Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Howard Center and the South Burlington Rotary Club are delighted to announce the success of their joint effort, the 11th Annual Curling Challenge fundraiser, held in March 2023.The Curling Challenge was made possible thanks to the shared vision and commitment of Howard Center, the South Burlington Rotary Club, Dragonheart Vermont, and the Green Mountain Curling Club. This event marked a triumphant return after a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic and garnered significant support from the local community, raising an impressive $10,000 for Howard Center. Over thirty teams of four took to the ice at Cairns Arena to curl for a worthy cause. 

Vermont Business Magazine For the 5% to 25% of cancer patients who develop a potentially fatal condition called venous thrombosis, which causes clots to form in the blood that can lodge in the lungs or other vital organs, the anxiety of a cancer diagnosis comes with an unpleasant added chore — the need to inject themselves once or twice a day with a blood thinner called heparin. Given the seriousness of cancer-related venous thrombosis — the recurrence of a clot after the first can be lethal — the injection regimen is an absolute necessity.

by US Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) As we enter week two of this disaster, it goes without saying that this is an extremely difficult and stressful time for thousands of Vermonters. For those of you who have experienced damage to your homes, businesses, or farms, there are some important steps that you can take right now to help provide you with the support you might need.

Vermont Business Magazine The 30th Vermont Brewers Festival is set to welcome over 6,000 attendees at Waterfront Park from July 21st-22nd. Organized by the Vermont Brewers Association (VBA), the festival has been a resounding success since its inception in 1991. With 37 Vermont breweries, 9 out-of-state and Canadian breweries, and over 200 beers to sample, this year's festival promises an unforgettable experience. Tickets are still available; however they are selling quickly.

Vermont Business Magazine As Vermont focuses on recovering from this month’s storms, the Agency of Human Services and Department for Children and Families are moving their weekly housing updates to an online-only format to keep the public informed and report progress on these efforts. Each week, DCF posts information about households in the General Assistance housing program on the department’s website.

Vermont Business Magazine FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell announced today that President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. made additional disaster assistance available to the state of Vermont to supplement state, local and tribal recovery efforts in the areas affected by severe flooding beginning on July 7, 2023, and continuing. The President authorized the federal cost-share for emergency protective measures to be increased from 75% to 100% for a 30-day period of the state’s choosing within the first 120 days from the start of the incident period. 

Vermont Business Magazine Following historic flooding that has occurred throughout Vermont, the Department of Environmental Conservation’s Dam Safety Program will be performing follow-up inspections in the coming days to identify dams that may have been impacted. The Dam Safety Program will be prioritizing inspection of dams that have the potential to impact life and property such as homes and roads. Inspections are being performed by trained engineers at no cost to dam owners. There are over 400 dams located within Vermont that impound enough water to pose a risk should the dam fail. A large number of those dams are owned by private individuals.

Vermont Business Magazine Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont and their partner Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan jointly pledged $100,000 to the VT Flood Response and Recovery Fund 2023 to support the state’s recovery and rebuilding after the devastating July floods. Additionally, employees from both the Michigan and Vermont plans are making individual contributions to the recovery that will be matched.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health reported July 12, 2023, that COVID-19 hospitalizations fell to a statewide total of 7. COVID-19 activity remains in the "Low" range, according to the VDH. There were 4 COVID-related deaths reported in the most recent statement for a pandemic total of 989 as of July 8 (this is the most recent update). Fatalities have slowed. VDH reported 15 COVID-related deaths in March, 20 in April, 10 in May and 9 in June (the fewest since the summer of 2021).

Vermont Business Magazine Due to the flooding and ongoing recovery work statewide, the Vermont Agency of Transportation (AOT) is postponing the public meetings that were planned for tomorrow, July 19. The virtual meetings have been rescheduled for Wednesday, August 2 at 12:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. Zoom links for the revised dates are available on the project website. The online survey remains active until the end of this month.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems (VAHHS) today announced that its non-profit hospitals submitted what are among what they called the most complex and challenged budgets in recent history to the Green Mountain Care Board (GMCB), following years of negative margins and challenges exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. On average, the FY 2024 budget margins are approximately 2 percent across the entire system. The budgets represent only what is necessary to begin the process of recovery from years of pandemic response, workforce crisis and caring for an older and sicker patient population.

by Michael Del Trecco, President & CEO, Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems As I followed the news since the arrival of a dangerous storm and subsequent historic flooding throughout the state, I was profoundly moved by the rescue crews who plucked their neighbors from harm’s way and the many ordinary Vermonters who clamored to volunteer to help—even before the waters receded. It’s during times like this that I’m most proud to be a Vermonter.