Current News

Vermont Business Magazine ACT.md, a national provider of team-based care coordination technology and services, has announced a partnership with the Vermont Child Health Improvement Program (VCHIP), a population-based maternal and child health services research and quality improvement program of the University of Vermont (UVM). VCHIP researchers in the UVM College of Medicine are using ACT.md’s Care Coordination Record to engage community healthcare providers and multidisciplinary care teams in a federally-funded effort to improve population health management for families with children and youth with special health care needs.

Vermont Business Magazine Merchants Bank is supporting Spectrum Youth and Family Services with a $5,000 donation to the Basic Needs and Stable Homes programs. Funding will help vulnerable youth with critical support including meals, material needs, shelter, housing and improved connections to community support services. Last winter, the Spectrum Drop-In Center published a magazine called BTV Street Chronicles, containing testimonials, writing, and artwork from Burlington's homeless youth. 

Vermont Business Magazine A growing number of Vermonters are falling ill with diseases spread by ticks, such as Lyme disease and anaplasmosis. These tickborne diseases are preventable if you take action to stay safe while enjoying the outdoors now, and in the warmer months ahead. The Health Department encourages Vermonters to follow these three simple steps to avoid tickborne diseases.

by Chris Kolmar, Zippia All work and no play… well, you know the rest. That’s why it’s important to find a good balance between putting in the hours at the office—and on the golf course. (Feel free to replace golf course with your favorite leisure activity that isn’t boring.) No matter the type of fun, there are some states that seem to be better about penciling it in, in general, than others.

by Dr Todd D Gregory I am an Emergency physician at Rutland Regional Medical Center (RRMC), where I have worked for the last nine years. In addition, I have been afforded the opportunity to observe—and participate in—discussions and planning around healthcare reform at the community and state level. There are many questions about what healthcare reform should look like and how it will affect us as patients, family members and providers of care.  

Dr Todd D Gregory

Vermont Business Magazine Alan DeForest ’75 has been named chairman of the Board of Trustees at Norwich University. DeForest has served on the board since 2000. He replaces former Army Chief of Staff General Gordon R. Sullivan ’59, who joined the board in 1995, served as chairman since 2003 and stepped down at last week’s board meeting. Sullivan will continue to serve Norwich as Chairman Emeritus and Distinguished Leader in Residence, guiding Norwich in the following areas: Undergraduate Leadership; Peace and War Center; Center for Global Resilience and Security; Leadership and Change Institute; and as Honorary Chair of the Norwich Bicentennial.

Vermont Business Magazine Haskins Gas Service, Inc, a Vermont company, has agreed to pay $45,600 to 96 Vermont consumers and $15,000 in civil penalties to the State of Vermont to settle claims that the company violated Vermont consumer protection laws. The Attorney General found that when terminating propane service, Haskins failed to remove propane tanks and issue refund checks within the timeframes required by Vermont law.

“Vermont consumers who terminate propane service should not have to experience the kinds of unjustified delays that occurred with Haskins. Vermont’s propane law has strict timeframes to protect consumers. There is no excuse for propane companies who fail to heed the law,” said Attorney General Bill Sorrell.

Vermont Business Magazine How Vermont defines the relationship between employers and workers is one the most fundamental regulatory issues for Vermont’s economy. In a statement released Monday morning, Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility and the Women Business Owners Network said employers deserve clear and consistent rules to follow and workers deserve both flexibility and access to the workplace safety net, such as unemployment and worker’s compensation benefits. They urged the Legislature not to pass H867, the bill setting new definitions for employees and independent contractors. The bill has languished in the House Commerce and Economic Development committee.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation (VTFPR) has awarded $586,764 to fifteen significant trail projects. This funding, available through state and federal funds in the Recreational Trails Program (RTP), will go towards maintaining and building public trails all over Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine At the Vermont Retail & Grocers Association annual convention this past weekend at the Hilton Burlington, VRGA president, Jim Harrison, announced to members of the trade group that he would be stepping down at the end of the year. VRGA was brought about by the merger of the Vermont Retail Association and the Vermont Grocers Association. Harrison began his association career with VGA in 1987 and has continued as president of the new VRGA since the groups combined in 2014.

Jim Harrison

by Mike Smith There is a tactic that politicians sometimes use when they are in political hot water. The tactic is to blame others. Frequently, the goal is to cast blame far and wide so no one person is held responsible. Ironically, it’s a tactic we discourage our children from using when they say, “everyone is doing it” as a defense for bad behavior. 

Attempting to spread the blame around, and therefore deflect blame, has been on full display as Governor Peter Shumlin addressed alleged fraud in the EB-5 program. 

by Mike Faher/The Commons A warm, unseasonable winter has forced an undisclosed number of layoffs at Mount Snow ski resort in Dover. But resort administrators expect to hire back those employees soon. And they say the furloughs aren’t related to a $52 million cash crunch in the resort’s EB-5 foreign investor program — a problem that has slowed new development at Mount Snow.