Current News

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;

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Peter Shumlin, Barre Mayor Thom Lauzon, and public safety and emergency management officials today provided an update on last night’s flooding affecting parts of eastern and central Vermont, including Barre and Plainfield. The fast-moving storm dropped between four and six inches of rain last night. Barre and Plainfield appear to be the hardest hit by the storm and flooding with both communities reporting widespread road closures during the storm. Those towns and others in central and eastern Vermont are doing assessments today with VTrans district technicians to determine the current status of roads and what repairs need to be made. A number of local roads remain closed and motorists are cautioned to respect all detours.

Early this morning, VTrans activated loaders and dump trucks to help dig out and move dirt in Barre. Crews are still working with City officials and more resources are at the ready if required.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Gas on Friday submitted its latest quarterly filing regarding its Addison Rutland Natural Gas Project (ARNGP) with the Vermont Public Service Board. The company reports no material change in overall cost for the project since its last filing in April 2015. Vermont Gas submits quarterly reports to the Public Service Board regarding budget projections and expenses related to the project. The latest filing reflects the project’s economic picture through June 30, 2015.

“We are very pleased to report to the Board that the project remains on budget and on time as significant construction is set to begin this month,” said Don Rendall, President and CEO of Vermont Gas. “We are entering a very exciting phase of the project and our team continues to monitor project economics closely.”

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) on Friday joined officials and researchers at the University of Vermont Miller Farm to announce that more than $15 million in grants and funding has been awarded to the university in the year-and-a-half since the 2014 Farm Bill was signed into law. The funding, awarded through a wide array of Farm Bill programs, supports new agricultural research and extension projects throughout the state.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin along with music legend and activist Neil Young on Sunday urged support for the Vermont Food Fight Fund, which was established to protect Vermont’s mandatory GMO labeling law from those waging a legal battle to overturn it. Young announced a $100,000 donation to the fund, bringing the total raised so far to $550,000. Young gave a concert at the Champlain Valley Expo in Essex Junction Sunday night.

Governor Shumlin and Neil Yound Sunday evening. Courtesy photo.

by Governor Peter Shumlin Last week I traveled to Toronto to attend the Climate Summit of the Americas, which brought together Pan-American governmental, advocacy, energy, and climate change leaders to share ideas on how we can work together to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and capitalize on a cleaner energy economy to grow jobs and opportunity. I was so proud to represent Vermont at this summit because when it comes to combating climate change and finding opportunity in a green energy future, our state is world leader.

Vermont Business Magazine A retirement incentive program passed in the recently concluded Vermont State legislative session will give 300 executive branch employees the opportunity to retire this year and receive as much as $15,000 in cash. The State Treasurer’s Office Friday mailed over 900 letters and program applications to eligible employees.

The program was proposed as a way to reduce both the State’s labor costs and the need to lay-off employees to address a multi-million dollar budget deficit. The Vermont State Employees Association, Treasurer’s office and the Administration worked together to craft a plan that would secure general fund savings and protect the financial integrity of the pension plan.

Beth Pearce May 2015. VBM file photo.