Current News

Vermont Business Magazine - Whether organizational change results from reorganization, acquisition, merger, downsizing or new strategic direction, there are unique components to a change situation that demand special communication considerations for internal and external publics.

Vermont Business Magazine - Gov. Peter Shumlin issued the following statement after the Green Mountain Care Board approved a plan that will allow Vermont to transform its health care system so it rewards quality of care rather than quantity of care. The so-called All Payer Model will align incentives across all payers in the health care system – Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance – so that doctors and others are paid for focusing on keeping people healthy rather than running tests or procedures. Vermont is the first state to pursue this transformation across all payers, statewide.

Gov. Shumlin and others plan to officially sign the agreement at a ceremony on Thursday at 2 p.m. in the Governor’s Ceremonial Office.

Vermont Business Magazine This past summer Castleton University was awarded $85,000 for year one of a three year, $275,000 grant from the Davis Educational Foundation to enhance integrative learning on campus. Labeled the Integrative Learning Project, the endeavor aims to amplify Castleton’s approach to relationship-based learning by creating a signature program that will meld existing curricular and co-curricular elements to create a transformative experience for all students at Castleton.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont congressional delegation today announced that the Vermont Student Assistance Corp will receive $2.4 million over five years in a federal Educational Opportunity Center grant to promote education and workforce development with Vermont adults. In a joint statement, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont), Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) and Representative Peter Welch (D-Vermont) said: “While Vermont is fortunate to have one of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation, many Vermonters continue to struggle to find good-paying jobs. Employers are also seeking highly skilled workers to help their businesses grow. In this economic environment, we must continue to do more to help educate and train underemployed workers for the jobs of tomorrow.

Vermont Business Magazine Today Mayor Miro Weinberger, Parks, Recreation & Waterfront Department (DPRW), the Burlington Parks Foundation, and other City officials celebrated the Parks Foundation reaching its goal of raising $1 million in support of the rehabilitation of the Waterfront Bike Path. The Parks Foundation set the goal in 2014, and today announced at one of the Bike Path’s new pause places that it has raised $1,026,622 in cash and pledges from over 250 residents and businesses, and presented a symbolic check to Mayor Weinberger.

Vermont Business Magazine VSECU announced today its going solar, unveiling a solar array in Guilford that will allow the 60,000-member, nine-branch credit union to offset its Green Mountain Power electricity consumption by purchasing the net metering credits produced by the array. In a unique partnership with East Dummerston-based solar developer Soveren Solar, VSECU will be able to retire the renewable energy credits (RECs) resulting in 100 percent renewable energy. The partnership also allows VSECU to benefit from the Federal Tax Credit for solar investment, that is typically not available for non-profits. This could be a model for non-profits statewide, further incentivizing renewable energy adoption.

Vermont Business Magazine The US Department of Labor recently announced $140 million in grant awards through the end of Program Year 2016 ($337 million annually for an additional 3 years) in job training grants to 19 organizations nationwide, including a $10.2 million annual award to Vermont Associates for Training and Development, Inc, a non-profit headquartered in St. Albans. The grant, funded through the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), provides critical job training and related services to low-income workers age 55+.

Vermont Associates continues to administer the SCSEP in Vermont, with locations in Bennington, Brattleboro, Burlington, Montpelier, Rutland, St. Johnsbury, and St. Albans. In addition, as part of the new grant, Vermont Associates will administer the SCSEP in Maine, and in large parts of New York and Pennsylvania, where they will be doing business as Associates for Training & Development.

by Timothy McQuiston Vermont Business Magazine Merchants Bancshares (NASDAQ: MBVT), the holding company for Vermont's largest, locally based bank, will be acquired next year by Community Bank System, Inc, (NYSE: CBU) based near Syracuse, NY. Merchants Bank, based in South Burlington, is a $1.9 billion financial institution, while Community Bank is $8.7 billion. Once the transaction is completed, Merchants will be re-branded under the Community Bank NA name. The banking companies jointly announced Monday that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Community Bank System will acquire Merchants Bancshares, parent company of Merchants Bank, in a cash and stock transaction for total consideration valued at approximately $304 million.

Vermont Business Magazine Green Mountain Power’s Stafford Hill Solar Farm in Rutland, one of the nation’s first micro-grids powered solely by solar and battery back-up, is now the first in the region to use battery storage to reduce peak power usage, benefiting customers by saving $200,000 in one hour. Stafford Hill is also the first and only project currently providing fast-acting power when the grid needs it as renewable energy fluctuates during the day and night. This is another way the project lowers costs for customers. This new market in New England is key to helping the grid provide reliable power as the region uses more renewable energy.

Vermont Business Magazine Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont (BCBSVT) is pleased to announce its competitively priced, highest-ranking Medicare Part D prescription drug plan options for 2017. BCBSVT also reminds Vermonters of the open enrollment period, which runs from October 15 to December 7, 2016 with enrollment effective on January 1, 2017. This is the time when those eligible may join a Part D plan or switch plans or insurance carriers. Medicare prescription drug coverage (Part D) is available to anyone who is entitled to Medicare Part A and/or enrolled in Part B. Part D adds drug coverage to original Medicare and helps to lower prescription drug costs and protect from higher costs in the future. 

by John McClaughry For years, indeed decades, Vermont’s public school Establishment has regularly found ways to put pressure on the non-sectarian independent schools that receive tuition for pupils from the 90 “tuition towns”. Why? Many within the Establishment believe that public money ought to be spent only on the (unionized) public schools, regardless of their value to the pupils. Some of them believe that parents are underqualified to make choices about their child’s education. Some of them dislike having competition.

Vermont Business Magazine The University of Vermont (UVM) Health Network has become the newest owner to join Greenhealth Exchange (GX) -- a purchasing cooperative that makes it easy to source products and services used in health care settings that are good for people, the planet and the bottom line. The UVM Health Network has been acknowledged over the years with awards from leading national organizations for its sustained efforts to reduce energy consumption, waste stream and carbon footprint, and to increase the use of healthy, locally produced foods.