Current News

Vermont Business Magazine U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont) today introduced the bicameral 340B Pharmaceutical Access To Invest in Essential, Needed Treatments & Support (PATIENTS) Act, legislation that would protect the 340B drug pricing program and ensure patients—especially those in lower income and rural communities—can continue care with providers who utilize the program. For over 30 years, the 340B program has helped safety-net providers like rural community hospitals, critical access hospitals, and community health centers purchase outpatient prescription drugs at reduced prices from drug manufacturers at no cost to the taxpayer. Savings from the 340B program help providers expand critical services such as mental health care, substance-use disorder treatments, and emergency services, to support the most vulnerable patients in their community without the need for additional federal funding.  

Vermont Business Magazine The Department of Buildings and General Services (BGS) has announced that all communities that will have completed assessments through the Municipal Energy Resilience Program (MERP) during the grant application period are now eligible to apply for implementation grants of up to $500,000. All 14 Vermont counties are represented in this group of over 200 municipalities, with over 500 facility energy assessments completed to date. BGS expects the grant process to be very competitive, the enabling legislation established priorities to be considered in awarding the grants. 

Vermont Business Magazine Ivans has announced their 2024 Ivans Spark Award recipients, honoring companies that are sparking digital connectivity by using technology to support the growth of their agency partners across the policy lifecycle – from marketing to quoting to servicing and renewals. Union Mutual has been selected as a Gold Level Award Recipient in Personal Lines.   

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont State Police will hold its Annual Awards Ceremony at 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, in the House Chamber of the Vermont Statehouse in Montpelier. Scheduled speakers include Gov. Phil Scott, Commissioner of Public Safety Jennifer Morrison and Col. Matthew T. Birmingham, director of the state police. They will honor members of the agency and others for acts of heroism and community service, and recognize 16 sworn members of the state police who have received promotions since last year’s awards ceremony was held in September 2023.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today issued the following statement: “On this day twenty-three years ago, an evil act of terrorism shook the foundation of our nation. But, even in our darkest hour, we joined together and emerged stronger – with our American values of freedom, prosperity, and justice guiding us."

Vermont Business Magazine VHV, a Winooski-based mechanical construction and service company serving Vermont and New Hampshire, celebrates its diamond jubilee this September. VHV has a storied history full of family legacy, entrepreneurial spirit, and an unrelenting thirst for innovation. Agency of Commerce Secretary Lindsay Kurrle is helping VHV (formerly Vermont Heating and Ventilating) celebrate 75 years in business. VHV is celebrating their 75th on Thursday, September 12 and Friday, September 13 at Jay Peak Resort. Thursday features a charity golf event and dinner to raise money for the Vermont Children’s Hospital. Friday is the apprenticeship graduation.

Vermont Business Magazine The only program of its kind at an American university, the Norwich University Military Writers’ Symposium convenes authors and experts in the fields of military history, intelligence, and current affairs to offer important perspectives on pressing global concerns. This year, we invite you to join Norwich University faculty, staff, and students to celebrate 30 years of exceptional military writing and contemplate today’s most pressing issues in the information warfare field. This renowned two-day event will feature subject matter experts, those currently serving in the field, and some of the world’s leading military writers, including the 2024 William E. Colby Military Writers’ Award winner, Mariana Budjeryn.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Community Foundation and the organizing committee for the Con Hogan Award for Creative, Entrepreneurial, Community Leadership announced today that Jared Duval, executive director of the Montpelier-based Energy Action Network (EAN), will be honored with this year’s award. EAN brings together more than 200 Vermont-based nonprofits, utilities, businesses, universities, and public sector partners to work toward a common goal: to achieve Vermont’s climate and energy commitments in ways that create a more just, thriving, and sustainable future. The network supports research and data-tracking on energy and emissions, with a focus on evidence-based policy analysis. Now in its tenth and final year, the Con Hogan Award is a tribute to its namesake’s life’s work and commitment to public service. 

Vermont Business Magazine Today, Vet the Vote, a national campaign to recruit veterans and military family members to be the next generation of poll workers, held a poll worker recruitment and kick-off event in partnership with Vermont Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas. The unique event brought together veterans, active military members and their families, and town clerks in an effort to educate veterans and their families on how they can serve as poll workers in upcoming elections. 

Vermont Business Magazine Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) and Ranking Member Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-La.) today announced the witnesses who will provide testimony on the second panel for HELP’s hearing on the impacts of Steward Health Care’s bankruptcy. The hearing, titled “Examining the Bankruptcy of Steward Health Care: How Management Decisions Have Impacted Patient Care,” will take place this Thursday, September 12 at 10 a.m.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Air National Guard will conduct night flying operations from Tuesday, September 10, to Thursday, September 12, and from Tuesday, September 17 to Wednesday, September 18 with one afternoon and one evening takeoff period per day. Flights are scheduled to conclude by 9:30 p.m.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine For COVID-19 in Vermont, winter has come early. For the week ending August 31, the Vermont Department of Health reported that the number of COVID-19 cases in Vermont continues to climb, hospitalizations are up and COVID-related deaths in August are already at their highest level since January. COVID fatalities increased by 6 in the last week and are at 1,186 since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020. The weekly report also shows that hospitalizations and general "syndromic" cases have increased in the last few weeks to about 20 people being treated at a Vermont hospital each week. At the beginning of the summer there were only about 5.