Current News

Vermont Business Magazine A national network of children’s hospitals has recognized the University of Vermont Children’s Hospital for the exceptional achievement of going one year without a single patient in its neonatal ICU, pediatric ICU, and pediatric inpatient unit contracting a common and dangerous bloodstream infection. Because of this success, the 100-member Solutions for Patient Safety National Children’s Network selected the UVM Children’s Hospital as a Top Performing Hospital for 2016.  The infection involved - central line associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) - occurs when bacteria or other germs travel down a large IV line that delivers medicine directly to the heart.  They cause thousands of deaths each year in the U.S., and cost billions of dollars to treat.

Vermont Business Magazine Weekly unemployment claims last week and are now below levels from last year. Claims had been rising this fall, while running even year-to-year. Among industrial sectors, actual job losses were down across the board, especially in Manufacturing. Looking ahead, the holidays typically produce wild swings in unemployment claims, because of an increase in hiring in the Service sector, from retail to delivery-related businesses, and then an abrupt round of layoffs after Christmas.

For the week of November 12, 2016, there were 542 claims, down 191 from the previous week's total and 124 fewer than than they were a year ago.

Altogether 3,727 new and continuing claims were filed, a decrease of 63 from a week ago, and 478 fewer than a year ago.

Vermont Business Magazine Speaker of the House Shap Smith delivered the following statement from Legislative leaders today at a press conference held by Vermont Interfaith Action on the steps of the State House in response to hateful language and actions occurring across the state following the Presidential Election. “We have a lot to be proud of as Vermonters.

“We pride ourselves on being a community that embraces diversity. One that protects the environment which sustains us. A community that strives to uphold justice for every person, regardless of the color of their skin, their gender identity or expression, whom they love, whom or what they worship, or whether they were born here or elsewhere.

Vermont Business Magazine A number of Vermont education leaders have released the following statement, which has also been signed by Governor Peter Shumlin and Governor-elect Phil Scott. A full list of signers is copied below.It states that Vermont will continue to support all Vermonters and welcome people of all backgrounds.

“Vermont has fought for centuries for freedom and unity, equity and openness. Vermont remains a beacon of hope and opportunity, community and shared humanity. Vermont was the first to commit to the abolition of slavery in our state constitution and a leader in the fight for marriage equality. We will continue to support all Vermonters and welcome people of all backgrounds to the Green Mountain state.

Vermont Business Magazine The Burlington Electric Department today announced that it will install two 240-volt, dual port electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in the Hannaford supermarket parking lot in the New North End’s Ethan Allen Shopping Center, allowing for the simultaneous charging of four EVs and raising to 24 the number of EV charging ports Burlington Electric has installed around the City. The location was selected based upon the results of a community survey launched by Burlington Electric during Drive Electric Week in September. Installation of the new stations demonstrates Burlington Electric’s continued commitment to increase the number of EVs on the road and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Labor announced today that the seasonally-adjusted statewide unemployment rate for October was 3.3 percent. This reflects no change from the revised September rate. The national rate in October was 4.9 percent. The seasonally-adjusted Vermont data for October show the Vermont civilian labor force decreased by 550 from the prior month’s revised estimate. Typical of this time of year, adjusted and unadjusted (actual) numbers appear to be headed in the opposite direction, with seasonally adjusted jobs falling for the third consecutive month and unadjusted numbers increasing.

Vermont Business Magazine The following is a statement issued Friday morning by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont), Ranking Member, Senate Judiciary Committee, on reports that Senator Jeff Sessions (R-Alabama) will be nominated to be the Attorney General of the United States. Leahy has opposed Sessions on many fronts over the years, including immigration and civil rights, but vows to give him a fair hearing, something, he said, that Republicans have not done with many nominees offered by President Obama.

Vermont Business Magazine The State of Vermont and Mousetrap Pediatrics PC, have reached an agreement settling an investigation into whether Mousetrap submitted false claims or received overpayments from the Vermont Medicaid Program. Mousetrap operated as a pediatric physician group for over 25 years in the Franklin County area, until its dissolution in January 2016. The settlement resolves an investigation into Mousetrap’s Medicaid claims related to after-hours office visits. Mousetrap will pay $66,553.65 to settle potential claims under the Vermont False Claims Act. Under the settlement agreement, Mousetrap will repay the Medicaid Program the $51,553.65 it improperly received and a $15,000 civil penalty. 

Vermont Business Magazine Infiswift, an enterprise Internet of Things (IoT) platform leader from California, has acquired Smart Resource Labs (SRL), a provider of technical asset management tools and performance solutions for complex power systems located in Burlington. Financial terms were not disclosed.

The acquisition rounds out infiswift’s end-to-end IoT platform solution by accelerating development of key analytics and visualization capabilities that make collected data truly actionable.

“Infiswift has invested in building a very powerful IoT platform that, coupled with SRL’s experience in building highly effective visualization and analytics tools, allows us to provide a unique, full-service solution,” said Kannan Dorairaj, CEO at infiswift. “It is critical to go beyond seamless connectivity and real-time data to obtain true insight that can be a catalyst for action, and SRL will help us do just that.”

Vermont Business Magazine A major international ski race is indeed heading for Vermont the weekend after Thanksgiving, despite concerns of the early date and unseasonably warm weather. Killington Resort, the largest four-season resort in Eastern North America, received a positive snow control announcement from FIS (International Ski Federation), the governing body of the Audi FIS Ski World Cup. According to FIS: “This is to inform you that the Audi FIS Ski World Cup races in Killington (USA) are confirmed following the official snow control from today 17th November 2016. As scheduled, the races will take place on 26th – 27th November 2016.”

Vermont Business Magazine Today, Lisa Ventriss, President of Vermont Business Roundtable (VBR) and Jeffrey Carr, President, Economic & Policy Resources (EPR), announced the Q4 2016 outlook results of their joint initiative, the VBR-EPR Business Conditions Survey. While the data are slightly more positive, especially in the hospitality industry, Vermont businesses are still concerned about labor shortages. Housing and health care costs also are seen as drags on the local economy.

Methodology
The quarterly survey is a tool for tracking business conditions and forecasting the future of Vermont’s economy, by providing insight into business sentiments and trends. Specifically, the survey provides both a look back at the previous quarter and a predictive index going forward.
The data for both the backward and forward-looking questions are weighted to the Vermont economy by sector employment and turned into “diffusion indices”.1

Vermont Business Magazine A national rating firm has determined that the Burlington ares is on of the best places in America for working women. SmartAsset has ranked the Burlington metro area as number five in the US. The Upper Valley area of New Hampshire ranked number 4. Those were the top two regions in the Northeast.