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Vermont Business Magazine The Addison Rutland Natural Gas Project (ARNGP) is slated to bring millions of dollars in economic benefits to Vermont over the next 20 years and beyond. According to Vermont Gas System, mainline construction is continuing on the 41-mile project that promises an affordable, clean energy choice for Vermont families and businesses. With the construction also come job opportunities and a boost to the local economy. Michels Corporation, a Wisconsin-based family-owned company, has announced it will hire up to 50 percent of the needed labor force within the area of the signatory Pipeline Contractors Association (PLCA) local unions. The company is also committed to purchasing needed construction materials through local vendors during the construction season, wherever possible.

Vermont Business Magazine Ledyard Financial Group, Inc (ticker symbol LFGP), the holding company for Ledyard National Bank with branches in New Hampshire and Vermont, today reported quarterly earnings for the second quarter of 2015. Net income for the quarter ended June 30, 2015, was $1,021,601 or $1.00 per share compared to $987,650 or $0.97 per share for the same period in 2014, an increase of $33,951 or 3%. Net income for the six months ended June 30, 2015 was $2,141,281 or $2.09 per share compared to $1,925,956 or $1.90 per share for the same period in 2014, an increase of $212,325 or 11%. The strength of our core businesses continues to drive improvement in our operating results and returns to our shareholders.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Advisory Committee to the US Commission on Civil Rights (Committee) will convene a public meeting to examine the persistence of housing discrimination in Vermont. Forty-seven years ago President Lyndon Johnson signed the Fair Housing Act of 1968 (FHA), a federal law aimed at ending blatant housing discrimination against African Americans. The law also proscribes housing discrimination based on national origin, religion, sex, familial status and disability.

What: Briefing of the Vermont Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.
When: Monday, August 10, 2015 10:00 a.m.
Where: Vermont State House 115 State Street Montpelier, VT 05633-5301

Vermont Business Magazine From Franklin to Windham, from Bennington to Orleans, Vermont’s 14 counties have a rich history of unique people, special places and roots sunk deep in the Vermont soil. Over three very special Thursday evenings beginning August 6th, Vermont PBS will be serving up a historical snapshot of each and every county in the state. Life in Vermont’s Counties uses archival footage and photos, interviews with residents – and a rich sense of place – to describe local life and historical highlights of Vermont's 14 counties.

The series of 14 films were all produced, over a period of several years, by students in Senator Bill Doyle’s history class at Johnson State College, in collaboration with Waterbury, Vt., filmmaker Vince Franke of Peregrine Productions. Each film brings to life the history, the stories and the characters that help to define Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Peter Shumlin, Barre Mayor Thom Lauzon, and the Vermont Economic Development Authority (VEDA) today announced a loan program to assist Vermont owners of rental housing properties damaged by the July 2015 flooding that affected Barre, Plainfield, and surrounding areas. While businesses and homeowners have access to flood assistance programs, non-occupier owners of rental properties fall through a gap. The program announced today is designed to give those individuals assistance as they work to rebuild from the flooding.

“I’m always amazed at the resilience of Vermont communities after the flood waters recede and it’s time to rebuild,” Shumlin said. “As Vermonters we come together to help our neighbors recover and this program is one way we are doing that.”

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Vermont Business Magazine The honoree for Southwestern Vermont Health Care’s 2015 Health Care Leadership Award is Richard "Dick" Guerrero, MD. Roby Harrington, III is the recipient of SVHC’s 2015 Distinguished Community Service Award. Every September, SVHC presents the Vision Awards at the Harvest Ball, an event sponsored by the SVHC Foundation. The ball will take place on Saturday, September 12 at the 1768 Hubbell Homestead at Colgate Park in Bennington. This year, SVHC will honor Guerrero and Harrington, a physician and a community member, for their efforts to advance the health system’s vision of healthier communities.

“Dr. Guerrero and Mr. Harrington are truly deserving of these honors,” said Thomas A. Dee, FACHE, president and CEO of SVHC. “Both men use their extensive experience to help guide this organization and this community through complex times toward an even healthier future. We are truly grateful for their contributions.”

Public Assets Institute Vermont employers added almost 20,000 jobs after the official end of the recession in June 2009. But most of that gain merely made up for lost ground. Before the recession, non-farm payroll jobs in Vermont peaked at 309,600 in June 2007. Last month, with employers adding 1,000 jobs, the total reached a new high of 314,700.

Vermont’s jobless rate has remained among the lowest in the country for the last few years. But younger workers are not sharing that good fortune. According to US Census data, unemployment among men ages 20 to 24 was just under 8 percent in 2014, and about 10 percent for women in that age group. The jobless rate for 45-to-64-year-old women was about half the state average.

Vermont Business Magazine Three batches of mosquitoes from Springfield, Vermont, tested positive for West Nile virus by the Health Department laboratory. This is the first detection of West Nile virus this year in Vermont. The mosquitoes were collected by the Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets on July 22. West Nile virus is spread through the bite of an infected mosquito. The first human case of West Nile virus was reported in 2002, and the virus has been detected in every county in the state.

Three people became ill with the infection in 2012.

“Finding mosquitoes with West Nile virus this time of year is not unusual,” said Patsy Kelso, state epidemiologist for infectious disease. “Late summer is when the risk of human illness is highest, so we’re reminding everyone to talk precautions to avoid mosquito bites.”

Vermont Business Magazine eQHealth Solutions, a population health company encompassing technology solutions and medical management services based in Baton Rouge, has been selected to provide the care management IT platform for the Department of Vermont Health Access (DVHA). Under this agreement, eQHealth Solutions, in partnership with Cognizant (CTSH), will provide a comprehensive care management system tailored to meet the specific needs of the DVHA. eQHealth’s technology and care coordination services expertise in combination with Cognizant’s leading healthcare and technology services and solutions will provide DVHA a complete care management platform. This will support DVHA in their quality goal initiatives for Vermont’s publically funded health insurance beneficiaries.

by Anne Galloway vtdigger.org The state will continue benefits for disabled Vermonters for 60 days while lawyers prepare for arguments in a discrimination case. Vermont Legal Aid agreed to the extension period last Thursday. The class-action lawsuit filed by Vermont Legal Aid on July 23 alleges that the reduction, which the Legislature approved in the fiscal year 2016 state budget, is unconstitutional and that it discriminates against households with family members with a disability.

Sandy Paritz, Poverty Law Project director at Vermont Legal Aid, said cuts that were already made for the August 1 distribution of benefits would be restored by the state.

Vermont Business Magazine The members of the VNAs of Vermont (VNAVT), the not-for-profit VNAs and Home Health and Hospice Agencies in the state, have been selected as pilot agencies for the Medicare Care Choices Model (MCCM) demonstration grant which will allow the agencies to provide extensive palliative care and care management services to patients who qualify for hospice care but chose not to enroll in the hospice program.

“This is especially good news for terminally ill Vermonters who are seriously ill but, for a variety of reasons, choose not to enroll in our hospice programs,” said Peter Cobb, VNAs of Vermont Executive Director. This model will allow them to receive select hospice services while continuing to receive curative care services concurrently which are not allowed under the hospice rules.”

Vermont Business Magazine Citizens Bank has announced it has introduced Touch ID authentication to its award-winning mobile banking app for iPhone® models 5S, 6 and 6 Plus. The latest enhancement is part of Citizens’ Bank Better commitment to make banking simple, clear and personal.

Touch ID, which uses a customer’s fingerprint to authenticate, enables customers to quickly login and access the features in the Citizens Mobile Banking app for iPhone with the press of a finger.