Current News

by Michael Del Trecco, President & CEO VAHHS Occasionally my phone rings and it’s Jack, who lives in Connecticut. His mom lives on my dirt road out in the country and he’s hoping I’ll make sure her steps are safe from ice, power is on, and driveway is clear of trees—whatever conditions might call for. I’m always glad to take his call. My folks live in Massachusetts, and I know the stress of being far from aging parents when they might need assistance. It’s not all give either. I’ve always been handy, and I get a real sense of purpose making sure those around me are safe during a storm, heat wave or cold snap.

Fake package scam leads the list; Social Security phishing scam falls from list

Vermont Business Magazine Reports of scams to the Attorney General’s Consumer Assistance Program totaled 3,685 in 2022. In keeping with the previous year’s trend, a scam claiming that an unauthorized order was placed, or a package is pending delivery, sometimes naming Amazon, took the number one spot on the list, totaling 19 percent of the top scams reported to the Consumer Assistance Program. The computer tech support scam, where a scammer reaches out about concerning viruses or problems with antivirus services, took the number two spot, accounting for 18 percent of the top scam reports in 2022.

Vermont Business Magazine Union Mutual Insurance Company is proud to announce its Penguin Plunge team of 44 employees, vendors and family members raised over $100,000 to benefit Special Olympics Vermont during the 2023 fundraising season. Since their first Plunge in 2016, the Union Mutual Popsicles have raised nearly $500,000 for Special Olympics Vermont. Due to dangerously low temperatures and subsequent windchill warnings in the Burlington area on Saturday, February 4, the traditional Plunge into the icy waters of Lake Champlain was moved to a remote event. However, the Union Mutual Popsicles safely took the Plunge in an indoor pool to complete their pledge to their generous donors. The $101,456 mark is the second-highest fundraising total in the event’s history – the Popsicles set the high-water mark in 2020 with over $135,000 raised.

Vermont Business Magazine Ledyard Financial Group, Inc (ticker symbol LFGP), the holding company for Ledyard National Bank with a branch in Vermont, today announced financial results for Q4 2022 and FY 2022, confirming the strength and resiliency of the Company’s core banking and wealth management businesses. The Company remains focused on building and leveraging infrastructure that promotes growth and the pursuit of making life better for its clients, its employees, and the communities it serves. Net income for Q4 2022 was $1.76 million ($0.54 per share) compared to $2.08 million in Q3 2022 ($0.64 per share) and $2.00 million ($0.62 per share) for the same period in 2021. For the full year, net income totaled $7.96 million ($2.44 per share) compared to $7.77 million ($2.42 per share) for 2021.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today issued the following statement marking the 30th anniversary of the federal Family and Medical Leave Act: “This week marks the 30th anniversary of the enactment of the Family and Medical Leave Act, an important piece of federal legislation that we’re now building on in Vermont."

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Talent Pipeline Management (VTPM) and Vermont Manufacturing Extension Center (VMEC) have teamed up to advance employer-driven workforce solutions. The partnership represents a dedication to manufacturing as a critical sector requiring focus to build capacity and efficiencies in talent sourcing and developing essential skills. VMEC is now the host organization of Vermont Talent Pipeline Management for the Manufacturing Sector. With today’s labor shortage, launching worker-centric programs that upskill and retain good employees builds a sustainable Manufacturing Career Ladder.

Vermont Business Magazine Average gasoline prices in Vermont continued their slow decent last week, falling 2 cents per gallon to $3.50. Prices are still 9 cents/g higher than a month ago and 4 cents/g higher than last year. According to GasBuddy, the highest price found in Vermont was $3.69/g in Huntington and the lowest was $3.25/g in West Dummerston. The national average price of gasoline has fallen 4 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.44/g today. The national average is up 17 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 1.7 cents per gallon higher than a year ago

by Devon Green, VAHHS VP of Government Relations VAHHS wants to thank Senator Dick Sears and Senator Ginny Lyons for holding a joint hearing last week to hear from health care providers on S.36 and workplace violence. The extensive testimony was raw and emotional. It was jarring to see these matter-of-fact professionals reduced to tears. I want to thank the Senate Judiciary and Senate Health and Welfare Committees for their compassion in hearing our health care providers. Most importantly, thank you to all health care providers who took the time and effort to testify. Your stories were powerful. Lawmakers also focused on Long Term Care, Mental Health, Dental and Shield laws.

Vermont Business Magazine Burton and Run DMC announced today that a limited-edition run of snowboards, boots, bindings, outerwear, streetwear, bags, and accessories will be available for purchase on Burton.com on February 15th for the Mine77 x Run DMC collection and February 22nd for the Burton x Run DMC collection. In addition, a digital auction of 7.7 one-of-a-kind Burton x Run DMC snowboards will take place from February 7th-15th to benefit both the Chill Foundation and the Jam Master Jay Foundation. To kick off this legendary collaboration, 7.7 exclusive Mine77 x Run DMC collection “DJ Board” snowboards will be digitally auctioned on February 7th – 15th. Constructed by hand at Burton Headquarters in Vermont, the design of this true twin freestyle board pays homage to Jam Master Jay’s DJ setup, complete with vintage vinyl records mounted in the board channel and specialty packaging inspired by metal DJ gear transport cases.

Vermont Business Magazine The Sixth Annual Southern Vermont Economy Summit will be held May 23, 2023 at The Hermitage Club in Wilmington, Vermont. This annual event is a time for community, municipal, and business leaders across Southern Vermont to come together to think big, learn something new, ask questions, and connect. The 2023 Summit's theme is "Forging Our Future." With the immediate impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in the rear view mirror, we now face a time where there is unprecedented amounts of funding available for rural communities to carry out vital projects. At the same time, rising costs, tight local workforce, and a state-wide housing crisis are stressing the capacity of businesses, towns, and community projects.

Vermont Business Magazine Orly Yadin, Executive Director (ED) of the Vermont International Film Festival (VTIFF) will be stepping down from her role as of June 30th, 2023. A search for a new ED has begun. Arnie Malina, President of the VTIFF Board, said “Orly took an organization that was in danger of closing down and re-built and expanded its programs and community support to become a vibrant participant in Vermont’s cultural life.”