Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Lincoln Institute of Land Policy has released a new Policy Focus Report, Preserving Affordable Homeownership: Municipal Partnerships with Community Land Trusts, by John Emmeus Davis and Kristin King-Ries. Drawing on insights from 115 community land trusts (CLTs) that were interviewed or surveyed by the International Center for Community Land Trusts, the report explores how CLTs are partnering with public officials to help address the housing affordability crisis. In this innovative model, individuals buy homes on land that is leased from a local CLT and agree to limit the resale price, reducing the upfront cost of homeownership and keeping those homes affordable for one income-qualified household after another.

by Mike Del Trecco, CEO of VAHHS It’s been a busy and noisy last several weeks in health care. We’ve had federal, state and local elections on top of it all. We cannot ignore the stress we feel, and know our neighbors feel, in this moment. But what we can do is act. We can lean into things that represent progress. As Vermont moves forward with health care transformation, the Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems (VAHHS) remains committed to advancements in areas that we know align with what Vermonters want and deserve: equitable access to high-quality care (especially in rural Vermont), stabilization and strengthening of our health care ecosystem (nursing homes, transportation, mental health, etc.), and affordability (we must continue to find efficiencies and cost-saving where possible).

Vermont Business Magazine VNA & Hospice of the Southwest Region (VNAHSR) will be hosting a Hospice Volunteer Training session on Thursday, December 5, from 8AM to 4PM at the VNAHSR Office (8 N. Main Street, St. Albans, VT). This comprehensive, one-day training is designed for individuals interested in becoming hospice volunteers and supporting patients and families facing serious illness. The training session is free and open to individuals aged 16 and older who are interested in providing compassionate care and support to hospice patients. No prior healthcare or hospice experience is required. Participants must pass a background check, and pre-registration is required.

Vermont Business Magazine The Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine at the University of Vermont joins communities across the U.S. in celebration of National Rural Health Day (NRHD) on November 21, 2024. The National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) and rural-focused organizations throughout the United States set aside the third Thursday of November to recognize NRHD. This annual event is an opportunity to celebrate the “Power of Rural” and honor individuals and organizations dedicated to addressing the unique healthcare needs of nearly 61 million people currently living in rural America. According to the 2020 U.S. Census, Vermont has the highest rural population in the country with 64.9% of its population living in rural areas. 

Vermont Business Magazine Northeast Delta Dental Foundation has awarded a substantial grant to fund a statewide initiative delivering essential dental care to underserved Vermont communities. This collaborative effort brings together the Vermont Department of Health District Offices and Office of Oral Health, Vermont’s Free & Referral Clinics, local dentists, and a committed team of clinical volunteers and community partners to bring dental care to Vermonters in need. Over the upcoming months, a series of free pop-up dental clinics will provide vital oral healthcare and oral health education to children and adults in Vermont, focused on community members who have historically faced significant barriers to oral healthcare, though all are welcome. The first in this series of 6 clinics was held recently in Brattleboro, with much success. 

Vermont Business Magazine VNA & Hospice of the Southwest Region (VNAHSR) has announced the upcoming dates for its popular community discussion series, Death, Dying & Danishes. This free, informal gathering provides an opportunity for individuals in the local community to engage in open and honest conversations about life, death and the emotional aspects of grief in a welcoming environment. The series is led by Hospice volunteers, and aims to create a safe space for people of all ages to explore these often-difficult topics.

Vermont Business Magazine MAX Surgical Specialty Management (MAX), the Northeast region's leading surgeon-led platform providing comprehensive management services for oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMS) practices, has grown to 25 practice locations and increased its surgeon network by nearly 60% in 2024. Its expansion to five states across the Northeast includes new partnerships in New York and Vermont and its first entry into the state of Connecticut. Founded by oral surgeons, MAX delivers a model tailored for surgeons that integrates complete operational support, cutting-edge technology solutions, and pathways for growth — all while upholding the clinical independence practitioners deeply value.

US Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) U.S. law is very clear. Our government cannot provide weapons to any country that violates internationally recognized human rights or prohibits the delivery of U.S. humanitarian aid. Tragically, that is precisely what Israel is doing in Gaza where the people there are experiencing a horrific humanitarian disaster. That is why I have introduced, with colleagues, several Joint Resolutions of Disapproval that would block offensive arms sales to Israel. The votes will take place in the Senate this Wednesday. I hope you will take a moment to read my op-ed below on this issue that appeared this morning in the Washington Post.

Vermont Business Magazine U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont) released the following statement on the White House’s revised request for additional disaster relief funding, which totals more than $98 billion and will help communities recover from floods, wildfires, and hurricanes that have impacted communities across the country, including Vermont: “The White House’s updated disaster aid request is welcome and should be a wake-up call to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle—communities from Vermont to Hawai‘i, and the Carolinas to Texas urgently need our help. I’ll keep advocating for Vermont as Congress begins crafting a disaster aid bill."

Vermont State Police On January 20, 2023, the Vermont State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigations at the Berlin Barracks began an investigation into a report of a sexual assault at the residence located at 17 Plain Street Apt. 3 in Barre City. Investigation revealed that Joel Bonano, 32, has sexually assaulted a female at the residence who was under the age of 16 and was known to him. Additionally, it was determined that Bonano had provided the female with alcohol and marijuana.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott has officially proclaimed Apprenticeship Week for the State of Vermont, November 17, 2024, to November 23, 2024. Apprenticeship Week is an opportunity to celebrate the evolving impact of registered apprenticeship programs on Vermont’s workforce and economy. These programs follow an “earn while you learn” model, allowing individuals to gain hands-on experience and technical training while earning a paycheck. During Apprenticeship Week, the Department of Labor will celebrate the benefits of apprenticeships, their role in workforce development, and the opportunities they offer to employers and job seekers. 

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (VBSR) has recognized Vermont State Senator Kesha Ram Hinsdale from Shelburne (Chittenden-Southeast District) with their 2024 VBSR Legislator of the Year Award. Senator Ram Hinsdale will be honored as VBSR’s Legislator of the Year during the 2024 VBSR Legislative Breakfast on Wednesday, December 11 when VBSR will also announce its 2025 Advocacy Agenda. VBSR is a statewide, nonprofit business association with a mission to leverage the power of business for positive social and environmental impact. VBSR advocates on behalf of Vermont’s businesses, people, and environment toward sustainable economic development, social equity, and environmental stewardship – policies that support a just, thriving, and transformative economy that works for all people and the planet.