphorus. The three-phase project is a key part of the larger strategy to reduce phosphorus-laden runoff in the watershed. The selected contractor will evaluate a variety of options for management of the phosphorus that has accumulated in sediment in Lake Carmi, which has been plagued by extensive and prolonged cyanobacteria blooms that limit recreational use.

Vermont Business Magazine Lund, the family assistance agency in South Burlington, has been awarded a five-year, $3 million Regional Partnership Grant from the US Department of Health and Human Services, Administration of Children and Families. Over the next five years, Lund will use this funding to develop and implement the Vermont Family Recovery Project (VTFRP), to provide intensive home-based services for at-risk families in Burlington and Newport.

Senator Patrick Leahy is greeted at Lund’s Hoehl Family Building at 50 Joy Drive in South Burlington on Monday afternoon. Lund photo.