Current News

Vermont Business Magazine In a startling report released in late June, National Safety Council research shows 28 states are failing their residents by lacking a comprehensive, proven plan to eliminate prescription opioid overdoses. Prescription Nation, a definitive ranking of how states are tackling the worst drug crisis in recorded US history, assigned a "Making Progress" rating to only four states – Kentucky, New Mexico, Tennessee and Vermont. Of the 28 failing states, three – Michigan, Missouri, and Nebraska – do not have a single strategy in place to save lives. The report comes during National Safety Month and on the heels of the Council's analysis showing preventable deaths are at an all-time high, and the increase is being driven by opioid overdoses.

by Priyanka Prakash FitSmallBusiness.com Fit Small Business recently published a list a the best and worst states to get an SBA loan based on data we acquired directly from the Small Business Administration freedom of information act. Through its research it discovered that Vermont is the best overall place to receive an SBA loan. "It was difficult for us to rank the best state to get and repay SBA loans because there was no state that wowed us across all three measures: access to sba loans, average loan size, and repayment rate. However, Vermont performed the best out of all the states on these three counts," Fit SMall Business wrote in its analysis.

Vermont Business Magazine Gifford Health Care in Randolph is partnering with Vermont Blueprint for Health, the Vermont Department for Health, and the Greater Burlington YMCA to offer an evening session of the YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program. Offered free of charge, this program offers education and support to help adults at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes adopt healthier eating and exercise habits that can lead to weight loss and reduced risk. You have a greater risk of getting diabetes if you are overweight or obese; don’t get enough exercise; have high blood pressure; have abnormal cholesterol; or have a parent, brother, or sister with diabetes.

Vermont Business Magazine An Open House and Community Celebration to commemorate the renovation of the Southwestern Vermont Medical Center’s Northshire Campus is scheduled for 12 - 2 p.m. Sunday, July 24 at the practice, 5957 Main Street—Route 7A in Manchester. The event will include a healthy barbecue and family fun, including kids’ activities, games and prizes. Attendees will have an opportunity to meet providers and tour the building. The event is free and open to the public.

The renovated building includes a comfortable new waiting room, the addition of consultation rooms on the second floor, a new telemedicine-enabled room, and five new exam rooms, which allowed the addition of another provider. The renovation is part of broader, SVHC strategy to boost access to primary care in the areas it serves.

Vermont Business Magazine USDA Rural Development has launched a Two-Tiered Income Limit Pilot for the Single Family Housing Programs in Vermont.  The pilot bands together the income limits of households with 1-4 members and with 5-8 members.  This banding significantly increases the range of households eligible for Rural Development's Direct Home Loan Program and the Home Repair Loan and Grant Program.​ More households are now able to apply for Rural Development's affordable home financing.

504 Home Repair Loan and Grant- Vermont Family Income Limits

Vermont Business Magazine The third annual FreshTracks Road Pitch, a five day motorcycle tour of Vermont in which a gang of “business bikers” (comprised of investors, entrepreneurs and business advisors) ride around the state and stop in various towns to listen to entrepreneurs pitch their business concepts, will be held August 1 through August 5, 2016. The tour will stop in Essex Junction, Rutland, Bennington, Brattleboro, Barre, Randolph, St Johnsbury, Lowell, Hyde Park and North Hero. At each of the 10 stops the riders will award a “Riders Choice Prize” of $500 and a special edition “Vermont Biker Bear” contributed by Vermont Teddy Bear. Each stop is open to public viewing.

Entrepreneurs interested in pitching their concept or business to the riders should visit www.roadpitch.co, review the schedule and contact a local organizer to apply for a pitch slot.

by Mike Smith It’s a stunning transformation to witness. In restaurants, airports and other public places, often our companion is not the person sitting with us, but rather the electronic device we are clinging to. More and more our heads are pointed down, our eyes are glued to phones, tablets or computers, and we are focused solely on what is being transmitted over that device, oblivious to what is happening around us. And although we have the capacity to communicate more broadly and expand our knowledge and horizons, the question is: do we?

Ironically, the vastness of the information age has also given us the option to isolate ourselves in a bubble with others of like minds. Our knowledge of the world doesn’t expand, rather it constricts ,and all information that doesn’t conform to our point of view can be blocked, disregarded or mocked.

Vermont Business Magazine July is national ice cream month, and there is no better way to celebrate than with your two favorite guys. Why pick just one flavor, when you can have them all? Ben & Jerry's has a variety of new flavors this ice cream season, and we can't think of a better time for fans to pick up their spoons and unite in a euphoric, ice cream eating journey. What better way to ring in National Ice Cream Month than to celebrate Independence day with a scoop of Empower Mint, a Peppermint Ice Cream with Fudge Brownies and Fudge Swirls. Empower Mint was recently launched with the goal to support Ben & Jerry's long time commitment in advocating for a fair Democracy.

by Seth N Blanchard Are you dreaming about moving into your first home? While home hunting can be exciting, the process of buying a home can be somewhat challenging. Purchasing a home is a big financial commitment – potentially one of the biggest purchases you’ll make in your lifetime. With some planning, you can be ready to commit to a home with confidence. Here are some tips to help you get your finances ready for purchasing a home.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Fire Safety Director Michael Desrochers and other fire officials are encouraging Vermonters to leave the fireworks to the experts this Independence Day. Most fireworks are illegal in Vermont without a permit and pose serious injury risk. Possession, transportation and use of fireworks in which explosives are used, including those that are propelled by explosives, like firecrackers, torpedoes, sky rockets, Roman candles, cherry bombs, and others are illegal in Vermont.  The only exception is when a permit has been obtained from the appropriate municipal authority like a Fire Chief, Police Chief, Select Board, or City Council, depending on requirements of local laws.

Novelty items like sparklers, snakes, party poppers, glow worms, and others with no more than 0.25 grains of explosive mixture do not require a permit and can be purchased in many stores throughout the State.

Vermont Business Magazine - Working farms and forests give Vermont its beautiful rural character and unique sense of place while serving as an important part of the economy for many communities throughout the state. This fall, one event celebrates those great aspects of Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine Johnson State College has been designated Vermont’s premier public liberal arts college – a recognition that establishes JSC as the public version of Vermont’s more selective and costly private liberal arts colleges, such as Middlebury and Bennington. The designation comes from the board of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges (COPLAC), which voted unanimously at its annual meeting last week in Utah to approve JSC for membership in the organization.

COPLAC recognizes institutions that “commit to providing superior liberal arts and sciences education to their students” and generally accepts only one college or university per state (or province, in Canada) for membership following an extensive application and review process.