Current News

Vermont Business Magazine One year after devastating flooding to much of Vermont, another storm event has caused significant damage across the state and some in Johnson.  With this stark reminder of repeated flooding events as the backdrop, plans are moving ahead for a long term flood recovery convening in Johnson that will gather input on the future, as well as hold space for community members to reflect on their current and past experiences with flood response and recovery.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Community Broadband Board (VCBB) is hosting a Workforce Workshop on the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program this week. The session will be held Friday, July 19, in Burlington to help prospective BEAD applicants understand the program’s workforce requirements and prepare them for the upcoming application process. ISPs will compete with bids for part of the $229 million of federal funding to bring universal broadband service to Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine The Prouty, Dartmouth Cancer Center’s premier annual fundraiser, brought the community together in an unprecedented show of support in the fight against cancer, surpassing this year’s goal of $8 million to fund critical cancer research and patient support services. The family-friendly event, known for its inclusive atmosphere and wide range of activities, saw participation from more than 4,500 individuals this year, underscoring its significance within the community and its impact on cancer care. 

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), Chairman of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, released an interim report yesterday as part of the sweeping investigation he launched into Amazon’s "unacceptable corporate greed and abysmal workplace safety practices." As part of this report, Sanders is making public, for the first time, internal company data showing that almost half of all warehouse workers at Amazon – the second largest corporation in America worth over $2 trillion – suffered injuries during Prime Day week in 2019.

Vermont Business Magazine The Kendall Emergency Department at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC) has been selected as a recipient of the Emergency Nurses Association’s 2024 Lantern Award for demonstrating excellence in leadership, practice, education, advocacy and research performance. The Lantern Award showcases emergency department’s (ED) accomplishments in incorporating evidence-based practice and innovation into emergency care. As part of the application, EDs are encouraged to share stories that highlight a commitment to patient care, in addition to the well-being of nursing staff. The award serves as a visible symbol of a commitment to quality, safety and a healthy work environment.

US Small Business Administration Vermont It’s safe to say that the U.S. is in something of a small business era: According to Pew Research Center, 86% of Americans believe that small businesses are having a positive effect on the way things are going in the country. Retailers make up a significant portion of that figure. In fact, from 2021-2023, retail ranked as one of the top 10 sectors for total business applications. That makes now a great time to start your own retail operation if you’ve been on the fence about it. In the spirit of Independent Retailer Month, the SBA is proud to share resources that aspiring entrepreneurs can utilize to claim their place in the independent retail community. 

Vermont Business Magazine Burlington City Arts (BCA) has announced the recipients of the 2024 BCA Community Fund. The fund is awarding nearly $60,000 to Burlington artists. Established in 2016, the BCA Community Fund is designed to foster a robust, healthy, creative community, encourage social innovation through the arts, and support artists and organizations that contribute to the public good through art. In 2024, an award from Tito’s Handmade Vodka and support from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) has allowed BCA to continue providing an increased granting ability of the Community Fund. Thanks to Tito’s Handmade Vodka, the expanded capacity provides greater resources and opportunities for artists and organizations to realize their artistic visions and make a lasting impact.

Vermont Business Magazine Blue Cross VT’s Kayak Days 2024 (formerly known as Hike, Bike & Paddle) is right around the corner! Each year, this event gives Vermonters an opportunity to try a new paddle sport to gain the mental and physical health benefits of being active on the water.  Join Blue Cross VT on July 20 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Prouty Beach in Newport for free kayaking. We’ll have free boat rentals and personal flotation devices, giveaways for the first 50 attendees, lawn games, healthy snacks, and drinking water to keep everyone hydrated. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Summer Gala—Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC) Foundation’s signature fundraising event and the region’s premier philanthropic occasion—netted a record-breaking $1.5 million on June 8 at the 1768 Hubbell Homestead at Colgate Park in Bennington. The event, which hosted nearly 400 people, shattered all previous fundraising records in support of building a new regional cancer center at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC).

Vermont Business Magazine US Senators Peter Welch (D-Vermont) and Bernie Sanders (D-Vermont) introduced the Streamlining International Food Assistance Act of 2024, legislation that strengthens the United States’ ability to address global hunger by allowing the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to use funds from the Food for Peace (FFP) food aid program to provide donations of U.S. commodities, alongside cash transfers and other forms of assistance, in an effort to better assist food insecure communities. 

Vermont Business Magazine Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont and Terry Bicycles are welcoming the return of the Wellness Revolution Cycling Program in Rutland for the 2024 season. This free program serves those who identify as women to help them break through barriers that keep them from getting out on their bikes. This program builds community with other women in the pursuit of a healthy activity. The Wellness Revolution program starts in August 2024 in Rutland. Vermont offers incredible opportunities for riding across the state on bike paths, around town, on mountain bike trails, and on rural gravel roads. Cycling provides accessible transportation, mental and physical wellness, and connection to our environment.

Vermont Business Magazine On a bright sunny day in early July, Oliver Subaru of Rutland, in partnership with the New York/Vermont Chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS), delivered eighty (80) blankets to the Foley Cancer Center at Rutland Regional Medical Center. The donation of blankets provides warmth and comfort to patients receiving cancer care and treatment at RRMC. The donation of blankets is part of the Subaru Loves to Care program. As part of the LLS Subaru Loves to Care program, LLS and Subaru retailers nationwide deliver blankets to those fighting cancer in hospitals and treatment centers across the country.