Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Department of Mental Health (DMH) is seeking community input as they explore the potential of implementing the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) model in Vermont. DMH is providing three avenues for community input: a virtual community meeting, two in-person community engagement meetings, and an anonymous online survey. CCBHCs deliver holistic care across the lifespan for individuals and their families and aim to simplify healthcare access by having one organization coordinate all services and with to aim of eliminating the need for individuals to navigate multiple appointments at different locations. 

Vermont of Agriculture Food & Markets It’s been a challenging year, and December was another unpredictable month in Vermont. Winter lights and holiday joy remind us that 2024 is just days away. As we move beyond 2023, we are hoping for a little more stability in our businesses, markets, and weather. While 2023 may be behind us, many are still reimagining our lives and businesses. The flooding and severe weather continues to play a significant role in Vermont. Many of our farmers face a long recovery because of the staggering losses that occurred this summer, and then in December. While this month’s flooding of fields and farms was more restrained, it added more costs and stress to many of those working the land, with the memory of summer fresh in our minds.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont State Police is investigating the death of a man at a home on Lawson Road in Newport Town. The death occurred Monday afternoon, Dec. 25, 2023, following an altercation with another resident of the property at the same address. That individual was treated at the hospital for injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening. Initial investigation by the Vermont State Police indicates this was an isolated incident contained to this address involving individuals known to each other, and is not believed to be connected to any other cases.

Community Health Still need a flu or Covid vaccine? It’s not too late to get your shot through Community Health in the Rutland region. We’ve just added these clinics for flu and Covid vaccines: Community Health Rutland- December 22 and January 9 (appointments and walk-ins accepted in Rutland); Community Health Pediatrics – December 28 and 29 (appointments only).

by Joyce Marcel, Vermont Business Magazine To mix a few metaphors, let’s talk about hitting the ground running at full speed ahead. In the year and a half that Alejandro Hernandez, 49, has been president of Champlain College, he has: rejuvenated the curriculum with an eye to making Champlain’s students leaders in cybersecurity and gaming; secured a $10 million federal appropriation sponsored by former U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy to double the capacity of the Leahy Center for Digital Forensics and Cybersecurity; coaxed $3.4 million (over five years) from the U.S. Secret Service for training law enforcement officers in cybersecurity; championed the most successful fundraising year in the school’s 145-year history with $23.8 million; taught a course on entrepreneurship at the entrepreneurial incubator Hula; and became involved, along with the Hula founder Russ Scully and others, in a development project that will change the face of lakeside Burlington. And that’s just the first 18 months. 

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine There are some famous Vermonters who are more well known outside of Vermont than in. Ken Squier is one such individual. Squier, who died Nov. 15 at 88 years old, is famous across the nation as the voice of motor sports. From 1979 to 1997, he served as the lap-by-lap commentator for NASCAR on CBS, followed, after a short break, by another 16 years of race commentary on TBS. He was the first announcer to give lap-by-lap commentary for the Daytona 500, a competition he coined “The Great American Race.” For these and other efforts, Squier was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2018, the first full-time media person to be so honored.

Vermont Business Magazine Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC), a member of Dartmouth Health, is proud to announce its primary care offices in Vermont—SVMC Northshire Campus, Deerfield Campus, Pownal Campus, Internal Medicine and Pediatrics—have achieved national recognition for providing personalized, effective, and efficient primary care. The medical practices have been re-designated as Patient Centered Medical Homes by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).

Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies Founded in 2020, the Williston-based company creates robots that elevate the quality of work for those who need it most. Williston-based Rigorous Technology is not your typical robotics company. Co-founded by Colin Riggs and Diane Abruzzini Riggs, the company is on a mission to build robots for small to medium-sized manufacturers, which can lack the resources to effectively manage automation internally. Rigorous was founded in 2020 when Colin, who always wanted to start a robotics company, secured two manufacturing contracts as an independent consultant. One contract was for a slate manufacturer, the other for a research vessel tasked to find sunken warships. 

Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies In this episode, we sit down with Lindsay DesLauriers, president of Bolton Valley, a multigenerational ski community in Richmond, Vermont. Lindsay shares her personal connection to the resort and her father's original vision of crafting a working-class ski area. She also discusses her own mission of revitalization since taking over in 2018. Join us as we get a behind-the-scenes look at the year-round destination for outdoor enthusiasts and event-goers alike.

by Jesse Bridges, CEO of United Way of Northwest Vermont The Winter Solstice, December 21, marks the shortest and darkest day of the year. At this time of year, I find myself especially attuned to the light and the hope that abounds in our community every day, no matter the season. It is all too easy to be discouraged and overwhelmed by the interconnected challenges our community is facing – from the housing crisis to escalating mental health and substance misuse challenges to public safety concerns. These challenges are real and daunting, but I promise you they are not hopeless. I know this because in my role at United Way I get to see people coming together every day to make things better for themselves, their colleagues, and their families, friends, and neighbors. 

by Joan Goldstein Greetings and Happy Holidays from all of us at the Department of Economic Development. We watched with bated breath as the rain came down on Monday and the rivers rose.  We’ve spoken with many of you throughout the state. While some experienced significant damage, we can report the extent of the damage to our business community is nothing like what we experienced in July. For that, we are truly grateful. Many Vermont businesses received an award from our Business Emergency Gap Assistance Program (BEGAP) after this summer’s flood, but they could still use your support.  If you are looking to pick up some last-minute gifts, please consider shopping in your local downtown. We have distributed $20,000,000 in BEGAP funds to help businesses, landlords, and nonprofits that suffered physical damage from July’s flood.  We are continuing to raise money for BEGAP through ‘Vermont Strong’ license plate sales.

Vermont Business Magazine Roundup of news from November 2023: Burlington police arrest suspect in shooting of Palestinian students; Vermont’s unemployment rate edges up another tenth to 2.0% in October; BETA Technologies gets $169M export promotion loan from US Export–Import Bank; $7.5 Million Available Through the Agricultural Clean Water Initiative Program; Pieciak announces $15M program to help flood impacted municipalities; Burlington Council supports District Energy Plan; $12 million released for LIHEAP home heating assistance for the 2023-2024 season; Breeze Airways brings nonstop service from BTV to Tampa and Orlando; and more.