Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Downs Rachlin Martin PLLC is launching its first annual patent competition. Targeting early-stage companies and promising startups, the grand prize is $10,000 of legal services, to be used toward the filing of a utility patent application. It is critically important for early-stage companies with new technology to protect their intellectual property, but it can be difficult to find the resources to invest in patent protection. The DRM patent competition is designed to help by awarding a patent application to one local start-up each year and by providing an IP 101 seminar to address IP questions entrepreneurs and others in local companies might have.

Vermont Business MagazineOver 200 people attended the Kismet Place Grand Opening CelebrationMondayevening. Kismet Place is home to multiple businesses including the RehabGYM, Pingala Café and Eatery, Scott Benjamin Physical Medicine, Pulse Cycle & Fitness Studio, Kids’ RehabGYM, Curiosity Counseling and Nectar Nutrition, and a Community Fitness Studio hosting a wealth of independent fitness businesses. Kismet is an innovative model of community fitness and health.

Vermont Business MagazineWide eyes, bright smiles, and several yards of blue ribbon marked two milestones for Copley Hospital and more than 200 community memberson Wednesdayevening, June 21. They were on hand to celebrate the James and Mary Louise Carpenter Surgical Center and the completion of the largest successful capital campaign in the hospital’s history. The ribbon cutting ceremony was held almost three (3) years to the day after the hospital announced plans to build a new Surgical Center.

Vermont Business Magazine Howard Center’s Chittenden Clinic at San Remo Drive in South Burlington was just notified that it has been awarded a three-year accreditation—the highest level of accreditation—from CARF International, an independent, nonprofit accreditor of health and human service organizations. In addition, the Clinic received a three-year recertification from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

Vermont Business Magazine Northwestern Medical Center recently heldits annual Employee Recognition Banquet, recognizing staff at five yearmilestones of service. The yearly event honors NMC’ers who reach thefive-year mark and then those at each 5 year increment above that milestone. Over 90 employees were honored this year, and the total of their years ofservices was 1,010! The highest numbers for years of service were 25, 30 and40 years. Staff in those top categories included:

Vermont Business Magazine Beth Holden, Associate Director of Howard Center programs for children and families, presented a workshop, “Riding the Roller Coaster: Implementation of Zero Suicide.” The presentation was part of the recent 2017 Vermont Suicide Prevention Symposium, sponsored by the Vermont Suicide Prevention Center.

Holden says, “Howard Center has made a commitment to suicide prevention, in both concept and practice. Our agency supports Vermont’s aspirational goal of zero suicides among persons receiving care. The workshop was an opportunity to present plans and strategies of a system-wide approach to improve suicide care to those seeking treatment.”

Vermont Business MagazineThe Public Service Board’s name is changing.As of July 1, 2017, its new name will be the Public Utility Commission, which will be abbreviated as the PUC or as the Commission.The PUC said in a statement that its new name more clearly reflects its existing statutory responsibilities and will reduce confusion about the difference between the Public Service Board and the separate state agency known as the Public Service Department.

by Jim Condos, Vermont’s Secretary of State I take my role in state government seriously. I am honored to have been elected by Vermonters to serve as Secretary of State. Since taking office in 2011, I have worked hard to improve how our government serves the public by increasing transparency, efficiency and productivity. I value government accountability and transparency as the cornerstone to building trust. If we work diligently to create a culture of disclosure and transparency in our state and local government, we are providing a great service to Vermonters.

Vermont Business Magazine New England Center for Circus Arts has been awarded a $10,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, one of six organizations in Vermont to receive grants as part of the Art Works program. Art Works is the NEA’s largest category and focuses on funding the creation of art that meets the highest standards of excellence, public engagement with the arts, lifelong learning in the arts, and strengthening of communities through the arts.

by Mike Smith Has Bernie lost his mojo? It’s hasn’t been a good couple of months for Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders. Sanders recently penned an opinion piece for The New York Times urging national Democratic leaders to adopt a more progressive agenda. So far, the reaction from those national leaders can be best described as muted. A string of election losses of Sanders’ backed political candidates is also catching the attention of the media.

Last month the news outlet Politico ran a story titled, “Sanders revolution hits a rough patch.” Its premise? Sanders and his allies are struggling, “to capture the actual levers of power.”

Vermont Business MagazineFalling just below 2016's record level, this past season's maple syrup production in Vermont of 1.98 million gallons is still twice the size of any other state and 46 percent of the entire production in the United States. The total value (retail, wholesale and bulk) will not be available until next year, but based on average sales from last year, the 2017 crop will be worth about $59.4 million. Retail represents only about 10 percent of Vermont production. Price per gallon for retail sales is about $47.40. Retail alone is worth about $9.4 million. Bulk sales represent over 80 percent of total sales, but at a lower price point ($25.40 per gallon in 2016).

Vermont Business Magazine The Con Hogan Award for Creative, Entrepreneurial Community Leadership continues to seek nominations for its 2017 award. Now in its third year, the annual award is a tribute to Con Hogan’s life’s work and commitment. It’s intended to encourage and reward leaders who share his vision of a better Vermont—one that places the highest value on the public good—and who seize the responsibility for making that vision real by using data and measurement, monitoring a plan of action, and making adjustments along the way. The $15,000 award may be spent in any way the selected individual chooses.