Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Today, State Treasurer Mike Pieciak joined legislative leaders at a press conference to thank the Senate for their unanimous approval of Senate Bill 27, a proposal to eliminate $100 million in medical debt using a one-time investment of $1 million—all without raising taxes or fees. The bill also prevents health care providers from reporting medical debt to credit-reporting agencies, protecting Vermonters’ credit scores in the future. Under the Treasurer’s proposal, the State would partner with a nonprofit to purchase medical debt from providers at pennies on the dollar of its original cost. Once acquired, the debt would be completely forgiven and any negative impacts to the debtor’s credit report would be removed. 

Vermont Business Magazine Capstone Community Action’s Fuel Your Neighbors campaign, presented by EastRise Credit Union, raised $325,000 to support emergency food and heating assistance for Central Vermonters. This frigid winter challenged many Vermont households already unable to meet their basic needs with the increased cost of heat and food. Capstone Community Action (Capstone) was able to provide 491 families with heating assistance, distributing over $260,000 in funds this winter alone. Capstone also had 1,580 families visit the food shelf between October 1, 2024 and March 2025. With no public funding for Capstone’s Food Shelf, the Fuel Your Neighbors campaign is critical to keeping the food shelf stocked to meet the community’s demonstrated need.  

Vermont Business Magazine Champlain College and Anthropic, a leader in artificial intelligence (AI) safety and research, today announced a strategic collaboration to leverage Claude, Anthropic's state-of-the-art assistant, to advance AI in higher education and workforce development. This collaboration will support classroom innovations so Champlain College students develop the AI skills they need to thrive in the workforce.

Vermont Business Magazine Gifford welcomed community ambassadors to its campus for its traditional Annual Meeting. The last year saw continued struggles in the healthcare industry, Gifford’s new President and CEO, Michael Costa provided his vision for Gifford’s future at the medical center’s 120^th Annual Meeting on March 20, 2025. Gifford’s been providing care to the community for over 100 years flexing and changing to meet the evolving needs of the community. As Costa noted, “Gifford did not end up as a Federally Qualified Health Center, with an independent living facility, the Menig Nursing Home, a critical access hospital and a pioneer in birthing care because that was the goal 100 years ago. Gifford’s leaders kept on moving and changing to meet the community need.”

Vermont Business Magazine First Children’s Finance VT has announced the latest recipients of the Make Way for Kids (MWFK) Infant/Toddler Capacity Building Grants. These grants support Vermont’s early childhood entrepreneurs in addressing the state’s critical need for high-quality, affordable child care. Last year, Make Way for Kids grants supported the creation of more than 750 child care slots and 225 new jobs across Vermont. Among the newest grantees are Sabrina Weber Family Child Care in Bennington and The Balancing Act Enrichment Center in Essex. Both projects will expand access to early childhood education, with a focus on infants and toddlers, the age group facing the most significant shortage of available child care slots in the state.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health reported last week that the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations remain low. Hospitalizations remain just under 5 after a spike in January. Likewise wastewater testing indicates that virus levels fell steeply also after a spike, especially in Montpelier, but also at most test sites. They have now leveled off at low levels, as have many other indicators. The Vermont pandemic death total stands at 1,283 as of March 15, 2025, an increase of 1 from the previous week (the most recent data available from the CDC). 

Vermont Business Magazine As warmer weather and peeping baby chicks mark the springtime return of migrating wild birds and backyard flocks, state health and agriculture officials are encouraging people to keep themselves and their feathered friends healthy. Domestic poultry kept for producing eggs or meat can carry harmful bacteria and viruses, including Salmonella, Campylobacter, E. coli and avian influenza (bird flu), that can make people sick. Children younger than 5 years old, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to get severe illness from the germs poultry can carry. Knowing how to protect your birds can keep you and your family safer from these health risks.  

Vermont Business Magazine AFT Vermont has announced that this Saturday, Central Vermont Medical Center support staff will hold a rally at City Hall Parkin Barre to put pressure on their administration to agree to a fair union contract that improves patient care, staff retention, and working conditions for the nearly 500 support staff employed by CVMC. This group includes cleaning and kitchen staff, nursing aides, front desk staff, and other groups who earn the lowest wages at the hospital.

Vermont Business Magazine U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development has amended fourteen program funding opportunities to remove harmful DEIA scoring criteria. The overhaul brings these programs into compliance with Executive Order 14151, Ending Radical And Wasteful Government DEI Programs And Preferencing, issued on January 20, 2025. USDA Rural Development will not consider previous Administration DEIA-based “key priorities” and discretionary points while scoring applications submitted under the following programs.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Blue Cross Vermont CEO Don George sent a letter in mid-January to key healthcare stakeholders discussing the dire situation of Blue Cross Vermont in particular and the state's healthcare industry in general. On Wednesday, March 26, the Green Mountain Care Board will meet, and likely vote on, FY26 Hospital Budget Guidance. Earlier this month, a staff presentation by the GMCB noted how most of the hospitals are losing money so far this year. In his letter below, George notes how the Blue Cross Vermont reserves have lost $100 million in member reserves in five of the last six years and last October was the worst month ever. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Mental Health (DMH) is hosting its annual conference at the Killington Grand Resort Hotel on April 9, 2025. The event will feature workshops, presentations, and opportunities for mental health clinicians to earn continuing education credits. Attendees will hear from keynote speakers AnneMoss Rogers, an expert in suicide prevention, and Keith Whyte, a national leader in addiction prevention and responsible gambling. The conference is themed, “Revitalize Mental Health: Empower, Strengthen, Transform.”

Vermont Business Magazine A new study has revealed the states that spend the most money on healthcare, with Alaska topping the ranking. Alaska was highest in per person spending and very high as a percentage of income. Vermont ranked eighth in spending but was higher in percentage, as of course different states have different income levels. New York and Massachusetts, for instance, spent more, but because their average incomes are higher, they spent a lower percentage. Meanwhile, West Virgina spent slightly more per person than Vermont but over 20.05 percent of income versus Vermont's 15.36 percent.