Current News

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.

Vermont Business Magazine Community Health in Rutland, the largest of the 12 federally qualified health centers (FQHC) in Vermont, is celebrating National Health Center Week August 4-10. On August 7th, our staff will be showing patients in all of our medical clinics how to connect with their providers through our Patient Portal. It's one of the many services offered to bring healthcare clairty, equity and services to our patients so they can remotely access their healthcare information. The theme of National Health Center Week, “Powering Communities Through Caring Connections,” highlights the essential role community health centers like Community Health play in improving public health. Community Health provides medical, dental, behavioral health, pediatric, Express Care and pharmacy services to everyone regardless of their ability to pay.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Farmers Food Center (VFFC), Rutland Regional Medical Center (RRMC), and Community Health Clinics of the Rutland Region (Community Health) are celebrating the Farmacy Project’s (Farmacy) tenth year this month. Farmacy, which began at VFFC as Health Care Shares, is a produce prescription program that provides fresh locally grown produce to people facing chronic diet-related health conditions. The program was launched in 2015 with a grant from RRMC’s Bowse Health Trust grant to support this community model intersecting healthcare and local agriculture. 

Vermont Business Magazine Age Well has received a 2024 Aging Achievement Award from USAging, one of the highest honors presented by USAging to its members. “Reducing the Stigma—Food Insecurity” was selected in the Home and Community-Based Services category, which was among 22 local aging programs to receive achievement honors during USAging’s 49th Annual Conference and Tradeshow, July 8–11 in Tampa, FL. The 2024 USAging Aging Innovations & Achievement Awards, supported by Caregiving.com and Cumulus.care, recognizes USAging’s Area Agency on Aging members that have found new and innovative ways to support older adults, people with disabilities and caregivers as they live in their homes and communities.

Vermont Business Magazine Union Mutual Insurance Company was recently recognized by the Vermont Department of Health and the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports with a 2024 Governor’s Excellence in Worksite Wellness Award – GOLD Level. This is the Company’s sixth consecutive top-tier wellness honor. According to the Vermont Department of Health, the annual Worksite Wellness Awards create a standard of excellence for worksite wellness initiatives and recognize Vermont employers’ efforts to enhance productivity, bolster a healthy environment and improve employee wellbeing. The roughly 100-question survey addresses all aspects of an organization’s wellness program – from availability of healthy food options and on-site fitness opportunities to occupational safety and accessibility measures.