Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Across New England, families and people can take advantage of low-cost internet services and affordable broadband options to stay connected with loved ones near and far this holiday season. “What makes the holidays special is connecting with the people you care about – and NECTA members are committed to making sure New Englanders can create lasting memories with their loved ones through world-class broadband networks,” said Tim Wilkerson, President of NECTA. “With modern technology, people are now able to call, video chat, text, send photos and more with friends and family no matter the distance – and at affordable prices. That is what it means, as our motto says, to connect New England.”

Vermont Business Magazine Agency of Human Services Secretary Jenney Samuelson today announced that Monica White, Commissioner of the Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living (DAIL), has decided to step down from her role at DAIL. Her last day will be Friday, January 12, 2024. White has served as Commissioner since March of 2021.  DAIL Deputy Commissioner Megan Tierney-Ward will serve as Acting Commissioner until a new Commissioner is appointed. 

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Today, the Vermont Department of Labor reported that the November 2023 seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose one-tenth to 2.1 percent. This is largely due to a significant increase in the Labor Market, which is the denominator in the calculation. The number of employed and unemployed also increased. Still, a vast number of jobs are going vacant, as employers seek out workers. The jobless rate also rose by a tenth in October. Vermont still has the fourth lowest jobless rate in the nation. Maryland is one with a 1.8 percent rate and Nevada is last at 5.4 percent. The United States unemployment rate in November was 3.7 percent, a decrease of two-tenths of one percentage point from the revised October estimate. 

Vermont State Police The investigation into this week’s non-fatal shooting in Tunbridge remains active and ongoing. The Vermont State Police is identifying the man who was shot as Hugh Shackleton, 33, of Woodstock, Vermont. He suffered multiple injuries to his lower extremities and remains hospitalized at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire. He is expected to survive. The man who fired a rifle during this encounter is identified as Justin Duddie, 21, of Tunbridge. State police detectives continue to investigate all facts and circumstances surrounding this incident. No one is currently in custody.

Public Assets Institute Vermonters continued to find work in recent months, and at the start of the year employers filled jobs at a record pace. But Vermont still has more jobs than people to fill them. According to the most recent reports from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Vermont workplaces had 2.7 jobs openings in October 2023 for every unemployed person—that is, someone without work who is actively seeking it. That ratio was down slightly from the summer months, but an increase over October 2022. Vermont’s ratio of job openings to job-seekers was nearly double the U.S. ratio in October.

Vermont Auditor of Accounts Doug Hoffer Ensuring Vermont has a sufficient number of nurses in our workforce is critical to meeting Vermonters’ health care needs, so I asked my staff to research the State’s nursing recruitment and retention incentive programs. The State has created numerous incentive programs in recent years, and while it can be tempting to conclude that any positive benefits justify the programs’ continuance, it is vital that precious funds be spent in ways that most effectively recruit and retain nurses and that maximize those nurses’ contributions to our health care workforce. Our research found: The absence of performance measures and gaps in data collection make it challenging to determine if the incentive programs are working; A lack of internal controls between the Agency for Human Services and the Vermont Department of Health could result in recipients receiving two awards for the same year of required nursing work in Vermont; State-funded incentive programs do not appear to be coordinated with hospitals’ own recruitment and retention strategies, risking inequitable award amounts and inequitable geographic distribution of program benefits.

Vermont Business Magazine The Attorney General’s Office today announced the conclusion of their independent review of the officer-involved shooting incident that occurred on June 19, 2023, in Fair Haven, Vermont. Attorney General Charity Clark has declined to prosecute Fair Haven Police Detective Shaun Hewitt for charges related to the use of deadly force in a shooting incident involving Kenneth Barber, Jr. The Rutland County State’s Attorney’s Office also declined to prosecute the case after completing its own independent review. Based on the facts and circumstances and consistent with Vermont law, Attorney General Clark concluded that the use of force by Detective Hewitt was objectively reasonable and justified. 

Vermont Business Magazine Howard Center sends good wishes to all for the seasonal celebrations and offers resources to help you and your friends and loved ones celebrate sober this year. Tips for Celebrating Sober: Plan Ahead: Identify potentially stressful situations ahead of time. Recognize that even some happy situations may cause someone to overindulge. Plan activities that don't involve alcohol or drugs: Choose to spend time with family and friends who want to celebrate substance-free. Take care of yourself: Be sure to get enough sleep, eat well, and exercise. Plan an exit strategy: Understand your transportation options if you are away from your home and know where you're staying so you can exit gracefully. Find a supportive crew: It's important to have people who know your story, and to know that you can talk to them if things get tough.

Vermont Business Magazine Building Bright Futures (BBF) has announced a new round of grant recipients for the Vermont Early Childhood Fund (VECF), totaling nearly $1.2 million for projects focused on Vermont children and families. The Innovation Grant ($150,000 to $200,000) has the goal of creating innovative, replicable solutions to address some of Vermont’s most persistent barriers to serving children and families. The Innovation Grant recipients are: The Janet S. Munt Family Room in Chittenden County; Northwestern Medical Center in Franklin County. Several organizations received the Opportunity Grant ($10,000 to $80,000), which has the goal of supporting easy-to-achieve solutions with direct results.

Vermont Business Magazine Secretary of Administration Kristin Clouser today released Vermont’s revenue results for November 2023. Education Fund revenues exceeded their November target. However, after several strong months the vital Personal Income Tax was off by over 10 percent, setting back the General Fund. The Transportation Fund likewise failed to achieve its monthly consensus cash flow target, as supporting revenue components all under-achieved. The State’s General Fund, Transportation Fund, and Education Fund receipts were a combined $219.8 million, missing the $225.8 million monthly consensus target by -$6.0 million, or -2.7%. Year-to-date combined receipts are $19.2 million, 1.6%, above their $1,231.7 million target. General Fund revenues for November totaled $138.8 million, -$7.0 million, or -4.8%, below the $145.8 million monthly consensus cash flow target. 

Vermont Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas As Vermont’s Secretary of State, I take nothing more seriously than my non-partisan role as Vermont’s Chief Elections Officer and overseeing free, fair, accessible, and transparent elections. Vermont’s 2024 elections will be held with integrity and in accordance with state and federal law; my commitment to this and to democracy is ironclad. The Colorado case and similar state court cases pending throughout the country explore complex legal and constitutional questions and it appears that U.S. Supreme Court review is forthcoming.  As the various legal proceedings unfold, it is important to make clear that the Vermont Secretary of State has no role in making a legal determination about Donald Trump’s eligibility to appear on the primary ballot or to hold the office of President. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Afghan Alliance today announced the award of grants from the State of Vermont and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and opened its first office with the help of Senator Peter Welch, Governor Phil Scott, State Refugee Coordinator Tracy Dolan and community partners. The Vermont Afghan Alliance, a 501(c)3 and registered Vermont non-profit, formally launched in April 2022 by Co-Founders Wazir Hashimi and Dr. Dan Barkhuff with the mission of assisting Afghans in obtaining access to basic services and successfully resettling in the Green Mountain State. Through the ECSH Grant the Alliance will receive $250,000 a year for three years to provide direct and indirect services including, driving lessons, interpretation and translation assistance, legal rights training, community forums and assistance with case management. The grant assists the Alliance in hiring staff and opening an office.