Current News

Vermont Business MagazineThe Vermont Attorney General’s Office filed amotionFriday to compel the Energy and Environmental Legal Institute (EELI) to respect a Vermont Judge’s order not to depose two assistant attorneys general. EELI has demanded the depositions of both employees even though Judge Mary Miles Teachout recently refused to allow EELI to depose them in another case. Judge Teachout rejected EELI’s first request because the employees were not parties to the lawsuit. EELI makes a similar argument to depose these two employees, therefore Judge Teachout’s previous ruling should be applied in this case.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets (VAAFM) announces grants totaling $254,117 for seven projects to benefit Vermont producers of fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices, maple, wine grapes, and value-added products and to increase consumer access to locally produced food. These grants, funded through the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service's Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP), were awarded to five agricultural organizations to undertake a range of research, technology development, education, marketing, and program-building projects. The grants will leverage over $161,000 in additional matching funds in support of Vermont specialty crop production.

by Joyce Marcel Vermont Business Magazine The Beast is Back. With deep-pocket private ownership, killer snowmaking ability, fast trails, the longest ski season in the East, a die-hard group of fans, a ever-increasing summer season — and most of all, the wild success of the Women’s Downhill World Cup last year, which has brought Killington a new, two-year World Cup contract — the mountain resort has proudly resumed its once-discarded mantel as the “Beast of the East.” And quite a complex beast it is.

Vermont Business Magazine The Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit health care ratings organization, today released new Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades. The Safety Grade assigns letter grades of A, B, C, D and F to hospitals nationwide based on their performance in preventing medical errors, infections and other harms. Rutland Regional Medical Center was one of 832 awarded an “A” for its commitment to keeping patients safe and meeting the highest safety standards in the US Rutland Regional is the only hospital in Vermont to receive an “A” rating for this fall. Since 2013, Rutland Regional has the distinction of earning at least one “A” rating each year for Patient Safety.

Vermont Business MagazineThe Vermont Center for Independent Living recognized a Burlington cafe on October13 for its commitment to accessibility. Speeder & Earl’s co-owner Jessica Workman received the Rosemary JMiller Dining for All Award.The award is named for VCIL’s longtime receptionist, who retired in 2011 after over 30 years on the job. Miller, who was born with cerebral palsy, has been and continues to be a steadfast advocate for disability rights.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Agriculture Food & Markets is pleased to announce the availability of a third year of funding for Trade Show Assistance Grants. Trade Show Assistance Grants financially assist eligible Vermont agriculture and forestry businesses in connecting with new markets and buyers at out-of-state trade shows. As of November 1^st, the application period for the FY2018 Trade Show Assistance Grants is now open and funding will be allocated on a first come first serve basis until funds are depleted. Funding for this program has been made available by the Working Lands Enterprise Board and all grantees will be expected to contribute a 1:1 match. This year’s grants will be available to out-of-state trade show exhibitors and requests will be granted for $1,000-$2,500.

Vermont Business Magazine Lamoille Home Health & Hospice (LHH&H) today announced that it has been named a Top Agency of the 2017 HomeCare Elite, recognition of the top-performing home health agencies in the United States. For 12 years, HomeCare Elite has annually identified the top 25 percent of agencies and highlighted the top 100 and top 500 agencies overall. The ranking is developed by ABILITY Network, a leading information technology company helping providers and payers simplify the administrative and clinical complexities of healthcare; and sponsored by DecisionHealth, publisher of Home Health Line and the Complete Home Health ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Coding Manual.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Congressman Peter Welch (D-Vt.), who advocated for the early release of federal home heating aid funds as Vermont’s winter approaches, today announced that the Department of Health and Human Services has released $16.9 million in heating assistance for Vermont.

Leahy, Sanders and Welch have long championed funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which helps struggling Vermonters heat their homes.

In a joint statement, Leahy, Sanders and Welch said: “With temperatures dropping in Vermont, the immediate release of this money is welcome news. Energy assistance is a critical lifeline for countless Vermonters, and we must redouble our efforts to protect this vital safety net program, which is under attack by the Trump Administration.”

by Timothy McQuiston Vermont Business Magazine Burlington City Councilor Karen Paul (D-Ward 6) emailed Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger and fellow councilors Thursday afternoon that she has quit her job at McSoley McCoy & Co and plans to vote on the BT sale on Monday. In her email, Paul wrote, "As I stated Monday evening when I recused myself, after eight years of working to address Burlington Telecom’s challenges, from its darkest days to where we now find ourselves, after this long journey for the city, BT and its customers and employees, I never imagined that I would find myself in a position where I would not be able to cast a vote on this most important decision." Paul continues, "I have worked to identify ways to resolve the conflict and have determined that there is only one way I can resolve the conflict.

Vermont Business Magazine TheJohnson State College External Degree Program (EDP), through which about 3,700 non-traditional-age students from Vermont have earned bachelor’s degrees, marks its 40th anniversary this year. The EDP was Vermont’s first degree-completion program of its kind.

The EDP, with the JSC Online program launched in 2016, are the core of Johnson State’s distance learning program, which accounts for about a third of JSC’s total enrollment each year. Now mainly online, the EDP enrolls mostly Vermonters while JSC Online is a nationwide bachelor’s-degree initiative.The EDP is geared to students with some college credits who want to finish their degree.

Pelham brings decades of accomplishment and experience in state and local government; served under Vermont Governors Douglas, Dean, Snelling and Kunin
Vermont Business MagazineGovernor Phil Scott today announced the appointment of Tom Pelham to the Green Mountain Care Board (GMCB). He will begin serving immediately, filling the position vacated by Con Hogan in September.

Pelham brings more than 16 years of financial management and budgeting experience with the State of Vermont to the Board, which is responsible for regulating Vermont’s health care system and has a mission to reduce the rate of health care cost growth while ensuring high quality, accessible care for Vermonters.

Vermont Business Magazine Citizens of Middlebury and surrounding towns gathered on October 26 as part of the Greater Middlebury Climate Economy Initiative to prioritize action ideas that will guide the work of the program moving forward. Lively discussion and 2 rounds of voting resulted in the whittling down of a list of 22 community-generated ideas to 3 key priorities. Task Forces will now be formed to develop and implement plans for each of the selected action ideas. Those Task Forces will join another Task Force already formed focused on energy efficiency and renewable energy opportunities for homes, businesses, and other buildings.