Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Real estate sales in Vermont have continued a trend dating back to late winter with vigorous sales in June with only a modest increase in average prices. Sales have rebounded since the great recession while prices have lagged in catching up, despite a greatly reduced number of foreclosures. Sales are also up following another harsh winter, which saw depressed activity. According to The RE/MAX INTEGRA, New England June Monthly Housing Report, Vermont home transactions were up 20.8 percent year-over-year – the highest in New England, while median price increased 4.1 percent year-over-year. Pending sales were up 13.3 percent year-over-year.

Vermont Business Magazine The Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD) and the Windham County Advisory Council announced today that the new and improved Windham County Economic Development Program (WCEDP), based in Brattlebor is up and running. Following the announcement of the first round of grants last December, Governor Shumlin called for ACCD to work with regional and local partners to redesign the program to ensure more regional input and participation and a more efficient program that ensures job creation and economic transformation in the region.

ACCD has worked closely for several months with regional partners including the Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation (BDCC), SeVEDS, Windham Regional Commission (WRC), several municipal representatives, and the Vermont SBDC and VEDA to redesign the program.

Vermont Business Magazine University of Vermont Vice President for Research Richard Galbraith, MD, PhD, has announced that four UVM research teams have each been awarded seed grants – ranging from $25,000 to $50,000 – to help move their innovative work one step closer to the marketplace. The researchers were among six finalist teams who pitched their ideas to a panel of experts at the first UVM-wide SPARK-VT session on June 26, 2015.

Vermont Business Magazine The latest 2015 KIDS COUNT Data Book state rankings place Vermont 5th in the nation in an index of child well-being. The rankings, released every year by the Annie E Casey Foundation, focus on key trends in child well-being in four domains: economic well-being, education, health, and family and community. Vermont ranked 2^nd in 2014, as it did in 2013, and ranked 3^rd in 2012. Vermont fell in the Health category from 6th last year to 22nd this year (which likely is related to other states getting better), but rose somewhat in the Economic Well Being Rank from 8th to 4th (where it appears the average across the nation did worse).

Vermont’s drop in overall rank reflects small changes in a number of indicators, said Sarah Teel, research director at the independent child advocacy non-profit Voices for Vermont’s Children.

Vermont Business Magazine While Vermont's unemployment rate stayed at the same level it's been for three months, all three of the key elements continued to improve slightly, as the Labor Force increased, Employment was up and Unemployment was down. The Vermont Department of Labor announced today that the seasonally-adjusted statewide unemployment rate for June was 3.6 percent. This represents no change from the revised May rate (3.6 percent). The national average in June was 5.3 percent, which experienced a decrease of two-tenths of a percentage point from the previous month’s estimate. Vermont’s unemployment rate is fourth lowest in the country and New Hampshire (3.8 percent) is sixth (see states list below). June represents the ninth consecutive month without an increase to the unemployment rate.

Vermont Business Magazine An underwater power line from Canada could mean upwards of $720 million for Vermont electric ratepayers and to help clean up Lake Champlain, among other environmental and economic goals, if it comes to fruition. The $1.2 billion project has a 2019 target for completion. Commissioner Christopher Recchia and the Vermont Department of Public Service announced today it has reached agreement with TDI-New England in its application for a Certificate of Public Good for the 1,000 MW transmission line to be constructed under Lake Champlain and underground from Benson to Ludlow. The powerline will run from the Quebec-Vermont line nearly 100 miles under Lake Champlain before moving across the state to Ludlow.

Vermont Business Magazine Community College of Vermont has been awarded over $1.7 million in TRIO funding from the United States Department of Education. The College will receive approximately $340,000 annually for five years to fund the Student Support Services (SSS) program. The SSS program at CCV serves 225 students annually. Students chosen for SSS come from low-income families, are first-generation college students, or have a disability. The SSS program fosters a supportive environment for these individuals, who often experience daily struggles to balance family, job and school responsibilities, and provides direct support to them in the form of intensive advising, academic coaching and post-secondary training.

by John McClaughry Senator Bernie Sanders is out on the Presidential campaign trail, and he says he’s “talking about what I believe is the most important issue facing the American people: the grotesque level of income and wealth inequality. The Koch brothers [Bernie’s proxies for Satan] and a few others are attempting to buy the United States government, and that should be of concern to everybody.”

When asked (by Mother Jones magazine) why we should be concerned, the Vermont socialist replied with a rare allusion to religion. “I think this goes back to the Bible. There is something immoral when so few have so much and so many have so little.”

Vermont Business Magazine The University of Vermont Medical Center has appointed Mary Kate FitzPatrick, DNP, RN., NEA-BC, FAAN to the executive leadership position of chief nursing officer, effective September 21, 2015. FitzPatrick will also play an integral role with the UVM College of Nursing and Health Sciences. The appointment was made following a comprehensive six-month national search.

The role will report to Eileen Whalen, M.H.A., R.N., president and chief operating officer, UVM Medical Center. Whalen will continue to hold the title of interim chief nursing officer until FitzPatrick’s arrival.

”We are pleased that we have recruited a leader whose background, skills and experience aligns with the strategic priorities for UVM Medical Center nursing and patient care,” said Whalen.

Vermont Business Magazine Rutland Area Visiting Nurse Association & Hospice (RAVNAH) has been selected to participate in the Medicare Care Choices Model, announced today by Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell. The model provides Medicare beneficiaries who qualify for coverage under the Medicare Hospice Benefit and dually eligible beneficiaries who qualify for the Medicaid Hospice Benefit the option to elect to receive supportive care services typically provided by hospice and continue to receive curative services at the same time. Today’s announcement is part of a larger effort at HHS to transform our health care system to deliver better care, spend our dollars in a smarter way, and put patients in the center of their care.

Vermont Business Magazine A new solar farm is powering the state’s correctional facility in St Albans and has helped fund the wish for a local Make-A-Wish child. The new 500kW solar project sited adjacent to the prison is part of a broader solar initiative for state facilities spearheaded by Governor Peter Shumlin, which supplies solar energy for state buildings and provides taxpayer savings from reduced electric bills at the facilities. Previously completed solar projects include the Northeast State Correctional Facility in St. Johnsbury and Southeast State Corrections Facility in Windsor.

Corrections Commissioner Andy Pallito, Dan Edison from Buildings and General Services, and other state officials joined to celebrate the milestone.

Vermont Business Magazine Burlington Electric Department today is warning its customers against a bill payment scam underway in Burlington. The scam involves BED customers – in particular, hair salons – receiving phone calls from persons identifying themselves as BED representatives threatening to cut off their power if outstanding bills are not paid within one hour. The callers (at least one identifying himself as “James” and calling from numbers including 800.748.7043) then direct BED customers to share credit card or other payment information. These calls are not coming from BED, but rather are part of a scam to defraud BED customers. If receiving such calls, BED customers are advised to follow these steps:

· Do not provide payment or any other personal information;

· Do not engage with the caller;

· Immediately hang up;