Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Chamber of Commerce has selected Thomas A. Dee, President and CEO of Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC) as the 2024 Citizen of the Year. He was selected for the award for his outstanding contributions to southern Vermont, particularly his impactful efforts in health care and community development. The award will be presented at a celebratory event on Thursday, August 1, at the Everett Mansion at Southern Vermont College in Bennington. The award is presented annually by the Vermont Chamber to honor an outstanding Vermonter who has made major contributions to the betterment of Vermont; has been distinguished through outstanding service to their community and region; and typifies the true spirit of service and self-sacrifice in representing the finest ideals of Vermont citizenship. 

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health reported last week that COVID-19 cases fell again from 58 to 44, their lowest level since last summer. In addition, hospitalizations remain at a low level, and fatalities have eased back. There were 3 fatalities in this report. The pandemic death total now stands at 1,141 as of March 23, 2024 (the most recent data available). Total reported deaths in January were 28, which is the highest monthly total in a year, but only 16 in February and still only 8 so far reported in March. The VDH reported last week that COVID-19 hospitalizations were at a statewide total of 12, which is among the lowest they've been since last summer. COVID-19 activity remains in the "Low" range, according to the VDH.

Vermont Business Magazine MENTOR Vermont has announced the launch of their “Youth Mentoring Mental Health Support Pilot Program.” Post-COVID, many young Vermonters are struggling with unaddressed mental health needs and mentors are often who youth turn to for guidance. MENTOR Vermont has partnered with Jen Colman, a Burlington-based psychotherapist, to provide professional counseling and coaching to mentors in collaboration with program coordinators to better support the mental health needs of youth in mentoring programs. The Youth Mentoring Mental Health Pilot is made possible with support from the Vermont Community Foundation’s Next Step Grant, the A.D. Henderson Foundation, and the Oakland Foundation.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott and the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced $29.25 million in grants to improve municipal combined sewer infrastructure and reduce pollution in Vermont’s streams and lakes. DEC has allocated these funds as grants to 11 Vermont municipalities to prioritize projects that reduce or treat combined sewer overflows (CSOs). The program is funded by American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding and was proposed for this use by the Governor and approved by the Legislature. A combined sewer system collects sewage and stormwater runoff in the same pipe for treatment at a wastewater treatment facility. Stormwater runoff is water that is collected from streets or other hard surfaces during rain and snowstorms.

Vermont Business Magazine Empowered Ventures, a 100% employee-owned holding company based in Carmel, Indiana, today announced the acquisition of Benoure Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning, a leading residential and commercial mechanical contractor based in South Burlington, Vermont. Founded by Robert Benoure, Sr. in 1966 and led by President Brad Benoure since 2018, Benoure has grown to become the largest company in Vermont doing both residential and commercial plumbing, heating, and air conditioning. With over 80 licensed plumbers and HVAC technicians in the field, and a talented back-office staff, Benoure handles all aspects of contracted work consistently, reliably, and with a long-standing reputation based on superb quality. Leadership, name and employment will remain unchanged with the acquisition.

VermontBiz Last month, Meals on Wheels America celebrated the historic day in 1972 when a national nutrition program for older adults was added to the Older Americans Act.  

Central Vermont Council on Aging (CVCOA) celebrates the work done every day by staff and volunteers at local nutrition program sites to source, prep, cook, package, and deliver meals to our neighbors. In Central Vermont, 12 area nutrition programs at a total of 13 locations activate a small staff and a strong force of volunteers each week to get about 4,800 meals delivered to their communities.  

by Devon Green, VP of Government Relations, VAHHS I need to correct the record! Thank you to Rep. Scheu who wrote in to let me know that I got it wrong last week—House Appropriations always formally votes on the budget on the Monday after the money crossover deadline. They do a straw poll vote on Friday and then Joint Fiscal all weekend to finalize the budget for a formal vote on Monday. I appreciate the clarification—and, I’ll try to restrain myself from slipping in occasional errors to see who’s paying attention. With that, let’s dive into the budget details and everything else that happened last week: Budget: The House passed the FY’25 Budget on Friday, appropriating $8.58 billion in total, including: $9.9 million for rate increases at skilled nursing facilities; $3.55 million for a Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility for Youth at the Brattleboro Retreat; $1 million towards hiring and other start-up costs for the Southwestern Vermont Medical Center’s psychiatric inpatient facility for youth and adolescents.

by Mike Del Trecco, CEO, VAHHS It was another very busy week last week, as you’ll read in our legislative report and in the headlines of today’s Update. We’re over the midway point of the legislative session and those at the State House are working feverishly to get things done. We’re also just starting our hospitals’ budget review process. There’s a lot on the line in both areas. Folks on all sides of the biggest issues like housing, public safety and education have strong opinions about what we should do, but progress requires creativity, nuance and compromise. That’s especially true in health care. There is an affordability crisis everywhere we look—health care, housing, fuel, groceries and the list goes on from here and Vermonters are feeling the pinch. Despite many well- meaning ideas, there’s a limit to the money available to fund them. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Labor Relations Board invites qualified individuals to apply for current vacancies on the Board. Current openings on the Board included a “neutral” seat and a “management” seat.  Complete applications are due no later than April 12, 2024, at 4:30 pm. The Vermont Labor Relations Board determines appropriate bargaining units, conducts union representation elections, adjudicates unfair labor practice charges, and hears grievances in cases involving relations between employers and employees of the State of Vermont, Vermont State Colleges, University of Vermont, municipalities, school districts, and small private operations. 

Vermont Business Magazine The M&T Charitable Foundation, the philanthropic arm of M&T Bank (NYSE:MTB), today announced $900,000 in grants to commemorate its 30th anniversary. Through the 30 & 30 Giving Initiative, 30 organizations throughout the company’s footprint received $30,000 to support their efforts to build and develop affordable housing and to fight homelessness in underserved, low- to moderate-income communities. This includes Rebuilding Together of Greater Burlington.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Representative Becca Balint (VT-AL) today issued the following joint statement: “After eight long months, the United States Postal Service (USPS) has finally signed a lease on a new home for Montpelier’s post office after the devastating floods displaced their downtown location last summer. This is an important step in the right direction and as a Delegation we welcome this news. We were proud to work with the people of Montpelier, advocates, and community and state leaders to ensure the return of a fully operational post office to our state’s capital and its community."

VermontBiz Vermont’s winter manure spreading ban ends today, April 1st, but challenging field conditions may exisit in many parts of Vermont.  With a winter storm predicted for the middle of this week, the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (VAAFM) is issuing a spring stewardship reminder to Vermont farmers and custom manure applicators to adhere to the RAP’s.