Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Porter Medical Center Board of Directors and the University of Vermont Health Network Board of Trustees voted unanimously on October 5^th to sign a non-binding “Letter of Intent” to formally negotiate terms under which Middlebury's Porter Medical Center would join the University of Vermont Health Network. 

Although not a binding contract, the Letter of Intent clearly sets in motion a more formal process of negotiations that is expected to last approximately six months, during which time Porter and the UVM Health Network will endeavor to agree upon the specific terms that would lead to Porter becoming an affiliate of the UVM Health Network as early as the spring of 2017. During the negotiation process, Porter will retain the option of choosing independence.

by Emma Lamberton Vermont Watchdog Certificate of need laws decrease the quality of care and increase costs, say two newly released studies from George Mason University. The finding has implications for Vermont, which has the most extensive CON laws of any state. CON laws restrict entry for new practices to enter a state’s health care network by mandating that applicants prove the community need that their proposed service would fill.

Vermont Business Magazine A panel discussion focused on early childhood issues with gubernatorial candidates Sue Minter and Phil Scott will take place on October 14 from 5:30 to 6:30 PM in the Davis Center at the University of Vermont in Burlington. The panel discussion, hosted by Let’s Grow Kids and the Vermont Association for the Education of Young Children (VAEYC) with co-presenting sponsor The Media Factory, will be moderated by WCAX News Anchor Darren Perron. The event is being sponsored by more than a dozen regional and statewide organizations.

This is the only gubernatorial candidate event devoted exclusively to early childhood. The candidates will be asked to answer five questions in three categories: child and family policies; economic development and early childhood; and the state budget. This event is free and open to the public.

Vermont Business Magazine Encore Renewable Energy has commissioned of two separate 1.4 MW solar arrays for the Town of Stowe Electric Department and Village of Hyde Park Electric Department, respectively. Both projects were financed with low interest debt under the US Treasury Department’s Clean Renewable Energy Bonds (CREBs) program. The low cost of capital associated with the CREBs financing, along with cost savings afforded by the concurrent development and construction of the two projects, will allow both municipal electric departments to own these assets at generation costs well below market rates for Purchase Power Agreements for similarly sized third-party owned projects.

Vermont Business Magazine The 7th Annual Champlain Valley Buddy Walk will take place at Burlington's Battery Park on Sunday, October 9, starting at noon. More than 200 people are expected to attend the event, which is one of over 250 Walks across the country this fall to raise awareness and funds for programs that benefit people with Down syndrome and their families. It’s a wonderful, heartwarming event that celebrates the many abilities and accomplishments of people with Down syndrome. This year’s Walk is made possible with the generous support of the People's United Bank Foundation. WCAX-TV news anchor Keith McGilvery will once again emcee the event.

vermont Business Magazine Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) on Friday announced that grants will be coming to Vermont to support the purchase of lifesaving protective vests for Vermont law enforcement officers, under the Leahy-authored Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Program. The funding includes $68,400 to help 29 local police and sheriff departments buy more than 175 new bulletproof vests for their officers.

Leahy is the ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and the author of the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Program.  He successfully fought for its reauthorization earlier this year.  As a result, over the next five years more than 200,000 officers across the country will receive lifesaving vests. 

Vermont Business Magazine Lieutenant Governor Phil Scott, who is running for governor, and Senator Patrick Leahy both issued statements Saturday following the recently released video of presidential candidate Donald Trump.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont’s congressional delegation announced Friday that firefighters and EMS personnel throughout Vermont are receiving $1.9 million through 15 federal grants. The awards are part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant program, which helps fire departments and EMS agencies train and purchase critically needed equipment. This year’s grants will help buy a range of equipment, including turnout gear, breathing apparatus, hoses and nozzles, radios and cardiac monitors.   

“These federal grants will help our first-responders protect Vermonters. Our firefighters and EMS personnel play an invaluable role in our communities and we are pleased to be able to help provide the resources they need,” said Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) and Representative Peter Welch (D-Vermont).

Vermont Business Magazine The University of Vermont's Director of Athletics Jeff Schulman announced Thursday evening a set of sanctions assigned to the men's ice hockey team, and specific players in leadership positions including the team captains, in connection with a prohibited initiation activity focused on first-year team members. Immediately after an allegation first surfaced on Sept. 24 about the initiation activity, a Campus Security Authority turned the information over to Police Services for their investigation as per university policies, and in compliance with state law.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont joined a coalition of seven other states, led by New York, in a letter urging the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”) to adopt a strong national rule protecting consumers from the financial harms of payday, vehicle title, and other high-interest small dollar loans. In March 2015, the CFPB proposed a national rule that would require lenders to evaluate consumers’ ability to repay, among other requirements. Today’s letter responds to the CFPB’s proposed rule.

“Vermont has the strongest anti-predatory lending laws in the nation. We support a national rule that preserves Vermont’s and other states’ strict lending laws, while also providing new safeguards for consumers in states without existing protections,” said Attorney General Sorrell.

Vermont Business Magazine Weekly unemployment claims fell again last week to a very low level, as the trend that began in mid-August continues. Overall, claims have edged down for the last seven weeks. After running marginally higher in 2016 than in 2015 for most of the year, they are now below last year's numbers. For the week of October 1, 2016, there were 328 claims, down 25 from the previous week's total and 24 fewer than they were a year ago. By industry, claims were slightly lower from last week, except for small increase in Construction, as Services, as usual, reported the most claims with 48 percent of the total. 

Altogether 2,889 new and continuing claims were filed, a decrease of 102 from a week ago, and 138 fewer than a year ago.

Vermont Business Magazine At the Porter Medical Center Community Town Hall Meeting Friday morning, Porter Medical Center Board Chair Maureen McLaughlin announced that interim CEO Dr Fred Kniffin had been named chief executive officer. Kniffin assumed the interim position last winter after a very difficult time for the Middlebury hospital. Former CEO Lynn Boggs left in March of 2016, after being appointed in April 2015 and taking over in August. Her predecessor, James Daily, led the hospital for 31 years before his retirement in early 2015. The hospital also suffered through layoffs and financial difficulties. Between 2011 and 2015, it had lost $11 million. Kniffin was the chief medical officer before assuming the position of interim CEO.