Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Congressional Delegation, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Representative Becca Balint (VT-At-Large) this week called on U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack to quickly approve Vermont Governor Phil Scott’s request for a Secretarial Disaster Designation for the State of Vermont, including for Orange, Washington, Caledonia, Orleans, Essex, Lamoille, Chittenden, and Addison counties. The lawmakers also urged USDA to approve any additional requests for support forthcoming from the state.

Vermont Business Magazine Snapshots of Wren’s Nest Forest Preschool students illustrate the wonder of childhood discovery in nature. A young girl on a forest trail collects autumn leaves into a bouquet. Students gather to investigate a pond’s intricate ecosystem; a fallen tree inspires inquiry. Willowell also runs schools and programming for older children and adults: Pond Brook Middle School, the Walden Project outdoor, public high school run through Vergennes Union High School, plus summer camps, after-school programs, artists’ residencies and more. 

Agency of Natural Resources As our communities continue the hard work of digging out, assessing the damage, and rebuilding after the most recent flooding, the Agency of Natural Resources encourages communities, homeowners, and businesses to leverage available resources and information to help them recover. Vermonters, businesses, and communities impacted by the July 2024 flood should report damage to Vermont 211. Find resources, guidance and referral information at vermont.gov/Flood. Volunteer to help or donate to the Vermont Flood Response & Recovery Fund to support all those impacted.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine For the week ending July 13, the Vermont Department of Health reported that there has not been any COVID-19 related death since mid-June. COVID fatalities remain at 1,157 since the beginning of the pandemic over four years ago. The weekly report also shows that hospitalizations and general "syndromic" cases remain low and have decreased in the last week to about five people being treated at a Vermont hospital each week. The number of COVID cases is elevated and has more than doubled in the last month, with a weekly total now of 102. 

Vermont Business Magazine Today, Vermont Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas encouraged voters to turn out to vote in the upcoming Statewide Primary Election on August 13. Additionally, Secretary Copeland Hanzas shared new resources her office has prepared for voter outreach/education. The Primary Election will be held on Tuesday, August 13, 2024. Voters will choose which candidates will represent their party in the November General Election. The following offices are up for election: U.S. Senator, U.S. Representative, Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Treasurer, Secretary of State, Auditor of Accounts, Attorney General, State Senate seats, State Representative seats, and High Bailiffs.

Vermont Outdoor Business Alliance On the anniversary of Vermont's 2023 flood, northern and central Vermont communities watched waters overtake businesses, homes, and recreation areas. Although disheartening to re-engage in response and recovery efforts, Vermonters came together swiftly to help those in need. Notable this time was the outdoor sector's heightened conversation about climate change. As VOBA's executive director stated in BIVO's Quench'd series, "The outdoor sector is perfectly positioned as a change maker for climate resiliency efforts now and into the future. Outdoor businesses are leading the way from their rural and urban locations, busily innovating outdoor products and recreation facilities, and lending their voice to policy proposals that invest in climate action measures." 

Vermont State Police On July 22, 2024, an autopsy of the human remains recovered on Sunday (7/21/24) was performed at the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office in Burlington.  The remains were identified as Roberta Martin, 82, of Enosburgh.  The cause and manner of death are pending at this time. On July 22, 2024, at approximately 12:00 PM, state police detectives were attempting to locate Darren Martell, 23, in St. Albans.  Martell was one of several people being interviewed for the investigation involving Roberta Martin’s death.  

Vermont Business Magazine U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont) on Monday joined state and local leaders to unveil the Lake Champlain Basin Program Reauthorization Act, new legislation that would strengthen the Patrick Leahy Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) and promote conservation efforts between Vermont, New York, and Canada. At the event, Senator Welch helped decontaminate a boat and collect water samples in Mallets Bay with LCBP scientists. 

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Public will host a series of debates between candidates for statewide office, leading up to Vermont’s primary election on August 13. All debates will air live during Vermont Edition at noon on Vermont Public’s main radio station and streaming at vermontpublic.org. The debates will broadcast on Vermont Public’s main TV channel the same day at 7 p.m. and will be available on YouTube and the Vermont Edition podcast feed.

Vermont Business Magazine Sparks and sawdust are flying as Vermont Works for Women runs two weeks of its popular Rosie’s Girls camp in Barre and Essex this summer. Vermont Works for Women created Rosie’s Girls in 2000 as a way to encourage girls and gender-expansive youth to explore non-traditional fields for their gender, such as STEM and the skilled trades, in a safe, fun, and empowering summer camp setting. Campers gain hands-on experience in fields like construction and welding, use power tools, and learn life skills to support their growth and career journeys. Camps are run by Vermont Works for Women staff and many partners around the state each summer. 

Vermont Business Magazine University of Vermont Medical Center and Hudson Headwaters Health Network have partnered to bring more dental residents to northern New York, in an expansion of the Medical Center’s Dental Residency Program. Leaders from both organizations say the new partnership will increase access to preventive dental care and improve recruitment of dentists in rural communities across the Adirondacks. The partnership between the two not-for-profits, UVM Medical Center and Hudson Headwaters – a Federally Qualified Health Center – adds Hudson Headwaters’ Warrensburg, NY dental center to the training sites that resident dentists practice at during their rotation in the residency program. It is the program’s first New York State-based training site.

Vermont Business Magazine The Associated General Contractors of Vermont has been recognized as a Power of Associations Gold Award recipient by the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) for its successful Vermont Employee Wellness Partnership initiative. AGC/VT and the Employee Wellness Partnership have developed a nationally recognized mental health awareness campaign, led by Reid Wobby and Gregory Tatro. They have been highlighted across various media outlets and have been invited to Association gatherings across the Northeast to help train and educate groups on these issues.