Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today joined the First Lady of the United States, Dr Jill Biden, and US Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona at BETA Technologies in South Burlington as part of the Biden Administration’s Investing in America Tour. The event included a walkthrough of the BETA Technologies, a growing Vermont electric aerospace company, where BETA employees showcased their work on the control mechanisms for ALIA aircraft. The visit also highlighted the importance of investing in Career and Technical Education. Students from North Country Technical Center in Newport, Vermont, gave a tabletop presentation to test the voltage, and tension components of electric vehicles.

Vermont Business Magazine 1% for the Planet, a global organization that exists to ensure our planet and future generations thrive, announced record philanthropic giving in 2022, rapid growth of its global network of businesses and environmental partners, and an ambitious agenda in 2023 to catalyze critical action to address the global environmental crisis. 1% for the Planet certified a record $66 million in giving to 3,000 approved environmental partners in 2022—growing the organization’s lifetime certified giving to $450 million since its founding in 2002 by Yvon Chouinard, founder of Patagonia, and Craig Mathews, founder of Blue Ribbon Flies. 1% for the Planet also added more than 1,800 new members in 2022, bringing total membership to 5,300 businesses.

Vermont Business Magazine Olympia Hotel Management has announced that it has been selected to operate Sun & Ski Inn and Suites on the Mountain Road in Stowe, the state’s premier four-season destination. The 39-room hotel, which features Stowe Bowl and Stowe Golf Park, caters to families and guests with an active lifestyle. Bordering the West Branch Little River, it has an enviable location midway between historic Stowe Village and Stowe Mountain Resort. The property is co-owned by Mark and Rachel Vandenberg, as well as Michael and Debi Diender, Rachel’s parents. The Dienders have a lengthy history in Stowe. They previously owned Grey Fox Inn and the Dutch Pancake Café and assumed ownership of Sun & Ski Inn and Suites in 1996. The Vandenbergs took over hotel operations from the Dienders in 2012.

Vermont Business Magazine Five nonprofit organizations in New Hampshire and Vermont will receive support from Citizens through the bank’s Citizens Helping Citizens Manage Money program. This includes the Champlain Housing Trust and Vermont Works for Women. The initiative helps strengthen communities by supporting programs, through direct funding as well as volunteerism, that give people the resources they need to be financially healthy and inspire them to pursue their goals. Select nonprofits will receive a total of $50,000 to support work in this critical area. The announcement comes during Financial Literacy Month, a nationally recognized campaign that raises awareness of the need for more financial literacy education.

Vermont Business Magazine Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital (NVRH) will begin implementing symptom-based masking use for patients, visitors and staff today, April 5, 2023. This means that if a patient, visitor or staff member does not have fever, chills, cough, sore throat, running or congested nose or shortness of breath, they may choose not to wear a mask. However, to ensure everyone feels comfortable while at NVRH, healthcare personnel are required to wear a mask if a patient, caregiver or family member asks them to wear one.

Funding is now available for Vermont organizations and projects through the Walter Cerf Community Fund at the Vermont Community Foundation. Mr. Cerf, a native of Germany who made Addison County his home in his later years, gave more than $10 million to organizations and projects in Vermont before passing away in 2001. He focused much of his giving in Addison County and Brandon.

Grants from the Walter Cerf Community Fund reflect that focus: two-thirds of the grants are reserved for Addison County/Brandon projects and one-third is reserved for statewide projects. Priority interests are the arts, education, historic preservation, and social services, reflecting the pattern of giving established by Mr. Cerf during his lifetime.

The fund awards multiple grants up to $5,000 and one grant up to $25,000. Applications to the fund will be accepted through June 9, 2014. Visit www.vermontcf.org to learn more.

Vermont Business Magazine The State Police Advisory Commission released the following statement Tuesday regarding Vermont State Trooper resignations announced March 31, 2023. While Commissioner of Public Safety Jennifer Morrison had not reached a final decision on discipline before the two troopers resigned, the State Police Advisory Commission advised her that the troopers’ actions warranted termination and no lesser form of discipline was appropriate.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Corrections (DOC) today announced a three-year contract with Wellpath, LLC (Wellpath) to provide comprehensive health services to incarcerated individuals in Vermont. Wellpath, formerly Correct Care Solutions, is a multi-national healthcare provider that offers localized, high-quality, compassionate care to patients in challenging clinical environments. Vermont DOC formerly contracted with Correct Care Solutions from 2010-2015 to provide health services to Vermont’s incarcerated population. Vermont DOC released a Request for Proposals (RFP) in May 2022 for a new comprehensive health services contract upon the completion of the current contract with VitalCore Health Strategies. The Department approached the selection with a thoughtful and meticulous process, engaging a framework grounded in evidence-based practices, the most current health research, and the Vermont community standard of care.

Vermont Business Magazine On Tuesday a letter was sent to Vermont state senators from a coalition of Vermont businesses, organizations, and individuals in support of investment in Vermont’s cellular infrastructure. While supporting the state's significant investment and effort in expanding broadband Internet service, the coalition is asking lawmakers to also support investments in wireless connectivity this session "so that Vermont can start addressing the unserved and underserved areas of our state."

Vermont Business Magazine The Small Business Administration is hosting a free webinar at noon April 5 about its guaranteed loan programs. SBA guarantees loans making it easier for small businesses to get the funding by reducing lender risk. Funds can be used for most business purposes, including long-term fixed assets and operating capital. Amounts range from $500 to $5.5 million.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, the National Institute of Innovation and Technology (NIIT), the leader in developing the nation’s semiconductor talent pipeline, and GlobalFoundries (Nasdaq: GFS), one of the world’s leading semiconductor manufacturers, have established a Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) at GF’s site in Essex Junction, Vermont. This program leverages the initial pilot established at GF’s site in Malta, NY, making it the first national, multi-site RAP in the semiconductor industry. It is designed specifically to meet GF’s technician workforce needs and to provide the skills necessary to progress into higher level positions over time.

Vermont State Police Around 4:26PM, a canine search team from New England K9 Search and Rescue located the body of the missing teenager, Rebecca Ball, in Weybridge. Her body was found in a wooded area on the west side of Otter Creek north of Beldens Falls. Her body will be transported to the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office in Burlington for an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of death. Per standard protocol, the death is being investigated by a detective trooper with the Vermont State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigations. The death is not considered suspicious.