Current News

VermontBiz The King Street Center Lemonade Stand is serving up a twist today as they begin their 27th season, returning to the waterfront after two decades on Church Street Marketplace. In partnership with ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, the stand will be serving a variety of hand pressed citrus drinks right outside the science museum.

Vermont Business Magazine GlobalFoundries, with a plant in Essex Junction, Vermont, has announced a commitment to the U.S. Department of Commerce’s CHIPS Women in Construction Framework, a set of five best practices intended to increase representation of women and economically disadvantaged individuals in the construction workforce. The Framework is part of U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo’s ongoing Million Women in Construction initiative that aims to expand the American construction workforce by doubling the number of women in construction over the next decade. GF Chief People Officer Pradheepa Raman announced the company’s commitment at the “CHIPS Women in Construction Roundtable” event at the White House. 

VermontBiz Breeze Airways and Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport (BTV) are excited to announce the launch of new non-stop service to Fort Myers through Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW)! This marks an exciting milestone for both travelers and the Burlington community, providing Vermonters with more direct options to Florida.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Today, the Vermont Department of Labor reported that the seasonally adjusted statewide unemployment rate for May was 2.1 percent. This reflects no change from the prior month’s revised estimate. The civilian labor force participation rate was 65.6 percent in May, an increase of one-tenth of one percentage point from the prior month’s revised estimate. The comparable United States rate in May was 4.0 percent, an increase of one-tenth of one percentage point from the revised April estimate. The seasonally adjusted Vermont data for May show the Vermont civilian labor force increased by 655 from the prior month’s revised estimate. The number of employed persons increased by 663 and the number of unemployed persons decreased by 8. The May unemployment rates for Vermont’s 17 labor market areas ranged from 1.7 percent in Burlington-South Burlington, Middlebury, and White River Junction to 2.9 percent in Derby. 

Vermont Business Magazine As the busy Fourth of July holiday week gets closer, the American Red Cross asks donors to be a powerful force for good by giving blood or platelets now and in the weeks to come. You can be the difference between someone's storm and their sunshine. Donors are critically needed right now after a sharp decrease in donations since late spring. All blood types are needed, especially donors giving type O blood and those giving platelets. Full summer calendars and holiday plans may prevent regular donors from being able to give. Additionally, significant summer weather threats such as hurricanes, flooding and tornadoes can result in travel hazards and blood drive cancellations that could impact the blood supply. Help keep lifesaving blood products stocked on hospital shelves and book a time to give blood or platelets by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App. 

Vermont Business Magazine U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont) on Monday joined Amtrak and members of the community for a groundbreaking ceremony to inaugurate the start of construction for platform upgrades and improvements to the new Brattleboro Station, which will include the state’s first ever level, accessible, high-level platform. The new Brattleboro Station will be home to Vermont’s first level platform. It will have a new electric snow melt system, lighting, railings, detectable warning edge and signage. In addition, there will be two ramps and two sets of stairs leading from the parking level up to the new platform. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Human Services’ Department of Mental Health (DMH), in collaboration with the Department of Health (VDH), the VDH Division of Substance Use (DSU), and the Blueprint for Health, proudly announces Vermont’s selection as one of 10 states to join the CCBHC Medicaid Demonstration Program. Vermont's success in developing state-level infrastructure and collaborating with providers to meet CCBHC standards led to this selection. Vermont has chosen to name its program “Certified Community-Based Integrated Health Centers” (CCBHC). Vermont's designation as a CCBHC Demonstration State provides access to additional Medicaid funding supporting CCBHC services.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Federal Credit Union (VFCU) has partnered with Sleep in Heavenly Peace for the second consecutive year to sponsor and host a volunteer “bed build” day dedicated to building beds for children in need. The event is part of Vermont Federal’s ongoing commitment to supporting the local community and ensuring that every child has a safe and comfortable place to sleep. Sleep in Heavenly Peace is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing beds to children who do not have one. Founded in Idaho in 2012, Sleep in Heavenly Peace has since grown into a nationwide movement, with over 270 chapters across the country, including in Vermont. The organization relies on volunteers and donations to build and deliver beds to families in need, making a meaningful impact on the lives of children and families in local communities.

Vermont Business Magazine Copley Hospital held its annual Stowe Art, Wine & Food fundraiser on Thursday, June 6 at JCOGS (Jewish Community of Greater Stowe), and the event was a success on all counts. Over 160 guests, staff, and volunteers joined to celebrate and support Copley Hospital. With sponsorships, ticket sales, live and silent auctions, and the famous wine pull, over $69,000 in gross revenue was raised. The Stowe Art, Wine & Food fundraiser is one of three Copley events this year raising funds to purchase bedside monitors for Copley’s Emergency Department. Emergency Department (ED) providers monitor patient vital signs such as their heart rate, blood oxygen, blood pressure, and respiratory rate in real time using bedside monitors. 

by Mike Del Trecco, CEO, VAHHS As I have mentioned on more than one occasion, here in this column and through my public comment to the GMCB, Vermont’s non-profit hospitals evaluate policies and ideas through the lens of the following principles: equitable access to high-quality care; stabilization for hospitals; promotion of a strong care ecosystem outside the hospital, and predictability. We do this to ensure that positions we take always center our patients and promote vibrant communities. We also do this to protect against decisions that are politically or socially motivated and offer only short-term return with long-term consequences.

Vermont Business Magazine Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), announced today that Novo Nordisk CEO Lars Jørgensen will be testifying before the committee on Tuesday, September 24 at 10 a.m. ET. The hearing will focus on the outrageously high prices that Novo Nordisk charges Americans for their blockbuster drugs, Ozempic and Wegovy.  

Vermont Business Magazine Postpartum Support International (PSI), and local providers Community Care Network, Vermont Department of Health, Wonderfeet Kids’ Museum, Rutland County Head Start and the Behavioral Health and Women’s Health Departments of Rutland Regional Medical Center, are teaming up to host the annual Rutland Climb for Perinatal Mental Health on Saturday, June 29, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Pittsford Recreation Area in Pittsford. This event aims to raise awareness and funds to support the mental health of new families and survivors of perinatal mental health struggles. Parenthood is a journey filled with joys and challenges, but for some, the transition to parenthood can be overwhelming, leading to perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. In Vermont, these disorders affect 1 in 4 parents, highlighting the urgent need for awareness and support.