Current News

Vermont Business Magazine For the third year running, The University of Vermont Health Network – Central Vermont Medical Center (CVMC) earned the Governor's Excellence in Worksite Wellness Award, highlighting efforts to promote employee health. Members of CVMC's Wellness Committee accepted the award fromGovernor Phil Scottandthe Vermont Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports at March 23’s Worksite Wellness Conferencein Burlington.

Vermont Business MagazineNorwich University is honored to announce that General David GPerkins, Commanding General of the USTraining and Doctrine Command, will deliver the university’s 2017 Commencement address to graduating seniors on Saturday, May 13. Perkins commands the USArmy Training and Doctrine Command and is responsible for selecting and recruiting every USArmy Soldier, training and educating Army professionals, and designing the future USArmy. His numerous senior leadership positions include: Special Assistant to the Speaker of the House, 104th U.S. Congress; Battalion Commander during Operation Able Sentry; Brigade Commander during the invasion of Iraq; Executive Assistant to the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; and Division Commander during the transition of U.S. Forces from Iraq in 2010- 2011.

Vermont Business Magazine The Community Health Centers of Burlington (CHCB) has appointed a new Chief Executive Officer, Alison Lyndes Calderara, MEd. Calderara comes to the position with over two decades of experience in the Federally Qualified Health Center system and as a leader in the growth and evolution of CHCB’s programs and services. Formally the VP of Community and Grants, her prior work included policy development, patient relations and operations, community communications and collaborations, recruitment, federal programs management, and grant development. She has always been a committed spokesperson for the transformative FQHC model of care. As the CEO, she will continue to be dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of Vermonters from all walks of life and contributing to the excellence and effectiveness of CHCB services in our community.

by Representative Don Turner Last week, Montpelier turned the page after an eight-year spell of overspending and financial irresponsibility. Since 2009, the House Republican Caucus has advocated for an annual budget that does not raise taxes or fees, balances overall spending with revenue growth, and promotes economic vitality in Vermont. We are proud to support a budget that will finally bend the curve on our state’s overspending crisis.

Vermont Business MagazineA Vermont federal court has confirmed a prior ruling, in Corren versusDonovan and Condos, that Vermont’s public financing statute is constitutional. In itsdecisionon Thursday, the Court also ruled that Plaintiffs are not entitled to an award of attorneys’ fees for the action. The case refers to the 2014 Progressive/Democrat candidate for lieutenant governor Dean Corren versus Attorney General TJ Donovan and Secretary of State Jim Condos.

State and Community Partners Warn Vermonters not to Fall for Scams Before April 18th Filing Deadline

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Taxes, Vermont Attorney General TJ Donovan, and Capstone Community Action are warning Vermonters about IRS tax scams and encouraging Vermonters to report scams and access free tax preparation services.

“With the tax filing deadline around the corner, we’re raising awareness about fraud,” said Attorney General T.J. Donovan. “Vermonters should be on the lookout for IRS tax scams over the next two weeks.” The IRS scam is typically a telephone call saying you owe “back taxes” or outstanding payments are due to the government, typically from callers claiming to be “Internal Revenue Service”, “IRS”, and “US Treasury and Legal Affairs.”

Vermont Business Magazine Burlington (number 11) has been named one of the Top 100 Best Places to Live 2017 by Livability.com, outpacing more than 2,100 cities (with populations between 20,000 and 350,000) in this data-driven ranking. The list is an exclusive, independent, editorial ranking by Livability.com. This year Livability collaborated with data partners EMSI and world-renowned urbanist Richard Florida and assistant clinical professor Steven Pedigo from the Initiative for Creativity and Innovation in Cities at NYU School of Professional Studies to shape the methodology and the framework by which it ranks the cities.

Public Assets Institute 143 to 1. That was the headline last week. The House budget plan that closed a $70 million gap without raising revenue had near-unanimous support. The House’s version of the budget cobbled together $48 million in transfers, $17 million in savings and cuts, and $5 million in enhanced tax collections to create a budget that virtually everyone could agree on. While the plan appears to be popular inside the Statehouse, this budget does little to address the real issues Vermonters are facing outside.

Vermont Business Magazine US Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced multiple measures to further deter and detect H-1B visa fraud and abuse. This visa category applies to people who wish to perform services in a specialty occupation (typically with a bachelor's degree or higher), services of exceptional merit and ability relating to a Department of Defense (DOD) cooperative research and development project, or services as a fashion model of distinguished merit or ability. The H-1B visa program should help US companies recruit highly-skilled foreign nationals when there is a shortage of qualified workers in the country. Yet, too many American workers who are as qualified, willing and deserving to work in these fields have been ignored or unfairly disadvantaged. Protecting American workers by combating fraud in our employment-based immigration programs is a priority for USCIS.

Vermont Business Magazine An analysis released by the National Partnership for Women & Families for Equal Pay Day Tuesday reveals the size of the gender wage gap and its detrimental effects on the spending power of Vermont women. Women employed full time, year-round in Vermont are paid just 84 cents for every dollar paid to men, amounting to a yearly gap of $7,787. That means Vermont women lose a combined total of nearly $1.5 billion every year – money that could strengthen the state economy and is especially significant for the more than 20,000 Vermont households headed by women, 23 percent of which are in poverty.

by Mike Smith According to Courthouse News Service, the state of Vermont has a problem: It lacks transparency.The California-based company says Vermont is the only state in the nation that doesn’t disclose lawsuits filed in court until they have been served on defendants. As a result, the average time for disclosure is 41 days, and almost one-quarter of these lawsuits are kept secret for months. In comparison, suits filed in the state of New York are made public immediately, or within, at least, a day or two later. The news service says this delay is unacceptable, and is suing Vermont in federal court. But this isn’t the only example of Vermont state government being less that forthcoming with information — information that is often readily available in many other states.

Leonine Public AffairsThe House passed its version of the budget this week and did so in convincing fashion. With a 143-1 vote in favor of the bill, it was the most lopsided vote on the budget in long time. The “big bill” now moves to the Senate where changes will be made. However, given the resounding victory in the House, it seems unlikely these changes will be significant. More details on the budget later in the newsletter.