Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Federal Credit Union (VFCU) and WCAX-TV are proud to announce the conclusion of their first-ever Great Vermont Coat Drive, resulting in more than 1,000 coats collected to be distributed to community members in need. Hosted by both VFCU and WCAX, the Coat Drive saw major success, receiving a surplus of coats from community members that will not only be distributed through the Vermont Department of Children and Families, but also to regional donation centers. 

Vermont Business Magazine TD Bank, with branches across Vermont, has named Don Baker Commercial Market President of Northern New England. In this expanded role, Baker will lead the commercial and small business banking teams in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. Baker has more than 30 years of banking experience. He most recently served as TD's Commercial Market President for Vermont, where he was responsible for the growth and expansion of commercial and small business lending and deposits in the state. Prior to assuming this role, Baker served in middle market and commercial leadership roles, including the Vermont Market President & Team Leader, Middle Market, at Key Bank.

Vermont Business Magazine Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont (Blue Cross) has selected Rutland Regional Medical Center as a Blue Distinction Center for Maternity Care, part of the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program. Blue Distinction Centers are nationally designated healthcare facilities shown to deliver improved patient safety and better health outcomes, based on objective measures that were developed by Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies with input from the medical community. Rutland Regional Medical Center is currently the sole Blue Distinction Center for Maternity Care Program in the state of Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine Barr Hill Gin, the most awarded gin in the United States and #1 selling gin in Vermont, announces that the bar at its Gin Lane Distillery is a semifinalist for the prestigious James Beard Award for Outstanding Bar, a recognition of excellence in the culinary world. Barr Hill is one of only two distilleries nominated for the esteemed award and the only distillery nominated that boasts national distribution. Barr Hill Gin’s Distillery also becomes the first Vermont bar to receive a nomination in the Outstanding Bar category, underscoring the state's growing prominence in the culinary and spirits industries.

Vermont Business Magazine Girls on the Run Vermont (GOTRVT), a statewide nonprofit organization for girls in 3rd-8th grade, has announced the launch of the 2024 Rick Hashagen Limitless Potential Scholarship Awards at the last of three statewide coach training events, held at Essex Middle School on February 10. This year’s Scholarship Awards, designed in celebration of the organization’s 25th anniversary, will be presented to two GOTRVT alumni in the amount of $2,500 each, renewable for up to three years, up to $10,000 total each. The application, which details the parameters for qualification, will go live on February 15th.

Vermont Business Magazine The 29th Annual Burlington & Cool Schools Penguin Plunge presented by Community Bank was held on Saturday, February 10th at the Burlington Waterfront. 1,000 people plunged into the frigid waters of Lake Champlain on an unseasonably warm day to show their support for Special Olympics athletes in Vermont. The Penguin Plunge is the largest fundraising event for Special Olympics Vermont, and this year, a record-breaking $675,000 was raised to support sports training and competition opportunities across local and school programs, health screenings, and leadership opportunities for children and adults with intellectual disabilities in Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine The M&T Charitable Foundation, the philanthropic arm of M&T Bank, with branches in Vermont (NYSE: MTB), today announced $8.2 million in donations to 68 nonprofit organizations across New England and Long Island and Rockland County New York. The announcement is the second round of giving as part of the company's Amplify Fund grant, a commitment by M&T Bank to work with groups dedicated to addressing social issues through a racial equity and social justice lens in low- and moderate- income communities and underrepresented populations. First announced in May 2022, the Amplify Fund is a $25 million philanthropic investment as part of the merger between People's United Bank and M&T Bank. Powered by the M&T Charitable Foundation, the Amplify Fund is a one-time supplemental charitable giving program to provide further support in the legacy People's United communities. 

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health reported last week that COVID-19 cases fell to their lowest level since early November and hospitalizations also were down for nearly the same timeframe. However, there were 6 fatalities, which has been about the average since mid-December. The pandemic death total now stands at 1,118 as of February 3, 2024 (the most recent data available). Total reported deaths in January were 28, which is the highest monthly total in nearly a year.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont) released the following statement after voting against sending taxpayer dollars to support Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bombing campaign in Gaza: “I cannot, in good faith, send more U.S. taxpayer dollars to fund Prime Minister Netanyahu’s relentless bombing campaign in Gaza... The National Security Supplemental also included provisions to address other U.S. national security priorities, including bolstering Ukraine’s ability to defend itself against Russia’s brutal invasion. I unequivocally support Ukraine. I regret that the funding for Ukraine was packaged with the military aid for Israel, which I oppose.”

Vermont Business Magazine The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs has recognized Saint Michael’s College for being one of the colleges and universities with the highest number of students selected for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program.  Four students from Saint Michael’s were selected for Fulbright awards for the academic year 2023-24. They are currently involved in programs in Thailand, Vietnam, Spain, and Mexico. This is the second time the College has been recognized as a Fulbright Top Producing Institution.  The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government's flagship international academic exchange program.

Vermont Business Magazine Since 2017, the Cunniff Lab at the University of Vermont (UVM) Cancer Center with support from industry partner, RS Oncology, has been making significant strides to launch a new therapy for the treatment of mesothelioma. Only two therapies have been approved for the treatment of mesothelioma since 2004, which affects about 3,000 people a year in the United States and approximately 40,000 people worldwide. Linked to occupational asbestos exposure, mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer arising primarily from the outer lining of the lungs with a dismal five-year survival rate of only five to 10 percent. Having successfully completed the Phase 1 dose escalation portion of its MITOPE trial (NCT05278975), RS Oncology initiated the successful dosing of the first patient in the Phase 2 dose expansion portion of its United Kingdom multicenter study.

Vermont Business Magazine Barb Asen, Director of Family Caregiver Support at Central Vermont Council on Aging (CVCOA), along with Vermont Department of Libraries’ ABLE Library, has led a team of staff and volunteers to build a partnership with a memory cafe in Scotland. The two groups have expanded monthly “Memorable Times Online” gatherings into a weekly transatlantic Zoom series for people living with mild to moderate memory loss and their care partners. Launched on January 17 and running through April 3, the “Winter Jukebox with Friends in Scotland” convenes on Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. for a 45-minute program offering music, memories, and social connection.