Current News

Vermont Business Magazine U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont) introduced the FEMA Operational Transparency Act, a new bill directing the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) to audit how the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is spending it’s budget, and recommend ways to reduce the Agency’s bloated administrative costs. Recent reporting from Vermont Public found that FEMA’s recovery in the State is being held back in-part by outsized administrative costs. FEMA was previously required to publish administrative costs for disasters that occurred in the previous fiscal year and outline the Agency’s efforts to reduce costs. The reports are no longer required, and Congress does not have full transparency into how FEMA is spending funds on administrative fees.  

The Department of Financial Regulation (DFR) seeks input from consumers regarding their experiences and concerns related to autobody repair issues and insurance companies. Act 32 of 2023 requires DFR to solicit feedback as part of a study and report to the General Assembly regarding a number of business practices in Vermont related to automobile insurance and autobody repairs. DFR would welcome any public comments from consumers on these issues. Our study is examining several topics that include use of aftermarket parts in repairs, appraisal practices, labor rate reimbursement paid to autobody shops, sufficiency of consumer disclosures in automobile insurance contracts, the use of direct repair programs and other consumer concerns related to insurance coverage for automobile repairs.

Vermont Business Magazine A new peer-reviewed economic study released today by the nonprofit Center on Rural Innovation (CORI) reveals groundbreaking evidence that fiber-fed broadband experiences enabled by local providers in rural communities significantly boost income, entrepreneurship, and business investment. “Beyond Connectivity: The Role of Broadband in Rural Economic Growth and Resilience” compares economic data from three types of rural communities: underserved communities, communities with access to basic broadband services, and communities served by smaller fiber broadband providers offering access to experiences that go beyond fast internet. The study finds a more significant economic impact in communities that are better connected and have access to additional services that allow users to effectively leverage that connection, while comparable underserved communities experience economic stagnation.

Vermont Business Magazine If you reside in Caledonia, Essex, or Orleans County and were affected by the severe weather from July 29-31, 2024, you can receive one-on-one FEMA support when applying for disaster assistance. Simply visit one of the Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) below and a FEMA representative will guide you through the application process. DRCs are open Monday – Saturday, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Vermont Business Magazine Board Members and presenters will participate remotely through Microsoft Teams. Members of the public can attend board meetings by using the links or call-in phone numbers listed below. 

Vermont Business Magazine During National Recovery Month, Senator Welch welcomed $2 million from the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention to the DREAM Project, an organization providing Vermont’s youth with peer-to-peer mentoring services which prevent high-risk behaviors such has substance misuse and abuse. The DOJ’s funding will expand DREAM’s one-to-one and group mentoring programs to soon reach over 420 young Vermonters (ages 6-17) across 30 schools and neighborhoods. High school mentors of younger youth will receive school-based instruction, aligned with Vermont’s Flexible Pathways Initiative, and receive credit and instruction benefiting graduation.   

Vermont Business Magazine ECFiber customers on the Basic Plan will see their service speed increase at no additional charge starting October 1^st. This is the sixth time ECFiber has increased the Basic Plan speed without a price increase. Originally a $75/month charge for 5 megabits per second in 2011, the speed is now 20x faster and the monthly charge has decreased to $72. Moving the Basic Plan to 100 megabits per second for both download and upload – symmetrical service – makes ECFiber’s entry-level offering equal to the federal government’s target of 100/100 for new network construction funded through state offices like Vermont’s Community Broadband Board, which has awarded some $17 million in construction grants to ECFiber to build the Fairlees, Bradford, Newbury, Topsham, Corinth, and parts of Washington and Windsor.

Vermont Business Magazine Dartmouth Health Children’s, a world-class pediatric healthcare system with 12 locations across New Hampshire and Vermont, unveiled the DH Children’s Connector, a pioneering knowledge management platform designed to unify and streamline care delivery across its extensive network of pediatric services. Developed in partnership with clinical resource management leader C8 Health, the DH Children’s Connector gives healthcare professionals instant access to up-to-date clinical information, evidence-based best practices, and trusted educational resources to ensure consistent, high-quality care for patients.

Vermont Business Magazine More than 100 Vermont employers will receive awards next month for their efforts to improve the health and wellbeing of their employees, both on and off the job. One special recipient, University of Vermont’s Employee Wellness Manager Cara Hancy, will be recognized as the state’s outstanding contributor to worksite wellness. The awards will be given by the Vermont Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports during a ceremony on October 10 at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Burlington. The Vermont Worksite Wellness Outstanding Contributor Award recognizes an individual who has substantially increased access to wellness resources within their organization and instills a culture of wellness. The recipient must foster wellness in multiple arenas, including physical activity, nutrition, work-life balance, mindfulness, and social connectivity.

Vermont Business Magazine Great Gulf, the developer of the upcoming one-of-a-kind master-planned village at Killington, announces a minority investment in the new ownership group purchasing the Killington Resort and Pico Mountain. The new group's existing connections to Killington align perfectly with Great Gulf's goal of creating a community that is deeply rooted in the Vermont ethos. Great Gulf's plans for a new four-season resort-style residential community and village, offering innovative modern architecture, transformative amenities, and stunning landscape design, continue to progress.

Vermont Business Magazine The Windham Foundation (the Foundation), based in Grafton, Vermont, announced today that it is seeking a partner or buyer for its iconic Grafton Village Cheese Company (GVCC.) A program of the Foundation for decades, the Cheese Company is the award-winning producer of hand-crafted aged cheddar and cave-aged sheep milk cheeses. Part of the mission of the Windham Foundation is supporting Vermont rural towns economically and culturally, the Cheese Company being an example of a local food company that benefits both agriculture and employment. Last year, the Foundation brought in CEO Curt Alpeter, a seasoned business leader, to position the company for long-term success. Curt said he sees great opportunity for the GVCC brand with adequate financial support. Curt and a committee of the Windham Foundation Board that oversees GVCC have determined that taking advantage of this opportunity will require either new investment to grow the company or a sale to a better positioned partner with access to larger markets.

Vermont Business Magazine The Department of Health continues to urge residents to take steps to prevent mosquito bites after an Addison County horse tested positive for eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) last week. The horse, which was tested on Sept. 23, was unvaccinated and is now deceased. EEE, which spreads through the bite of an infected mosquito, is rare but can cause serious and life-threatening illness in people and some animals. Although the risk is lower as temperatures cool and mosquitoes are less active, prevention is still important. The town of Salisbury has been added to the list of high-risk towns where health officials strongly recommend limiting evening outdoor activities until the first hard frost in their area. High-risk towns now include Alburgh, Burlington, Colchester, Salisbury, Sudbury, Swanton and Whiting.