Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA) Board of Commissioners announced Monday the award of state and federal housing tax credits and loans to support the construction, rehabilitation or preservation of 139 permanently affordable apartments in four communities across the state. In April, VHFA awarded $28 million in federal housing credits, supporting the construction of 112 homes in perpetually affordable apartment buildings. Monday’s awards provide an additional $18.0 million in equity through federal bond credits and $1.3 million in equity through Vermont Affordable Housing Tax Credits for developing affordable apartments. VHFA also awarded $15.8 million in construction loans, $360,000 in equity bridge loans and $650,000 in long-term loans to the projects Monday.

Vermont Business Magazine State Auditor Doug Hoffer released a memo today announcing that the Orange County Sheriff’s Department cannot be audited at this time due to financial management irregularities. Arriving at such a conclusion is extremely rare for a public agency, Hoffer said, and reflects a judgment that the sheriff’s books cannot be relied upon to accurately reflect the department’s financial situation.

Vermont Business Magazine Scott Administration officials will visit Washington County on Wednesday, June 28. This series of meetings and events continues the Administration’s county-by-county tour to hear from community leaders about their unique infrastructure needs and to discuss the many funding opportunities available via federal investment through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021. Officials will offer guidance on how communities can apply for assistance with tangible economic development, housing, water and sewer, climate change mitigation measures and broadband projects.

Vermont Business Magazine A Vermont summertime tradition continues Aug. 12, 18 and 19 with the 18th annual Last Mile Ride, Run and Walk at Gifford Medical Center. The three-day event includes a fundraising motorcycle ride, bicycle ride, 5K run, and 1- and 2-mile walks, all to support end-of-life care for patients and their families. Last year, 560 Last Mile participants and 50 business sponsors raised $187,000 to support end-of-life care for central Vermonters, bringing the grand total to more than $1,378,000 since the inaugural Last Mile in 2006. Funds raised help ease the end-of-life experience, support grieving families, and honor loved ones. 

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, with Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont) and Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vermont), will hold a town meeting on the youth mental health crisis on Thursday, June 29. Together, the Vermont Congressional Delegation will give an update on the actions being taken at the federal level to combat the mental health crisis, and will hear from young people, parents, educators, physicians, mental health professionals, and community members about the challenges young people are facing. This community conversation will focus on how we can work together to address the needs of young people and the needs of their families.

by Michael Del Trecco, President & CEO, VAHHS Saving for college is important. I know that, as the parent of two recent high school graduates. Whether students decide to go to college or to pursue a trade, training beyond high school always helps prepare them for what’s ahead. That’s why I’m so happy that VAHHS can help our friends at VSAC promote the benefits of saving through VT529 savings accounts.

Vermont Business Magazine At its meeting Monday night, the Burlington City Council approved Mayor Miro Weinberger’s Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) $101 million budget by a 10 – 2 vote. Councilors went on to approve the accompanying resolution to set the municipal property tax rate, which raises 42% of funds for the coming year’s public expenditures, by a vote of 9 – 3. Despite historic inflation and lingering pandemic impacts to City revenues, the mayor’s budget advances key priorities for Burlingtonians, including in the areas of public safety, climate action, racial equity, affordable housing and homeless initiatives, and to combat the opioid crisis. The FY24 budget deploys roughly $750,000 in non-personnel and non-service-related spending cuts, federal relief dollars, and other one-time funds to mitigate taxpayer impacts, and funds multiple studies of City operations and revenues to prepare for future year budget challenges.  

Vermont Business Magazine Ledyard Financial Group, Inc (ticker symbol LFGP), the holding company for Ledyard National Bank with a branch in Vermont, was ranked among the Top 200 publicly traded banks and thrifts under $2 billion in assets in the United States by American Banker Magazine for the ninth consecutive year. The rankings are based on three-year return on average equity (ROAE) for 2020 to 2022. Ledyard Financial Group was selected with a three-year average ROAE of 11.81%.

Vermont Business Magazine The American Heart Association, the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke, recently celebrated 99 years of lifesaving work. Leading up to its June 2024 centennial, the Association in Vermont is celebrating the Association’s accomplishments as it looks to build its next century of equitable health for all.

Vermont Business Magazine The parking lot of Southwestern Vermont Regional Cancer Center (SVRCC) was the site of celebration, reunion, and appreciation as nearly 100 people gathered to celebrate National Cancer Survivors Day and to mark the 10th anniversary of the Cancer Center Community Crusaders. The celebration was especially joyous as it marked the relaunch of the annual event that was paused for three years due to COVID. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Delta Dental Institute, dedicated to advancing oral health for all Americans, released Delta Dental's 2022 Community Impact Report, "Our mission: your health." Last year, Delta Dental, the nation’s leading oral health philanthropist, invested nearly $109 million to support programs, research, and advocacy that positively impacted over 20 million lives. In 2022, the Foundation donated nearly $534,000 for oral health programs throughout Vermont, Maine and New Hampshire. 

Vermont Business Magazine On June 15th, 2023 the Rotary Club of Colchester-Milton presented local food shelves with a check for $2,731.00 from the club’s annual Fill The Truck For The Food Shelf campaign along with 1,493 pounds of food. Club president John Abry presented the check to Marcia Devino president of the Colchester Community Food Shelf, Nicole Sener Executive Director of the Milton Family Community Center, and Suzanne Curran board member of the Champlain Islands Food Shelf.