Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The 6th Annual Vermont ATHENA Leadership Awards were recently presented by the Central Vermont Chamber of Commerce during a gala in the refined setting of Norwich University’s Milano Ballroom. It was an outstanding evening for Norwich, with two exceptional faculty members, Dr. Tara Kulkarni, Associate Provost for Research and Chief Research Officer, and Dr. Sarah Gallant, Assistant Professor and Interim Chair of Chemistry and Biochemistry, receiving nominations, and one attaining the highest honor. These nominations for The ATHENA Leadership Award and The ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award symbolize the significant role these individuals play in leadership and mentorship. The event stands as a noteworthy platform to acknowledge several of the most impactful women in Vermont. 

Vermont Business Magazine The United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that on November 1, 2024, defendant Scott Jamie Ashness, 44, most recently of Stuart, Florida, was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Christina Reiss to a term of 48 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release. Ashness previously pleaded guilty to bank fraud, passport fraud, and aggravated identity theft. According to court records, in September and October of 2023, Ashness entered fifteen different bank branches in Vermont, New York, and New Hampshire and pretended to be a total of eight different individuals in order to withdraw U.S. currency from those individuals’ accounts. On twelve of those fifteen occasions, Ashness was successful and walked out of the banks with the cash that he requested. 

Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets Attention farm and forest owners in Washington, Chittenden, Essex and Caledonia counties! USDA emergency programs can help restore farmland or non-industrial forest that suffered damage during this past July's flooding and severe storms. The USDA Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) and Emergency Forest Restoration Assistance (EFRP) have both opened for Washington, Chittenden, Essex and Caledonia counties. For Caledonia and Essex counties - contact your local FSA County Office and request assistance before December 20th. For Washington and Chittenden counties - contact your local FSA County Office and request assistance before December 23rd.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Travel and tourism have been a cornerstone of Vermont’s economy for over a century. However, recent years have brought significant disruptions, most notably the COVID-19 pandemic. Travel restrictions and lockdowns forced hospitality venues to close, impacting everything from cozy B&Bs to sprawling ski resorts. As the pandemic restrictions eased, Vermont experienced a surge in tourism, leading to an economic boom. However, this influx of visitors also triggered a housing crisis, characterized by a decline in available housing and a rise in housing costs. This phenomenon involved the conversion of second homes into permanent residences and the transformation of permanent homes into short-term rentals. While the ski industry was still recovering from the lingering effects of COVID, the hospitality sector was rebounding. However, two devastating events further disrupted travel and tourism: the floods of July 2023 and July 2024. Businesses in central Vermont, ranging from restaurants to recreational facilities, bore the brunt of these disasters, experiencing significant disruptions and setbacks.

by Kate Kampner, Community News Service Vermont scientists aren’t sure what could happen in the future as far as flooding goes, but as colder temperatures arrive, they’re continuing to monitor water quality in Lake Champlain and research ways to protect it in anticipation for winter and summer floods like those in the past two years. Matthew Vaughan, chief scientist at the Lake Champlain Basin Program, said it’s a long-term picture. Vaughan is in the process of finalizing the organization’s assessment of the 2024 flooding, which he said should be available around December. Overall, the July 2024 flooding was more destructive downstream while the December 2023 flooding resulted in higher flow because it involved snow and rain, Vaughan said. 

Vermont Business Magazine This weekly report is a list of planned construction activities that will affect traffic on state highways and interstates throughout Vermont for the week of November 4, 2024. Please remember to drive safely in all work zones. Lives depend on it.  

by Jason Williams, University of Vermont Health Network We all have a deeply personal health care story, an experience that overwhelmed us with gratitude for the caregiver who was there in that life-altering moment. Some we are relieved to recount, and others ended in the agony of loss. Like you, I have both kinds of stories. Health care is about life and our quality of life. As you read this, I ask you to think about the health care you want for yourself and your loved ones in their time of need. And I encourage us to keep working together to get to that place despite recent alarming actions by the State’s Green Mountain Care Board, including budget orders that will lead to health care rationing, and recommendations calling for rural community hospital closures and the curtailing of services by our not-for-profit academic health system.

Vermont Business Magazine Vernal Biosciences Inc., a leader in mRNA and lipid nanoparticle (LNP) development, manufacturing, and analytics, today announces the appointment of Jim Petrilla as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Board Director. Petrilla succeeds founding CEO Christian Cobaugh, Ph.D., who will continue with the company as Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) and Board Director, focusing on advancing Vernal’s scientific and technological capabilities to further excellence in innovation. With over 30 years of commercial experience across the biopharma and clinical research sectors, Petrilla brings a strong track record of transformative leadership and operational excellence. He will lead Vernal in its mission of advancing mRNA technology to reshape modern healthcare.

Vermont Business Magazine In anticipation of the 2024 Killington World Cup, the Killington World Cup Foundation (KWCF) will be honoring four worthy recipients with grants which will allow each organization to increase access to winter sports for youth and individuals in the Northeast, creating more lifelong winter sports participants. This year’s grantees reflect KWCF’s dedication to promoting ski racing and supporting athletes at the highest level. 

Vermont Business Magazine Weekly unemployment claims in Vermont increased again by 33 from last week and by 78 from last year to 316, which is about 100 more than at the beginning of October. Ongoing claims were 1,966, up 94 from last week but 50 fewer than last year. Service-related employment as usual accounted for the majority of claims. The seasonally adjusted statewide unemployment rate for September was 2.2 percent. This reflects no change from the prior month’s revised estimate. The comparable United States rate in September was 4.1 percent, a decrease of one-tenth of one percentage point from the revised August estimate. 

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott, the State of Vermont Rapid Response Mobile Home Infill Program (MHIP) interagency team, and the Vermont State Housing Authority (VSHA) are announcing the launch of MHIP registration on Friday, November 1, 2024, to help Vermonters purchase affordable homes while simultaneously freeing up where those buyers live now for other Vermonters. For the first two weeks, only flood-impacted Vermonters may register for MHIP. Starting November 15, MHIP is available to everyone. MHIP is only available to current Vermont residents.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont’s open enrollment period opens November 1. During Open Enrollment, Vermonters can sign up for or change their health and dental plans for 2025. Coverage starts January 1, 2025, for those who sign up on or before December 15. Open Enrollment ends January 15, 2025. This year, many Vermonters will be eligible for better coverage plans at lower premium costs due to increased federal subsidies. The Department of Vermont Health Access (DVHA) encourages everyone to check available plan options on the Vermont Health Connect Plan Comparison Tool to ensure the best possible coverage.