Current News

by Bill Schubart If current political events have taught us anything, it’s how vulnerable we all are to misinformation and innuendo. And if 80% of us don’t trust our own government, we must then ask how many Americans even understand how their government works or their own role in a vibrant democracy. Three quarters of Americans can’t name the three branches of government and one third can’t name even one branch. An electorate that condemns its own government without understanding its functions and purpose can hardly be counted on to participate with informed voting and advocacy.

Vermont Business MagazineThe University of Vermont Health Network (UVMHN) and Central Vermont Medical Center (CVMC) announced today additions to their respective leadership teams. UVMHN announces five new Board of Trustees appointments, whose four-year terms became effective Jan. 1, 2017. They replace five members of the 17-member board whose terms ended at the close of 2016.

Vermont Business MagazineAttorney General Thomas J. Donovan, Jrreached asettlementyesterday with the Grand Buffet restaurant in Essex Junction. The investigation arose from security breaches where at least one employee stole customers’ credit card numbers. The thefts, which took place in 2014, involved at least 100 customers. The resulting credit card fraud totaled approximately $35,000.

Vermont Business Magazine Mayor Miro Weinberger today released new principles and announced the pursuit of new initiatives to address the deepening opioid crisis in the region that has resulted in a significant 38 percent increase in opioid-related deaths in Vermont from 76 in 2015 to an estimated 105 in 2016. In Chittenden County, indicators such as retail theft and opioid-related arrests also show a growing crisis. The City is moving on numerous fronts to organize a sustained local effort to turn the crisis around, and announced today new partnerships with the University of Vermont Medical Center, the Chittenden County State’s Attorney, and metro area police departments.

Vermont Business MagazineThe Himalayan Cataract Project, based in Waterbury, is one of eight groups named as semi-finalists in100&Change,a global competition for a single$100 milliongrant from the John Dand Catherine TMacArthur Foundation. InJune 2016, theMacArthur Foundationlaunched thecompetition, offering a$100 milliongrant to fund a single project which makes measurable progress towards solving a significant global problem. The winner will be announced later this year.

​Vermont Business MagazineA $30,000 grant from theNational Life Group Foundationwill benefit youth food programs of theVermont Foodbank.The grant will help to support the Backpacks program, in which children are given backpacks filled with nutritious, tasty food to take home on weekends when they and their family might otherwise go hungry.

Vermont Business Magazine Norwich University President Richard W Schneider along with Distinguished Leader in Residence General Gordon R Sullivan, USA (Ret) ’59 will launch the Center for Global Resilience and Security (CGRS) with roundtable discussions focused on community resilience and security, on Friday, March 3. The Center for Global Resilience and Security (CGRS) is a Norwich University research center of excellence dedicated to the advancement of the interrelationships between human resilience and sense of security in the face of global challenges. CGRS is focused on challenges in the areas of climate change, water, energy, and infrastructure and their impact on resilience and security. CGRS will craft creative, innovative, and sustainable solutions for building resilient communities, through inter-disciplinary research and design collaboration.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Electric Cooperative (VEC) is seeking director candidates for four positions on the Board of Directors that will open in May of 2017. VEC's twelve-member board is responsible for setting policy for the member-owned electric distribution utility, which serves approximately 32,000 members in northern Vermont. Board members are elected by VEC members in their district or zone and are expected to represent the interests of the members.

“This is an exciting time to be involved with energy issues as we work to build and manage the electric grid of the future, which integrates renewable energy, battery storage, and consumer information,” said Christine Hallquist, CEO. “Our Board plays a critical role in setting policy and direction for VEC’s future. I encourage interested members to consider running for an open seat in their district.”

​Vermont Business MagazineThe Vermont Environmental Careers and Opportunities (ECO) AmeriCorps program is seeking partners interested in hosting a talented AmeriCorps member this coming 2017-2018 service year. Towns and organizations with identified environmental project and outreach needs are encouraged toapply. Successful applicants will be matched with an AmeriCorps member by the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, which administers the program.

Vermont Business Magazine Fast Companytoday announced its annual ranking of the world’sMost Innovative Companiesfor 2017, honoring leading enterprises and rising newcomers that exemplify the best in nimble business and impactful innovation. Green Mountain Power was named to its Top 10 Most Innovative Companies in Energy list for its groundbreaking work to partner with customers on a new energy future. Green Mountain Power is laser focused on energy transformation, with more reliable, cost-effective and low-carbon energy, by radically transforming the antiquated grid system to one that is more home, business, and community centered and leverages innovations like battery storage.

Vermont Business MagazineSuicide is the 8thleading cause of death in the state ofVermont. To help prevent this tragic loss of life, volunteer advocates from theVermontchapter of theAmerican Foundation for Suicide Preventionare visiting the state capitol onThursday, February 16thto share resources and information about suicide prevention with their legislators.

Public Assets Institute On one level, Governor Phil Scott’s first budget proposal provides a useful lesson. He showed it’s relatively easy to reduce or eliminate a state budget “gap,” at least on paper. You just move the problem into a different account. But it also could be a useful service if it shifts the budget conversation in Montpelier away from “the gap” and more toward to the purpose of raising and spending public money. We should be talking about how the budget can improve the lives of Vermonters and help them achieve their potential.

For at least 10 years now, as each annual session of the Legislature approaches, all eyes in Montpelier focus on the size of the budget gap projected for the following fiscal year. The gap is the difference between the estimate of taxes and other revenue flowing into the state in a given year and the projected cost of various public programs and services that year.