Current News

Vermont Business Magazine With retail “IV therapy” clinics and “medical spas” becoming increasingly common in Vermont, the Boards of Medical Practice, Nursing, Osteopathic Medicine, and Pharmacy released a joint statement clarifying the legal and regulatory requirements that apply to these services. “IV therapy” is a practice of administering intravenous “cocktails” of additives to saline that may include vitamins, minerals, or prescription drugs. Offered in retail therapy clinics or “medical spas,” IV therapy is marketed as a treatment for conditions such as dehydration, fatigue, and hangovers, or to aid individuals with athletic recovery or weight loss. The Vermont Office of Professional Regulation (OPR) and Board of Medical Practice (BMP) have recently received reports of inappropriate activities occurring at IV therapy clinics/spas, including out-of-scope practice and unlicensed practice of medicine.

Vermont Business Magazine The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that on August 8, 2024, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Brenden Sackal, 31, of Rockville, Rhode Island, with possessing an unregistered machine gun and possessing a machine gun lacking an identification number, in violation of the National Firearms Act. Sackal’s federal arraignment date has not yet been set. Sackal was scheduled to appear in Caledonia Superior Court today on related charges. According to court records, Sackal is alleged to have knowingly possessed an unregistered machine gun that lacked a serial number, specifically a privately manufactured 5.56 caliber AR-type pistol, on July 14, 2024. 

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Law and Graduate School students and faculty have been hard at work showcasing the school’s commitment to excellence and innovation in legal education and advocacy. From securing top honors at the National Animal Law Competition to introducing a new resource that defines food systems resilience in the context of the climate crisis, the following initiatives highlight the school’s role in advancing legal education and advocacy in critical areas including animal law, climate resilience, legal innovation and energy efficiency.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Arizona Board of Regents announced today that Suresh Garimella, president of the University of Vermont, is a candidate for the position of 23rd president of the University of Arizona. Typically, a major university will not publicly name any presidential candidate until that person is the de facto president-elect, much like Garimella was the presumptive new president when he was announced as the lone finalist at UVM in February 2019. As president of the University of Vermont, Garimella more than doubled the university's research enterprise and strengthened state and community relationships. Meanwhile, the University of Arizona is dealing with a $177 million deficit, the previous board chair stepped down earlier this year and the current president agreed to take a pay cut.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Federal Credit Union proudly announces the official launch of the Vermont Federal Foundation, a new 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable foundation established to uplift the Vermont community and bolster organizations dedicated to aiding those in need. Vermont Federal Foundation will extend invaluable support through financial donations targeting the following key areas of impact: Sustainability; Building Strong Communities; Food Security; and Affordable & Stable Housing.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas released the August Vermont 2024 Candidates and Campaign Finance. This report is intended to improve transparency for campaign finance reporting during the 2024 campaign season. The August report reflects candidate filings as of the most recent filing deadline on August 1. The new report is provided as a snapshot of campaign finance filings as of August 7 at 8am, in the wake of the August 1 filing deadline. The Secretary of State’s Office plans to provide new reports for each reporting cycle after future deadlines (September 1, October 1, October 15, November 1, November 19, and December 15). 

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD) announced the recipient of the Vermont Community Leadership Award at its 2024 Vermont Community Leadership Summit on August 6 at the Vermont State University Randolph Campus where over 450 attendees gathered for the day-long event. The Vermont Community Leadership Award is presented each year to celebrate Vermonters who exemplify “dedication, integrity and honorable service to community and to rural Vermont,” and who have had a “transformational” effect on their communities. VCRD presents the award to highlight the work of community heroes who epitomize the best spirit of local community service, who volunteer their time, and who have made their community better. This year, the Vermont Community Leadership Award is being presented to Charlie Hancock of Montgomery, Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine Norwich Technologies, the parent company of subsidiaries Norwich Solar (EPC), RunTime Solar (O&M) and NorwichEV, is pleased to announce further diversification of operations for strategic growth and greater impact in the renewable energy sector, providing service under the new Breakaway Renewables company brand. Historically the company had focused on vertical integration, working as the EPC contractor primarily on projects that it has Developed in-house. This new division strengthens the opportunities for the company to develop renewable projects for other companies' portfolios. Since Norwich Technologies founding in 2011, it has successfully developed and installed over a hundred solar projects throughout Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. 

Vermont Business Magazine The story of Greenland keeps getting greener—and scarier. A new study provides the first direct evidence that the center—not just the edges—of Greenland’s ice sheet melted away in the recent geological past and the now-ice-covered island was then home to a green, tundra landscape. A team of UVM scientists and others re-examined a few inches of sediment from the bottom of a two-mile-deep ice core extracted at the very center of Greenland in 1993—and held for 30 years in a Colorado storage facility. They were amazed to discover soil that contained willow wood, insect parts, fungi, and a poppy seed in pristine condition.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD) has welcomed fifteen participants to the 2024 Climate Catalysts Leadership Program from a strong pool of applicants. The 2024 participants from across the state will focus their time on the implementation of a local climate or energy project such as bringing community members together to determine the best use for a historic town hall, expanding wetlands for flood mitigation and ecosystem health, improving walking and biking options in a rural town, and more. The Climate Catalysts Leadership Program allows participants to take their transformative, community-scale climate economy related projects to the next level by developing their concepts into reality while building peer connections, strengthening leadership skills, and receiving project development support. 

Vermont Business Magazine As health care organizations across the country struggle to integrate nutrition-based practices into clinical services, or choose to forego the effort entirely, a small group of clinical dietitians at UVM Medical Center, led by a chef with a passion for sustainable and nutritious cuisine, have cultured a unique, evidence-based program that provides hands-on education and health-improvement resources to patients and clinicians. The Culinary Medicine Program and its innovative offerings were in the spotlight today, as Adm. Rachel Levine, MD, Assistant Secretary for Health at the US Department of Health and Human Services, met with the team, toured UVM Medical Center’s rooftop garden and spent much of the day huddling with the dietitians, chefs and educators who have spent more than a decade pioneering food- and nutrition-based programs.

Vermont Manufacturing Extension Center With just under two months to go, MFG Day, celebrated annually on the first Friday in October, with events continuing throughout the month and beyond, is a national grassroots movement that demonstrates the reality and future of modern manufacturing careers. Thousands of companies and educational institutions nationwide are invited to open their doors to students, parents, educators and community leaders. So where are you in your planning phase? It's not too late to join in the excitement! Check out how to plan, host and find an event for this year's MFG Day celebration!