Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Seventy-five students from five Burlington-area high schools will attend the second Careers in Cancer event at the UVM Cancer Center on April 12 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Students will receive career advice from UVM Cancer Center leadership, faculty, staff, and trainees and will observe faculty and students working on cancer research in several of the university’s research labs. The UVM Cancer Center is located within the University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine. The Careers in Cancer series was developed in part to address the ongoing shortage of oncology workers in the U.S., as the incidence of cancer increases, patients live longer, and many oncology professionals reach retirement age. The most recent comprehensive study projected in 2007 that the need for oncology workers would increase by 48% between 2005 and 2020, but that the supply would increase by only 14%. Experts say that predicted shortage has materialized. 

Vermont Business Magazine Champlain Housing Trust announced an expansion of its program that provides a $25,000 forgivable loan to buyers who are Black, Indigenous or people of color and who are buying a permanently affordable home through the trust or its partner agencies across the state. Originally operating in the northwest part of the state, the Homeownership Equity Program (HEP) Downpayment Assistance will now be available through nine partner organizations covering every county of the State. The program was created with a three-year grant from the New England Federal Credit Union in 2021. The expansion of the program is funded with $1 million set aside from a gift CHT received from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott last fall.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Secretary of Education Zoie Saunders started work today, leading Vermont’s Agency of Education and serving as the state’s chief school officer. She said her immediate focus will be getting to know Vermont’s schools, teachers and communities, while working collaboratively to strengthen the state’s public education system. Secretary Saunders steps into the critical role as the State works to address the needs of its students, while also navigating affordability challenges. Governor Phil Scott appointed her to the position on March 22. The state Senate is expected to take up her confirmation hearing next week.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont 250th Anniversary Commission and the Vermont Historical Society are pleased to announce the first recipients of the Vermont 250th Community Planning Grants. Funding for the grants was provided by The Sunshine Lady Foundation and Vermont Covered, programs within the Doris Buffett Legacy Foundation. The first round of $1,000 grants was available to select communities around the state to help support activities in planning and preparation for the U.S. Semiquincentennial (250th) in 2026. Eight grants were awarded in this first round of funding from community art projects to local history publications to educational programs and historical signage. Grant recipients were:

Vermont Business Magazine US Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont) today led US Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) in sending a letter to bipartisan leadership of the Senate Appropriations Committee urging Congress to provide robust federal funding for programs supporting the Lake Champlain basin. In their letter, the lawmakers emphasized the importance of federal programs to Lake Champlain that support critical work in the basin, from fostering a climate-resilient watershed to promoting outdoor recreation and wildlife conservation. 

Vermont Business Magazine Howard Center has been redesignated by the Vermont Department of Disabilities, Aging, and Independent Living (DAIL). The redesignation process included assessments through interviews with various stakeholders and reviews of service delivery, policies, strategic initiatives, and management practices. The redesignation acknowledges Howard Center's success in providing quality services for individuals with developmental disabilities across Chittenden County. The redesignation committee found that Howard Center’s developmental services adhere to the standards set forth in the 2003 Administrative Rules on Agency Designation, aimed at ensuring the delivery of efficient and high-quality services while fostering continuous improvement in our statewide system of care.

Vermont Business Magazine The Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport (Leahy BTV) announced record numbers on April 8th as thousands transcended to the airport to view the Total Solar Eclipse. Throughout the year, on average, Leahy BTV completes 300 operations a day; operations meaning a takeoff or landing. This past Monday, over 700 operations were completed with zero incidents and zero deviations.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott and Ernie Boch Jr. today announced the launch of a new grant program aimed at supporting music programs in Vermont schools. The program will be run in coordination with Mr. Boch’s foundation, Music Drives Us. Music Drives Us (MDU) is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that strives to inspire New England’s musicians of tomorrow by supporting their music opportunities today. Since 2006, Music Drives Us has donated millions in grants to hundreds of individuals, organizations, and schools throughout New England – empowering them to better teach the next generation of musicians.

Vermont Business Magazine National Life Group released its 2023 Annual Report, which highlights new sales records set despite market volatility, as well product innovation and expanded community support. “We continue to grow with purpose while consistently outpacing our competition even with market volatility. At the same time, we have expanded efforts to combat childhood hunger, support youth mental health and build communities nationwide,” Chairman, CEO and President Mehran Assadi said. “We know our associates are our competitive advantage, our ‘secret sauce.’ They are essential to our mission-driven and purposeful culture, enabling us to serve Middle America.” Among the accomplishments noted in the report: Set new sales records: $530 million in life insurance policies; $2.7 billion in Single Premium Deferred Annuities; $220 million in flow annuity business.

Vermont Business Magazine LaunchVT, a division of the Lake Champlain Chamber, has selected eight Vermont startups to participate in its 2024 Accelerator. This is the 12th cohort to come through LaunchVT’s flagship program. Since 2013, LaunchVT has provided business development support, strategic coaching, and over $1 million in cash and services to accelerate 79 Vermont startups statewide.

by Devon Green, VP of Government Relations, VAHHS Last week, I attended a press conference of health care providers and patient advocates supporting prior authorizations and step therapy reform in H.766 (spotlighted in this week’s Update). After Bob Kinzel’s first question, I briefly wondered if anyone would feel hesitant about going to the podium. Instead, every provider jumped at the chance to answer. The passion was palpable. If you have a chance, engage with any health care providers in your life on their experiences around prior authorizations and bureaucratic processes—they have a lot to say, and they’re hoping for action now. 

Vermont Business Magazine Average gasoline prices in Vermont are $3.42 per gallon, up 4.8 cents per gallon from last week's $3.37/g. The lowest price in the state yesterday was $3.21/g while the highest was $3.60/g, a difference of 39.0 cents per gallon. The national average price of gasoline has risen 3.1 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.60/g today. The national average is up 14.2 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 5.5 cents per gallon lower than a year ago. Motorists in the mid-Atlantic and Northeastern U.S. will soon see a spike in prices as they make the leap to summer gasoline— as much as 20-50 cents per gallon higher in nearly a dozen states.