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United Way of Chittenden County’s Women’s Leadership Council awarded a $25,000 grant to Mercy Connections’ Women’s Small Business Program Account-able LIFE Initiative, which will provide financial coaching, mentoring and peer groups that cultivate financial empowerment through gender-sensitive coursework and activities designed to help women make informed, proactive money management decisions. The United Way Women’s Leadership Council was formed in early 2015 by a Steering Committee of 22 local female leaders and volunteers who believe in the power of women and their ability to catalyze social change through philanthropy, volunteerism and advocacy.

The Insurance Technology Association (ITA) announces that Lisa L Keysar and Gary H Ouellette, executives with Montpelier-based Union Mutual of Vermont Companies, are the winners of the first ITA Bridge Award. The award was presented at ITA LIVE, the ITA’s inaugural event held this week at the Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa.

Genworth has announced the results of its 12th annual Cost of Care Study, which shows that in Vermont, the cost to receive long term care services at home with a home health aide has increased over the past five years. Vermont is also more expensive than the national average for both in-home and assisted living facility care. On a national level, the survey shows a dramatic increase in facility based care, including assisted living and nursing home facilities, while the cost to receive care at home through a home health aide is rising at a more moderate growth rate.

Debbie Boyce is a passionate community volunteer, whether she is supporting a local vaccine clinic or through her service as an Emergency Medical Technician. "She is a phenomenal volunteer -- very dedicated and works really hard," said Sue Hommel, a public health specialist for the Vermont Department of Health. Hommel recruited Boyce to serve as the Rutland County Medical Reserve Corps unit coordinator two years ago.

Boyce is featured in On Call for Vermont television and web videos launched today to recruit volunteers to serve as Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) volunteers. An EMS recruitment and retention survey conducted by the Health Department in January 2014 showed that two-thirds of EMS agencies statewide felt understaffed.

The Health Department hopes On Call for Vermont will recruit hundreds of volunteers who are willing to put their skills to use to help others.

Starting this fall, the University of Vermont will offer a new medical science master’s program for students with a limited background in science and those whose undergraduate grades do not reflect their true academic ability. UVM’s Master of Medical Science degree is a 30-credit, one-year, on-campus program, which includes a cohesive set of core courses that cover the major biomedical disciplines and provides a foundation of understanding how the human body works. In addition to biochemistry, cell biology, and physiology, the core curriculum includes a six-credit human anatomy course, something not offered in many similar programs across the country, and also covers the fundamentals of pharmacology and biostatistics.

Representatives from Enterprise Rent-A-Car visited the Brattleboro Retreat on Wednesday, April 1, to present a $1,500 donation to the Retreat’s Uniformed Service Program from the Enterprise Holdings Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the company that, through its regional subsidiaries, operates the Enterprise Rent-A-Car, National Car Rental, and Alamo Rent-A-Car brands.

The Retreat’s Uniformed Service Program provides specialized care for military veterans and members of police, fire, and other uniformed services who are experiencing duty-related challenges including PTSD and related conditions.

The Vermont Economic Development Authority (VEDA) has approved $5.6 million in financing for economic development projects throughout Vermont. The Authority’s financings leveraged enough private funds to bring project totals to $14.3 million.

“VEDA is pleased to be able to offer financing support to a variety of commercial, agricultural, entrepreneurial, energy and small business projects,” said VEDA CEO Jo Bradley.

Close to $1.7 million in direct commercial financing was approved, including:

by Erin Mansfield vtdigger.org The jobs bill, S138, was a central drama in the Senate last week as senators and the Shumlin administration engaged in a push-me-pull-you game of brinksmanship. The weeklong negotiations culminated in the passage of an economic development bill on Friday that Sen. Kevin Mullin, R-Rutland, describes as a “meaningful step toward job creation.” A key provision in the bill relaxes rules for companies that receive cash incentives.

On Tuesday, when S.138 was up for a second reading, the bill was a long way from that “meaningful step.” Three committees had stripped the legislation of more than a dozen sections, and the bill’s ultimate fate was in doubt.

Vermont Electric Cooperative (VEC) announced today that Andrea Cohen, Executive Director of Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (VBSR), will be joining VEC’s senior leadership team at the end of the legislative session. Cohen will serve as Manager of Government Affairs and Member Relations. Cohen is stepping down as the executive director of VBSR at the end of May, where she has been for five years.

Governor Peter Shumlin has appointed Shawn Straffin, a resident of West Burke, to fill the seat vacated by Bryon Quatrini, who recently retired from the Vermont Economic Progress Council (VEPC). The Council is an 11 member board that authorizes job creation incentives and oversees the Tax Increment Financing District program and the Windham County Economic Development Program. Shumlin also re-appointed Stephan Morse of Newfane, Emma Marvin of Hyde Park, and John Davis of Williston, to new terms ending March 2019. Morse was also re-designated as Chair.

Straffin, an entrepreneur and head of production development, design, marketing and technologies for Lyndon Furniture monitors industry trends daily. Armed with this information Straffin is able to design furniture that meets the diverse needs of people and businesses across the United States and the world.

Vermont is the undisputed snowfall champ this season. Jay Peak Resort leads the way with 357 total inches as of April 13, 2015, far outpacing western resorts in accumulated snow, and at 100 percent open, the resort doesn’t plan to close until May. Other resorts in Vermont have similar stories of record snowfall. Killington Resort, supplementing their nearly 200 inches of natural snow with efficient snowmaking, has snowpack of up to 30 feet - enough to plan to keep the mountain open for skiing and riding until June.

As one final tribute to its 60th anniversary season, Mount Snow Resort is offering an advance purchase lift ticket deal to come celebrate the final day of winter operations on April 19. Paying homage to the year the resort first opened, skiers and riders can hop online and pay just $19.54 for a lift ticket to enjoy some turns before lifts stop spinning for the season.

Frequent natural snowfall throughout the winter added up to a season total of 193”, which is the most amount of snow recorded at the mountain since the 2000/2001 season. February was the star of the winter with a record-breaking 76” of snow making its way to the ground in just a 21-day span (Feb. 2 – 22).