Current News

Vermont Business Magazine In a 3-2 decision issued today, the Green Mountain Care Board (GMCB) approved the University of Vermont Medical Center’s (UVMMC) application for a Certificate of Need (CON) to develop a multi-specialty outpatient surgery center in South Burlington. This decision supports GMCB’s goal to expand access to high-quality surgical care in the region. GMCB imposed several conditions in the CON to ensure that the project aligns with Vermont’s CON laws, including: To address an undue impact on the affordability of care for commercial ratepayers, the GMCB limited commercial reimbursements for cases done at the new center to 170% of the amount Medicare would reimburse for the same services.

Vermont Business Magazine U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following reaction to President Biden’s proposed Supreme Court reforms announced today: “President Biden’s proposed reforms would do what Chief Justice Roberts has failed to do time and time again—get this Court in order. Decades of ethical violations and a blatant disregard for judicial precedent have eroded the public’s trust in the Supreme Court, and today that trust is at an all-time low. Compounding these ethical concerns, this activist Supreme Court has stripped away constitutional rights and pushed a political agenda at the behest of far-right extremists. The actions of this Court have threatened the foundation of our democracy—and make President Biden’s proposals as urgent as they are necessary."

Vermont Business Magazine COTS and Evernorth were joined by Senator Peter Welch, residents, funders, and community members on Monday to cut the ribbon on Main Street Family Housing, 16 permanently affordable homes for families formerly living in emergency shelters or motels. The new multifamily apartment building was constructed on existing COTS property, adjoining their Main Street Family Shelter. These new apartments will provide families with permanent, service-enriched housing as well as continued access to COTS support services, including connections to affordable childcare opportunities, referrals to medical and mental health supports if needed, assistance setting personal and financial goals, as well as a range of housing retention services. The downtown location helps residents maintain easy access to a wide array of amenities and transportation options.

Vermont Business Magazine The Attorney General’s Office announced that Robert Lavallee, 31, of Bristol, Vermont, was arraigned today on one felony count of Luring a Child. The charge brought against the defendant is the result of an undercover criminal investigation initially conducted by the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office in Illinois and later referred to the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (VT-ICAC) with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations. Mr. Lavallee communicated online via Facebook with a Henderson County Sheriff’s officer posing as a 13-year-old minor. The defendant engaged in sexually explicit conversations with the investigator. 

by TJ Kingsbury, Kingsbury Companies For the second consecutive year – exactly one year to the day – Vermont has been struck by catastrophic flooding, wreaking havoc across our beautiful state. Kingsbury Companies, alongside many others, has been on the frontlines of cleanup and recovery efforts these past few weeks, and we are still supporting Vermonters in the aftermath of this relentless natural disaster. The repeated damage we’ve encountered – crumbling roadways, devastated driveways, infrastructure deterioration, and access-blocking debris – underscores an unpleasant reality: flooding in our home state is not an isolated incident, but a recurring challenge we need to address with foresight and strategy.

Vermont Business Magazine The Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission (TRORC) held our 2024 Annual Meeting on June 26, 2024, outside of our offices in Woodstock, Vermont. Our Board of Representatives was joined by TRORC staff and community members for the election of officers, announcement of scholarships, and Volunteer of the Year award presentation. We are excited to announce that our Executive Committee Officers will continue their excellent service. The officers include William Emmons, Chair (Pomfret); John Echeverria, Vice Chair (Strafford); Peter Berger, Treasurer (Fairlee); and Nancy Jones, Secretary (Bradford). Brian Loeb (Norwich) will join Nancy Malmquist (West Fairlee) and Ken Alton as Executive Committee Members-At-Large. We are grateful for their strategic insight and community involvement.

Vermont Business Magazine American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation today announced the 2024 recipients of the Backing Historic Small Restaurants grant program. 50 small restaurants in the U.S. will receive a $50,000 grant each to help them upgrade, renovate and grow their businesses. The grant program significantly expanded its reach this year, doubling the number of grantees, including in 13 new states, and increasing the total grant funding to $2.5 million, up from $1 million in prior years. MKT: Grafton restaurant has received a $50,000 grant from American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation as part of the “Backing Historic Small Restaurants” grant program.  

Vermont Business Magazine On July 15^th, three Vermont hospitals, Brattleboro Memorial Hospital in Brattleboro, Copley Hospital in Morrisville, and Northwestern Medical Center in St. Albans, signed an accord as founding member organizations of the New England Collaborative Health Network (NECHN). Each member committed to work inter-dependently for the long-term sustainability of independent community hospitals, health systems and community partners in care.

Vermont Business Magazine Average gasoline prices in Vermont are $3.43 per gallon, down 1.2 cents per gallon from last week's $3.44/g. The lowest price in the state yesterday was $3.19/g while the highest was $3.89/g, a difference of 70.0 cents per gallon. According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Burlington was priced at $3.29/g yesterday while the most expensive was $3.55/g, a difference of 26.0 cents per gallon. The national average price of gasoline has risen 0.7 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.47/g today. The national average is down 0.8 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 25.2 cents per gallon lower than a year ago.

Vermont Business Magazine The Southwestern Vermont Chamber of Commerce recently conducted its annual State of the Commerce survey, providing valuable insights into the prevailing economic trends and sentiments about the regional economy. The survey, which saw participation from businesses and organizations across various sectors and towns in the region, highlighted both the challenges faced by businesses and their hopes for the future. The survey respondents represented a diverse mix of communities within Southwestern Vermont, with Bennington leading as the predominant town, comprising 61% of the respondents. Manchester followed with 27% of respondents, while Arlington, Dorset, Londonderry, and North Bennington made up 7% each. The survey showcased the collective voice of businesses and organizations from across the region, reflecting the Chamber's commitment to inclusivity and regional representation.

Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets The deadline to apply to the Farm Agronomic Practices (FAP) program is right around the corner! Don't miss your chance to receive payments for implementing conservation practices on your farm. The FAP program from the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets supports hundreds of Vermont farmers every year to implement conservation practices, such as cover cropping, no till, rotational grazing, manure injection, crop to hay, and more. FAP is relatively flexible, easy to access, and provides flat per-acre payments to help support the cost of conservation practices. For example, FAP can provide $45/acre to support cover crops that are drilled or incorporated, or $30/acre to support manure injection or cover crops that are broadcast or inter-seeded. 

by Joyce Marcel, Vermont Business Magazine Who is Michael Monte, and why does everyone seem to love him? For one thing, over the 46 years that Monte has worked in Burlington, he has dramatically changed the city for the better. For another, at a time when almost the whole of the United States is experiencing a homelessness crisis and, on top of that, now a housing crisis as well, Monte, 71, is the CEO of the Champlain Housing Trust (CHT), the largest community land trust in the country. A community organizer at heart, Monte is leading a housing nonprofit with 153 employees and a $30 million budget, which oversees 2,300 apartments and 675 shared-equity houses.