Current News

Vermont Business Magazine For 100 years the American transportation network has largely served the needs of car drivers, and we’re now realizing the impacts of that focus: communities separated by highways, traffic congestion clogging cities, a national obesity epidemic, poor air and water quality, and limited other transportation choices available. Where do we go from here? To understand what factors may change people’s transportation behaviors in our region, the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission (CCRPC) has created a 10-minute online survey, with the incentive of a gift card raffle for completing the survey.

Vermont Business Magazine Breeze Airways, a premium leisure low-cost carrier offering point-to-point service between underserved markets across the U.S., today announced a system-wide 35-percent off all roundtrip base fares if purchased by August 9, 2024 (11:59 pm PT), for travel from August 28, 2024, through February 4, 2025, and from April 28 through March 13, 2025, using the promo code ‘TAKEOFF’ at checkout on flybreeze.com or on the Breeze app. Vermonters have four options on Breeze to Florida from Leahy Burlington International (BTV) and one to Raleigh, NC (RDU). In Florida, Breeze flies to Tampa International Airport (TPA), Orlando International Airport (MCO), Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) and Fort Myers (RSW). Breeze flights are twice a week from BTV.

Vermont Business Magazine The Green Mountain Care Board (GMCB) held a comprehensive statewide healthcare community meeting to address Vermont’s pressing healthcare challenges. The meeting focused on solutions to create a sustainable and affordable healthcare system responsive to Vermont’s needs. On Monday evening, Dr. Hamory and his team presented their year-long study, highlighting the critical issues of affordability, accessibility, and sustainability in Vermont’s healthcare system and the immense challenges Vermont’s aging demographics pose to the sustainability of Vermont’s healthcare system: Based on 3.5% hospital revenue growth and 5% cost growth, in five years, nearly all Vermont hospitals will have negative operating margins; the benchmark Silver Plan premium in Vermont has risen 108% since 2018 and is the highest in the nation; Vermont’s non-profit insurance companies are facing serious financial challenges and have lost significant reserves, creating solvency concerns.   

Vermont Business Magazine Yesterday, Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vermont) was joined by Assistant Secretary for Health, Admiral Rachel L. Levine, MD for a LGBTQI+ health equity community roundtable at the Vermont Pride Center in Burlington. Also on Tuesday, in conjunction with National Health Center Week, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont) joined Admiral Levine, local health care and community leaders, and flood-impacted Vermonters to discuss the impacts of climate change and flooding on physical, mental and environmental health. 

Vermont Business Magazine Rural Americans are more likely to develop chronic illnesses and die compared to their urban counterparts. Across the country, accessing care to maintain health is harder than ever. At the end of July, the three CEOs of leading rural academic health systems in the northeast told federal lawmakers that new policies, programs and payments are needed to ensure patients in rural communities are able to get the high-quality care they need, when and where they need it. Dartmouth Health, MaineHealth and University of Vermont Health Network share similar academic missions, health care service delivery models, support for research and innovation, nonprofit statuses, and deep commitments to the communities they serve. The patients in their rural communities face common challenges – growing older, suffering from chronic disease, unmet behavioral and mental health needs, and a lack of affordable housing, among others. 

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Flannel Company, purveyors of the world’s coziest flannel shirts, pajama bottoms, and accessories, is partnering with For Henry AHC along with many other local Vermont companies to support a local hero - young Henry. Henry, a courageous 4-year-old Vermonter, faces the daily challenges of a rare genetic neurological condition called Alternating Hemiplegia of Childhood (AHC). This condition causes him severe seizures, breathing difficulties, and temporary paralysis. Despite the grim prognosis and the lack of a current treatment or cure, Henry’s parents have shown incredible determination by founding For Henry AHC Inc. to seek a groundbreaking treatment for their son and others with similar conditions.

by Burlington Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak Community Safety is a top priority of my administration and has been since my first day in office. Burlington’s health and safety challenges are complex and multi-faceted, and we hear daily from residents, business owners, visitors, and City Councilors about what you are seeing and feeling. We hear your pleas for a safer, healthier Burlington and your concerns for those who are suffering. We also hear your ideas for how we can achieve our shared goals and address our shared concerns—thank you! In turn, I and my team, including Department Heads and City staff, are working daily to improve our response to the City’s immediate safety needs, while also crafting longer-term solutions. 

Vermont Business Magazine Northfield Savings Bank Foundation (NSBF) is pleased to announce two community partnerships and financial support of $200,000 to be utilized over the next two years. Vermont Professionals of Color (VT PoC) and Elevate Youth Services will each receive a contribution of $100,000 to advance their respective services to our mutually served communities. In its partnership with VT PoC, NSB Foundation is directing funding to developing an interactive digital platform that welcomes BIPOC residents of Vermont into an opportunity to discover, connect and interact with their local area, making valuable links to shared community. 

Vermont Business Magazine Kittell, Branagan, and Sargent (KBS) has debuted on the prestigious INSIDE Public Accounting (IPA) Top 500 Firms for 2024 list. This achievement highlights KBS's dedication to excellence and places it among the top-performing accounting firms in the United States. Published annually, the IPA 500 rankings are determined based on U.S. net revenue and involve a detailed analysis of responses to the INSIDE Public Accounting Survey.

Vermont Business Magazine U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) introduced the Rural Homeownership Continuity Act of 2024, legislation to fix the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s Section 502 Single Family Housing Loan Guarantee mortgage assistance program to provide more financing options so rural families can become homeowners. The bill would amend the Housing Act of 1949 and update Section 502’s liability process to help more low- and moderate-income families in rural communities purchase homes using the loan program. The Rural Homeownership Continuity Act of 2024 is supported by the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), Housing Assistance Council, and the National Rural Housing Coalition. 

Vermont Business Magazine FirstLight, a leading clean power producer, developer and energy storage company, today announced a new power purchase agreement with Burlington Electric Department (BED). Through the agreement, which kicked off in July, FirstLight will deliver Burlington over 54 gigawatt hours (GWh) of hydropower and associated VT-1 renewable energy credits through 2025 from FirstLight’s Shepaug Generating Station in Connecticut, the state’s second largest source of renewable energy and largest hydroelectric facility. The new partnership between FirstLight and BED supports the City of Burlington’s commitment to 100% renewable power sourcing and its Net Zero Energy goal.

Vermont Business Magazine In a rapid effort to preserve the dance programs shut down by the unexpected closure of the University of the Arts (UArts) on June 7, Bennington College summoned its forces, in collaboration with the UArts dance program, and will welcome students and faculty from the shuttered college’s BFA program this fall. This unprecedented union, executed in just six weeks, means that former UArts dance students will be able to continue their studies without interruption. Altogether a total of 38 former UArts BFA dance students and 28 Low-Residency MFA students are enrolled at Bennington College. The speed and dexterity with which Bennington was able to respond to the crisis is due in part to the immediate and generous donation of $1 million from Barbara and Sebastian Scripps, $250,000 from the Ford Foundation, and additional funds from the Transformational Partnerships Fund.