Current News

Vermont Agency of Transportation Motorists are advised beginning at 11PM on Saturday, June 24, 2023, an oversized transport convoy will leave Milton via US-2 east and proceed south on I-89 beginning at Exit 17 to Exit 6. This oversized transport will proceed at an average speed of 10 to 15 MPH and will be accompanied by police and civilian escorts during transit. This transport will occupy both lanes at times on I-89 south, vehicles will be unable to pass during these times.

by Sarah Lyons, Public Assets Institute There has been a lot of attention on the veto session this week and all that was accomplished this year—universal school meals, improved but imperfect investments in housing, and of course the signature accomplishment: the biggest investment in childcare in the country. But a less-noticed, otherwise unremarkable tax bill signed into law Monday by Governor Phil Scott contained two important provisions also worth celebrating. H.471, amid all of its technical changes, makes the state’s Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the new state Child Tax Credit (CTC) available to all qualifying Vermont residents regardless of whether they have a Social Security card or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). 

Vermont Business Magazine Rutland Regional Medical Center announced today that after an extensive executive search this spring, the hospital’s Board of Directors has named Judi K. Fox as the organization’s President and CEO. Fox has served as the Interim President & CEO since November 2022. Fox, the longtime Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer has been employed at Rutland Regional for more than 33 years, serving the last seven years as the CFO.

Vermont Business Magazine There’s no doubt that the to-do list is long for parents of newborns. Recognizing that those first days are busy, and it’s never too early to start saving for education and training after high school, new parents Alex and Kristina Umbhau decided to open a VT529 savings account before their baby was even born! In addition to having her name put on this existing account, their daughter was lucky enough to arrive on 5/29, qualifying her for an additional $100 deposit in her account through a partnership between VSAC and the Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems (VAHHS). 

Vermont Business Magazine The companies of National Life Group are the first in the industry to liberate clients from only one interest crediting day in the year with its new single premium deferred indexed annuities, available June 24. Exclusive to National Life is the new innovative, indexed annuity feature, the Dollar Cost Averaging option, which spreads the index crediting over 12 months. 

Vermont Business Magazine UVM Health Network – Home Health & Hospice’s annual Fun Run & Jiggety Jog fundraiser for the McClure Miller Respite House exceeded its goal, raising more than $106,000 this year. With more than 200 combined runners and walkers participating, countless volunteers, and key sponsors, the event’s success demonstrates our community’s ongoing commitment to supporting high-quality, compassionate end-of-life care. The event featured a 5k run and 3k walk. More than 600 individuals made donations to the fundraiser. Longtime event participant and supporter, Alice Christian, was the top fundraiser again this year, raising an $5,775.

Vermont Captive Insurance Association The VCIA Annual Conference at the DoubleTree by Hilton Burlington is one of the captive industry’s most well respected and popular events. Known for its high quality captive education and excellent networking opportunities, this signature event is in its 38th year, and we are thrilled to deliver you the ultimate captive conference summer time experience in beautiful Burlington, Vermont. Join us August 7 – 10.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Law and Graduate School (VLGS) today celebrated the grand opening of its Burlington location and the new legal aid clinic that will be housed there. Funded by a $975,000 federal grant secured by Sen. Bernie Sanders, the new Center for Justice Reform Clinic at VLGS – Burlington will merge the school’s immigration assistance work and broader justice reform work to reduce recidivism, address mass incarceration, and improve community-based restorative alternatives at all intercept points. It will also host the school’s fully ABA-accredited Online Hybrid JD program, an admissions office, and classes through the school’s Center for Justice Reform and the National Center on Restorative Justice.

Vermont Business Magazine The Attorney General’s Office announced that Jeffrey Kittredge, Sr., 57, of Montpelier, Vermont, was sentenced yesterday in Vermont Superior Court, Washington Criminal Division, to 3 to 5 years imprisonment with 18 months to serve and the rest suspended, and 5 years of probation, after pleading guilty to one felony count of Neglect of a Vulnerable Adult, and one felony count of Medicaid Fraud. Mr. Kittredge failed to bring the young man to various medical appointments on more than eight occasions and failed to otherwise obtain medical assistance for the young man’s obvious and life-threatening skin ulcerations. As a result of Mr. Kittredge’s neglect, the young man’s injuries progressed to the point of irreversible infection and ultimately caused the young man’s death. 

Vermont Business Magazine The end of pandemic-era funding coupled with workforce challenges and increasing demand for services has Howard Center adjusting its budget for the coming year. Howard Center’s new budget, which takes effect on July 1, includes a 1 percent expense reduction in all agency programs and departments (staff salaries and benefits were not impacted), and reflects the difficult decision to phase out four programs. Slated to end later this year are the Autism Spectrum Program center-based services for toddlers, Intensive Family Based Services which supports families towards the goals of stabilization and reunification, a public inebriate program in St Albans, and Howard Center’s affiliation with the closing Centerpoint program, a provider of services for teens and young adults and their families.

Leonine Public Affairs During an unexpectedly speedy veto session, Democratic supermajorities in the House and Senate successfully overrode five vetoes on key legislation. The veto session marks a significant victory for House and Senate Democrats, who were able to enact their top priorities over the objection of Republican Governor Phil Scott. Since adjournment in mid-May, Democratic leaders have been grappling to develop a plan to provide support for the people who would lose their state-funded housing as the pandemic-era motel program came to an end. Legislative leaders were able to hammer out a deal that drew support from state officials across the political spectrum - including the governor. The deal utilizes $19 million that was earmarked for housing in the FY2024 budget to extend the motel program until spring 2024.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, Stowe Mountain Resort announced Shannon Buhler as Vice President and General Manager, effective July 17. Most recently, Buhler led mountain operations as Senior Director of Mountain Operations at Northstar California in the Lake Tahoe region.   Buhler began her career with Vail Resorts nearly 20 years ago in Product Sales and Services at Breckenridge Mountain. Since then, she’s led various departments at additional mountains within the Vail Resorts network, including Vail Mountain and Keystone Resort, before being appointed General Manager at Snow Creek in Missouri.