Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Starting January 1, 2024, Green Mountain Power (GMP) will continue its popular rebate programs to help customers save when they switch from fossil fuels to clean electricity for driving, heating and cooling, yard care and more. All GMP’s programs are designed to help cut costs for all GMP customers while also cutting carbon emissions. Also starting in January, GMP is updating its heat pump program to expand access to the super-efficient heating and cooling technology by more than doubling its enhanced, post-purchase heat pump rebate for income-eligible customers to $2,000. It had been $600. To qualify, customers must have a household income at or below 80% of area median income (AMI). 

Vermont State Police An autopsy was performed Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023. The deceased man is identified as 58-year-old Donald Coull, a resident of the home at 107 Lawson Rd. where this incident occurred. The Chief Medical Examiner’s Office determined the cause of death was a stab wound of the chest. A ruling on the manner of death is pending further investigation and toxicology testing, which can take from several weeks to several months. The injured man is identified as Trevor Stone, 39, a resident of a camper on the property. He was treated at North Country Hospital for a laceration/stab wound and subsequently released.

Vermont Business Magazine For years, Diane Imrie and a group of sustainability-minded professionals and clinicians across the University of Vermont Medical Center have worked to find spaces in health care for concepts like “sustainability” and “climate-friendly.” Now, the organization is routinely honored as a health care leader for embracing the connection between patient care, health, and conscientious environmental stewardship. 

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Business Magazine Gasbuddy is projecting that national average gasoline prices are expected to decline in 2024, after a long slow decline already this past fall. Meanwhile, average gasoline prices in Vermont are $3.29 per gallon, down 3 cents per gallon from last week. Vermont gas prices are down 15 cents/g from last month and down 7 cents/g from the same time last year. The national average price of gasoline is unchanged in the last week, averaging $3.11/g today.

Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets A new report is illuminating the health of the honeybee population in Vermont, with a significant increase in bees since 2016 emphasizing the care, cultivation and collaboration of beekeepers and officials in the Green Mountain State. The Apiary Program within the Division of Public Health and Agricultural Resource Management of the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (VAAFM) registers, inspects, and provides education and training to Vermont’s beekeepers. Beekeepers are required to register their apiary locations and report the number of colonies (hives) they maintain. For the 2023 registration, they reported the highest number of colonies on record, 17,145. In 2016, for comparison, Vermont’s number of registered colonies was 9,715, representing a 43% increase over the seven-year period. 

Greater Burlington YMCA Board of Directors The Board of Directors was informed by our President & CEO Kyle Dodson that he will be stepping down from his role at the end of January to pursue other professional opportunities. Kyle has played a pivotal role in our organization's 157-year history, notably leading a successful $25mm fundraising campaign and overseeing the construction of a new, debt-free facility—a significant milestone for our community. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Board of Directors of the Community of Vermont Elders (COVE), voted unanimously for Dissolution of the non-profit agency. This vote was taken December 22, 2023 and goes into effect immediately. COVE has been a trusted and valued advocate for Vermont Elders for over 41 years, however, ongoing financial challenges and limited resources have led to the decision to cease operations. 

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.