Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Senate, in a unanimous voice vote, advanced legislation (S.25) that restricts PFAS and other toxic chemicals from cosmetic and menstrual products, and bans PFAS from textiles and artificial turf athletic fields. The bill will be up for third reading in the Senate tomorrow before heading to the House for their consideration. The chemicals banned by this bill – including PFAS, phthalates and formaldehyde – are all linked to numerous negative human health impacts. Recently, the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued their first-ever proposal to regulate 6 of the thousands of PFAS chemicals, affirming that virtually no level of these chemicals is safe for drinking water. But much more work needs to be done to understand the extent of PFAS contamination in Vermont’s environment and our bodies, and to protect Vermonters from these harmful chemicals.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) announced Tuesday that Lamoille Health Partners will receive $495,000 to create a statewide primary care residency training program. The funding – awarded through the Health Resources Services Administration’s (HRSA) “Teaching Health Center Planning and Development Program” – will help Lamoille Health Partners, in consortium with other federally qualified health centers in Vermont, develop a statewide family medicine residency program with the goal of becoming accredited in the next two years. Once accredited, the three-year program will start with 10 residents and increase to a total of 30 residents by the third year. Nationally, nearly $23 million is being awarded to support the planning and establishment of residency training programs in family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, pediatric internal medicine, psychiatry, obstetrics and gynecology, general dentistry, pediatric dentistry, and geriatrics.

Vermont Business Magazine Monday night, Mayor Miro Weinberger delivered his 12th annual State of the City address, stating that the State of the City “is reunited and stronger for having weathered so much. The priorities of the City are clear, and we are moving forward.” The speech reflected on the long period of turmoil experienced locally and nationally, and the community’s renewed strength and shared commitment to confront the challenges ahead: protecting public safety, advancing racial justice, continued action on climate, and delivering on the promise of housing as a human right. The mayor also announced the City of Burlington will rename its airport the Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport. In attendance for the celebratory moment was Marcelle Leahy, with the Senator watching remotely.

Vermont Business Magazine Gardener’s Supply Company, the Burlington, Vermont-based purveyor of great gardening products, is acquiring a fifth garden center, this time in Greenland, New Hampshire. Rolling Green Nursery has been committed to providing healthy and vigorous plant material and premiere horticultural advice throughout southern New Hampshire for more than 45 years. In addition to a robust catalog and e-commerce business, Gardener’s Supply Company already has four garden centers located in Burlington and Williston, VT; Lebanon, NH; and Hadley, MA.

Vermont Business Magazine With increased focus on working mothers and the passage of the Providing Urgent Maternal Protections (PUMP) for Nursing Mothers Act, demand for lactation accommodations has spiked, reports Mamava, the nation’s largest designer and manufacturer of lactation pods. The company’s YoY revenue grew 180% in 2022 and its first quarter inbound lead volume, so far, is nearly double that of last year. The PUMP Act, which becomes enforceable on April 28, extends workplace breastfeeding rights to more than 9 million workers, including teachers, nurses, and agricultural workers, not previously covered by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Mamava, the Vermont-based inventor of freestanding lactation pods, offers a full line of comfortable all-in-one lactation spaces designed specifically to meet the needs of breastfeeding employees at work and to help U.S. workplaces comply quickly with the expanded federal labor law.

Vermont Business Magazine Starting this month, all states - including Vermont - are required to begin checking Medicaid eligibility again. Since January 2020, Medicaid’s annual renewal process has been paused due to Federal policy that began during the COVID-19 pandemic. The State of Vermont is committed to supporting Vermonters in maintaining their health insurance coverage. Today, the Department of Vermont Health Access is announcing unprecedented flexibility for eligible Vermonters to enroll in other coverage if their Medicaid ends as a result of the renewal process. The rules about who can be on Medicaid, also called Green Mountain Care, have not changed. The only change is that the state is returning to the normal process of checking whether Vermonters on Medicaid are still eligible.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Electric Power Company (VELCO) President and CEO Tom Dunn today announced the election of Mark Sciarrotta to serve as VELCO’s Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer. Today’s unanimous vote by the Company’s Board of Directors represents Mr. Sciarrotta’s latest advancement in his over 15-year career at VELCO.

Vermont Business Magazine Treasurer Mike Pieciak and Commissioner of Financial Regulation Kevin Gaffney on Monday paid a lively visit to award-winning teacher Courtney Poquette’s classroom at Winooski High School. Together they marked the beginning of Financial Literacy Month and a partnership between their offices to highlight financial literacy and empowerment concepts throughout the month of April. National Financial Literacy month is recognized annually in April to promote the importance of financial well-being, increase public awareness about the need for personal finance education, and encourage smart money-management skills that can help Americans improve their understanding of things like banking, credit management, and home ownership.

Vermont Business Magazine WalletHub drew upon the various findings of positive-psychology research in order to determine which among more than 180 of the largest US cities is home to the happiest people in America. They examined each city based on 30 key indicators of happiness, ranging from the depression rate to the income-growth rate to average leisure time spent per day. Vermont had two cities in the Top Ten: South Burlington ranked 9th, mostly for its Emotional & Physical Well-Being; and Burlington ranked 10th, by finishing first in the Income & Employment category. Turns out South Burlington is best in the sub-categories of Sleep and Sports and Burlington is best for Work Hours. Overall, Fremont, CA, ranked first and nearby San Jose finished second. The last two on the list were Huntington, WV, and Detroit.

by Devon Green, Vice President of Government Relations, Vermont Association of Hospitals & Health Systems A lot happened last week, so let’s dive in: Regulatory Flexibilities: The governor signed the COVID regulatory flexibilities bill, H.411, into law last week just shy of the March 31st deadline. VAHHS appreciates the quick work on this bill from the legislature and the governor’s office. The biggest takeaway is that out-of-state health care providers who are in good standing and working in a health care facility are deemed licensed after registering with the licensure entity. The exception is if there is a provisional license offered by the Office of Professional Regulation. The Office of Professional Regulation currently provides provisional licenses for nurses.

Vermont Business Magazine On National Doctor’s Day, March 30, Rutland Regional Medical Center announced the 2022 Providers of the Year. The winners, representing a physician or nurse practitioner, physician assistant, or other advanced practice provider are recognized for their contributions to the greater Rutland community, staff, and patients. These individuals represent the highest ideals in health care. Several years ago, Rutland Regional expanded these awards to include two Rutland community primary care providers. Rutland Regional Medical Center Providers: Physician of the Year is Sarah Rich, MD; Advanced Practice Provider of the Year is Danielle Robillard, APRN. Rutland Community Providers: Primary Care Physician of the Year is Amy Ferguson, MD; Advanced Practice Provider of the Year is Suzanne Jones, PA-C.

Vermont Business Magazine Preparing for the unknown can feel daunting but your family, friends and health care providers need to know what your wishes are should you not be able to voice them. That’s why Gifford is hosting an Advance Care Planning Fair on Friday, April 21^st from 1-4 p.m. at Gifford Medical Center’s conference room.

This all-ages community event will allow attendees to learn more about the importance of designating a health agent and completing Advanced Directives. Gifford staff will be joined by community partners including Bayada Hospice, Central Vermont Council on Aging, Day Funeral Home, SASH (Support and Service at Home) and the Visiting Nurse and Hospice for VT and NH.