Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Two years ago, the Vermont Department of Health launched an informational outreach campaign called ‘049’ that asked women and health care providers to become more aware of how alcohol can cause health problems for babies. A new report from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) identifies prenatal exposure to alcohol as the leading preventable cause of birth defects and intellectual and neurodevelopmental disabilities in children.

by Erin Mansfield vtdigger.org Regulators will hold three more days of hearings to hear testimony over an embattled natural gas pipeline project, following allegations from opponents that ratepayer advocates and Vermont Gas were trying to thwart the legal process. The Public Service Board ruled Monday that it would hold three days of hearings starting Dec. 1 to hear testimony on a memorandum of understanding that Vermont Gas and the Public Service Department submitted Oct. 15. Under the agreement, ratepayers would pay for $134 million of the Addison Rutland Natural Gas Project.

by Mike Smith In this country we have the right to assemble and stage lawful protests. Usually the purpose of a protest is to draw attention to a certain issue and raise awareness, with the ultimate goal of having more people gravitate to your cause and broaden your support. For this reason protesters need to be careful that they do not alienate those who otherwise might be sympathetic to their point of view.

But some protesters can be too intense, perhaps even intimidating or sometimes frightening, which prevents them from attracting broader support. That’s when the use of a protest becomes counterproductive. When the intensity, rhetoric and actions of the protest don’t match that of the general public, then protesters appear to be out-of-line and over-the-top. Unfortunately, those that are so ideologically wedded to their cause rarely see it that way.

Vermont Business Magazine As two in five working Americans want to own their own business, leading personal finance website GOBankingRates conducted a study, released Monday, to find out which US states offer the best conditions for Americans wanting to start a business. Vermont was seventh worst, according to the study. The study found that while Washington,Wyoming and California are the best states for entrepreneurs, West Virginia, Hawaii and South Carolina are the least-friendly states for new business.

Vermont Business Magazine Representatives from the Southwestern Vermont Regional Cancer Center invited members of the Cancer Center Community Crusaders (known as the 4Cs) and the Quiet Valley Quilters Guild together Wednesday, October 7 to mark the beginning of a new program for patients. The three organizations worked together to provide 14 handmade quilts to cancer patients whose treatment has ended because it is no longer effective to stem the course of their disease. Many transition to hospice care.

Cancer patients often come to the cancer center for appointments over the course of many years. Because of this, patients and staff build deep relationships. Once a patient has transitioned to hospice care, they no longer come to the Cancer Center; both patients and staff feel that separation.

Vermont Business Magazine Ledyard Financial Group (Ticker Symbol: LFGP) has announced a regular quarterly dividend of $0.48 per share, to be paid December 4, 2015 to shareholders of record as of November 13, 2015. Ledyard Financial Group, Inc, headquartered in Hanover, New Hampshire, is the holding company for Ledyard National Bank. Ledyard National Bank, founded in 1991, is a full service community bank offering a broad range of banking, investment, tax and wealth management services in the Dartmouth-Lake Sunapee Region. Ledyard National Bank has eight offices with locations in Hanover, Lebanon, Lyme, New London, and West Lebanon, New Hampshire and in Norwich, Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine Gifford will work with Wiemann Lamphere Architects as they move into the second stage of building independent living apartments at the new Morgan Orchards Senior Living Community in Randolph Center, Vermont. The Colchester, Vermont design firm will build on Gifford’s original design concept to create a vibrant neighborhood for the 25-acre campus, which includes the new Menig Nursing home and planned future assisted living.

“Wiemann Lamphere has worked on many housing projects and brings specific expertise in designing for seniors in independent living facilities,” said Gifford’s Vice President of Operations and Surgical Services Rebecca O’Berry. “They are an energetic and enthusiastic team who approached our project with creative ideas on how to encourage community interaction while incorporating nature and energy conservation into the design.”

Leading medical device contract manufacturer expands thermoplastic, silicone, and training facilities

Vermont Business Magazine In response to its growing medical device business, GW Plastics announced Monday evening the expansion of its Royalton, Vermont, Manufacturing and Technology Center. GW Plastics plans to break ground later this month on a 21,000 square foot expansion – scalable to 50,000 square feet -- to accommodate the additional growth of its Thermoplastic and Liquid Silicone Rubber (LSR) injection molding and medical device contract assembly business. The expansion will also allow for improved workforce training and development facilities at its Technical and Training Center, where GW Plastics conducts scientific injection molding training and manufacturing classes for its employees, customers, and local area high schools.

Vermont Business Magazine Former Vermont First Lady, State Senator, and Lieutenant Governor Barbara W Snelling died today, surrounded by her family at home in South Burlington. She was the wife of the late Governor Richard A Snelling. Dick Snelling served two separate terms as governor, from 1977 to 1985 and from January 1991 to his death that August at age 64. Barbara Snelling was elected the state's 76th lieutenant governor in 1992 and presided over the state Senate from 1993 to 1997 during the Dean Administration. See obituary below.

Barbara Snelling in 2006. VBM file photo.

Vermont Business Magazine A construction contractor, a mason, and a hauler have been awarded loans from Community Capital of Vermont (CCVT) to help grow their operations. Red Rooster Construction of South Strafford, Stonewall Hardscapes of Wolcott, and JSK Transport of Sutton received a total of $179,000 to purchase equipment and for working capital.

“With our small business loans, these rural entrepreneurs will grow their business and create jobs. Our loans are helping to propel Vermont’s trades and service economy,” said Martin Hahn, executive director of Community Capital of Vermont.

Shawn Kincaid, owner of JSK Transport, used his loan to buy his own tractor-trailer and cover start-up costs. Now an owner-operator, he can work as a leased operator with established trucking companies to haul freight. “As an owner operator, I have greater flexibility, independence, and the opportunity to map out my own expansion,” said Kincaid.

Vermont Business Magazine Norwich University continues its Todd Lecture Series with “An Evening with Madeleine Albright,’’ a presentation by the former United States Secretary of State on Tuesday, November 3, 2015, at 7 pm in Plumley Armory. This lecture is free and open to the public. Albright served as the 64th Secretary of State. President Bill Clinton named her to the post in 1997, making her at the time both the first female Secretary of State and the highest ranking woman ever to serve in U.S. government. As Secretary of State, Albright reinforced America’s alliances, advocated democracy and human rights and promoted American trade and business, labor and environmental standards abroad.

Vermont Business Magazine State and local leaders today announced a major financial boost to improve housing stock in Rutland County. Vermont State Treasurer Beth Pearce was joined by Rutland Mayor Chris Louras and Ludy Biddle of NeighborWorks of Western Vermont in announcing the availability of $1.75 million in lending capital for home rehabilitation loans and home purchasing assistance financing. The funding of local investments is part of an ongoing process managed through the State Treasurer’s Office. The local investments initiative aims to invest a significant portion of Vermont’s short-term operating funds in Vermont communities, while earning a competitive rate of return. The initiative redirects funds that were invested primarily in out-of-state government agency securities and money market accounts at large financial institutions to local investments.