Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Today, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) announced grants to Vermont organizations. Seven organizations will each receive $135,000 through the Art Works program. One organization will be awarded $50,000 through an Our Town grant, and the Vermont Arts Council will receive funding through a Partnership agreement. 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 art, lifelong learning in the arts, and strengthening of communities through the arts.

Story by Joyce Marcel. Photos by Randolph T HolhutIn a quiet independent living facility in Montpelier, this missionary and daughter of missionaries, this southern belle, this pastor’s wife, this mother of four and grandmother of seven, this gifted writer and this woman of faith is still sending ripples around the world.At 84, children’s and young adult author Katherine Paterson is entitled to step back, rest on her vast accomplishments and bask in the admiration of her multitude of fans. Instead, she’s still following her curiosity. She has a new book coming out in October called “My Brigadista Year,” about a young Cuban girl who joins Fidel Castro’s nationwide literacy campaign in 1961.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Commissioner of Labor, Lindsay Kurrle, announced the appointment of long-time Department of Labor employee David Lahr as the new Workforce Development Division Director. Lahr first joined state government over 30 years ago, and has been working in various leadership capacities in workforce development since then. A Norwich University Adult Degree Graduate, Lahr has served for the last five years as the Assistant Director of the Workforce Development Division. During his time at the Department of Labor, Lahr was integral in two very large Workforce Development reorganizations that not only successfully mitigated federal cuts to the Division, but also produced the footprint the Department uses today to deliver training and assistance services to all Vermonters.

Vermont Business Magazine Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) issued statements Tuesday Attorney General Jeff Sessions testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Russian meddling in the United States election. Leahy's statement was made before Sessions testified and Sanders' came after. Neither sit on the Intelligence Committee. They both believe the attorney general has not been forthcoming about his and other administration officials' interactions with Russia before President Trump took office.

Vermont Business MagazineThe Vermont Historical Society (VHS) reopened the Vermont History Museum in Montpelier with a celebration of the new installation of the Paul Sample mural, “Salute to Vermont.” The mural, which was installed in the remodeled entryway of the museum, had been donated to the Historical Society by National Life in fall 2016.

Vermont Business Magazine Saint Michael’s Playhouse Producing Artistic DirectorChuck Tobin has announced the June 20 opening of the Playhouse’s 70th summer theater season withthe Tony® Award-winning Million Dollar Quartet, the high-voltage musical inspired by the true story of the famed recording session that brought together rock ‘n’ roll icons Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins for the first and only time. Million Dollar Quartet, directed by Keith Andrews (The Playhouse’s Spamalot, Young Frankenstein, Drowsy Chaperone, Sister Act) brings you inside the Sun Records recording studio with these four iconic legends.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Works Management Company LLC, a new investment firm planning to invest millions of dollars in Vermont companies, has announced two major appointments to its team. South Hero attorney Mark Naud will become the Executive Director of the firm’s Vermont Innovation Commons, a planned purpose-built co-living/working space in downtown Burlington. Elisabeth (Liz) Robert, the CEO of Terry Bicycles and the former CEO of Vermont Teddy Bear, has joined the firm’s Board of Directors.

Vermont Business MagazineAttorney General Thomas JDonovan, Jr, announced today that Vermont has joined 12 attorneys general in sending a letter to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) opposing the Agency’s position on vehicle emission standards. In the letter, the attorneys general object to the EPA’s position on the midterm evaluation of federal standards for greenhouse gas emissions from cars and light-duty trucks. The letter promises that the States will take necessary action if the EPA attempts to roll back these important standards.

Vermont Business Magazine Yesterday, the US House of Representatives unanimously approved bipartisan legislation introduced by Representative Peter Welch (D-Vermont) to improve energy efficiency in schools in Vermont and across the country. The Streamlining Energy Efficiency for Schools Act (H.R. 627) establishes a coordinating structure to help schools better navigate federal energy efficiency programs and financing options. It designates the Department of Energy as the lead agency in coordinating a cross-departmental efforts to initiate, develop, and finance energy efficiency, renewable energy, and retrofitting projects for schools.

“Investments in energy efficiency save money, create jobs, improve the environment,” said Welch. “By streamlining federal programs and cutting red tape, our bipartisan bill will result in lower energy use and lower energy bills for taxpayer funded school systems in Vermont and around the country.”

Vermont Business MagazineThe Annie ECasey Foundation urged state and federal policymakers not to back away from targeted investments that are proving to help USchildren become healthier, more likely to complete high school and better positioned to contribute to the nation's economy as adults. The Foundation called on leaders to continue investing in families as Casey released the2017KIDS COUNT Data Book,which shows steady improvements in several areas of child well-being. Vermont, New England and the Northern tier states did best in nearly all measures. Vermont was third in overall well being, with New Hampshire first and Massachusetts second. Vermont was fourth in the health category and ninth in economic well being.

Vermont Business MagazineAlmost three years to the day after announcing plans to build a new Surgical Center, Copley Hospital in Morrisville will celebrate the opening of the James and Mary Louise Carpenter Surgical Center. The public is invited to attend the ribbon cutting ceremony and tour the new facility at5 pmWednesday, June 21, 2017. Governor Phil Scott will speak at the ceremony.

Vermont Business Magazine Physician's Computer Company of Winooski today announced that is has collaborated with First Databank (FDB), a leading provider of drug and medical device knowledge, to embedFDB MedsTrackereRx, an electronic prescribing solution, directly into PCC's electronic health record designed specifically for pediatrics. Originally designed for inpatient use, FDB customized FDB MedsTrackereRx specifically for the needs of pediatric practices.PCCisan independent software solutions firm exclusively working to meet the needs of independent pediatricians nationwide.