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Capstone Community Action’s Fuel Your Neighbors Campaign exceeds goal with $325,000

Tue, 03/21/2023 - 9:29am -- tim

Vermont Business Magazine Capstone Community Action’s Fuel Your Neighbors campaign, in partnership with VSECU, raised over $325,000 to support emergency food and heating assistance to struggling Central Vermonters. This winter has once again been a challenge for Vermonters with low income. While warmer than some previous winters, the dramatic price increases in food and fuel costs continue to put many families at great risk. In spite of the extra assistance available through federal pandemic aid, more Central Vermonters are in need of support for food and heat than in previous years. Capstone Community Action (Capstone) was able to provide over 1,230 people with heating assistance, distributing over $302,778 in funds already this winter. In addition, Capstone had over 2,300 visits to the food shelf between October 1, 2022 and March 8, 2023. Without public funding for Capstone’s Food Shelf, the Fuel Your Neighbors campaign is critical to keeping the food shelf stocked to meet the community need.

The 7th annual Vermont Beardies Finals raise $100,000 for Make-A-Wish Vermont

Tue, 03/21/2023 - 9:28am -- tim

Vermont Business Magazine The Seventh Annual Vermont Beardies Finals, which benefits Make-A-Wish Vermont, took place over the weekend at the Burlington Beer Company's taproom. Vermont's favorite fuzzy fundraiser raised $100,000 to grant wishes for Vermont's children with life-threatening medical conditions.

"We are thrilled with the success of this year's Vermont Beardies competition," said James Hathaway, CEO of Make-A-Wish Vermont. "The competition will help Make-A-Wish grant ten wishes to Vermont's children."

BDCC partners with SCORE seeking mentors for local entrepreneurs

Tue, 03/21/2023 - 6:28am -- tim

Vermont Business Magazine Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation (BDCC) is excited to partner with SCORE NH-VT to help leverage its strong national business assistance program to assist Windham entrepreneurs. SCORE works through a program of volunteers who are trained to work 1:1 with entrepreneurs to help focus on business fundamentals. In addition to the benefits of having a mentor, participants will also receive access to hundreds of videos and lessons on topics ranging from social media marketing to cash flow analysis. BDCC is building a cohort of Windham SCORE Mentors to work with Windham businesses. BDCC's technical assistance team will collaborate with Windham SCORE Mentors and Windham Clients on delivering the needed resources and support for the region’s small businesses to thrive.

UVMMC’s Comprehensive Pain Program wins Blue Cross VT Provider Innovation Award

Tue, 03/21/2023 - 5:36am -- tim

Vermont Business Magazine UVM Medical Center’s Comprehensive Pain Program (CPP) has been recognized for its novel approach to pain management by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont, winning the organization’s 2023 Blue Cross Provider Innovation Award for its PATH (Partners Aligned in Transformative Healing) program. Launched in 2019, PATH is an intensive, 16-week program that uses a unique approach to caring for patients experiencing chronic pain. In addition to using a group setting, the program integrates modern medicine with a wide variety of evidenced-based complementary and alternative therapies that address the physiological, mental and emotional, and spiritual aspects of each patient’s well-being. Patients have access to about 12 therapies that range from Acupuncture and Reiki, to hands-on cooking classes, occupational and physical therapy, and Mindfulness interventions.

Spring into action: Give blood with the Red Cross

Tue, 03/21/2023 - 5:24am -- tim

Vermont Business Magazine Spring is near! As the seasons change, the American Red Cross is reminding the public that the need for blood doesn’t take a break. Blood and platelets remain at risk of running low this month. Donors are crucial to helping the Red Cross avoid a blood shortage in the weeks to come. Donors of all blood types, especially type O donors and platelet donors, are encouraged to make and keep appointments to donate. When donors lend an arm this month, the Red Cross will lend a hand. All who come to give blood, platelets or plasma March 1-31, 2023,​​​​ will receive a $10 Visa Prepaid Card by email. Plus, they'll be automatically entered for a chance to win a $3,000 Visa Prepaid Card – which could help toward expenses like gas or groceries. There will be five lucky winners.

Del Trecco: Rural America confronts a health care crisis

Tue, 03/21/2023 - 4:22am -- tim

by Michael Del Trecco, President and CEO, VAHHS According to media reports, more than 40,000 graduating medical students found out where there will spend the next several years in medical residency and training on what is appropriately referred to as “Match Day” this past week. Included in the celebration is of course our highly rated and much-respected Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont. Through the National Fellowship Matching Program (NFMP), students list the programs they are interested in joining and the programs choose students they are interested in having. The aspiring and soon-to-be primary and specialty care physicians who matched on Friday enter practice at arguably the most challenging time in health care—especially rural health care—in modern history.

Scott Administration pushes community revitalization

Mon, 03/20/2023 - 5:31pm -- tim

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Scott and members of the Cabinet participated in several events Monday as part of their work to revitalize communities across the state, including a public safety and human services summit in Bennington, forums in Lamoille County to engage communities on available infrastructure funding, and a trades education and recruitment event in Randolph.

Governor lets budget adjustment bill become law despite reservations

Mon, 03/20/2023 - 5:28pm -- tim

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott allowed the budget adjustment bill to become law without his signature today. It surpassed his recommendation by about $50 million. Scott could have vetoed the bill, which would have been unprecedented. While he agreed with the vast number of provisions to the bill, which adds spending to the current fiscal year, he said he was concerned that it could remove options for needed spending items in next year's budget (FY2024, beginning July 1, 2023). Meanwhile, Scott did sign H46, which allows for the dissolution of Colchester Fire District Number 3.

Over $370,000 in barn preservation grants awarded statewide

Mon, 03/20/2023 - 4:02pm -- tim

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Division for Historic Preservation and Vermont Advisory Council on Historic Preservation have awarded 28 grants, totaling $376,988. The grants were presented to municipalities, non-profit organizations, and owners of historic agricultural buildings in ten Vermont counties. These grants, leveraging roughly $1 million in restoration and rehabilitation efforts, ensure proper stewardship of our agricultural landmarks, increasing the livability and workability of Vermont places. Grants awarded this year will assist projects from Cornwall to Fletcher, and Newbury to Rockingham. Projects include drainage improvements, foundation repairs, structural work, and failing roofs to ensure continued use.

Penguin Plunge raises over $525,000 for Special Olympics Vermont

Mon, 03/20/2023 - 2:59pm -- tim

Vermont Business Magazine The 28th Annual Special Olympics Vermont Penguin Plunge went remote due to anticipated extreme weather conditions on Saturday, February 4th. Nevertheless, hundreds of plungers raised funds and created their own chilly activities in support of programs that enrich the lives of a community of over 5,000 Vermonters. The Penguin Plunge is the largest fundraising event for Special Olympics Vermont (SOVT), and this year over $525,000 was raised by over 1,000 participants between the Burlington, Cool Schools, and Southern Vermont plunges to support SOVT initiatives and programming.

Statement from Colonel Birmingham on criminal charges against former VSP trooper

Mon, 03/20/2023 - 2:11pm -- tim

Vermont Business Magazine Colonel Matthew T Birmingham, director of the Vermont State Police, today issued the following statement regarding criminal charges being brought against a former state trooper: "The charges against former state trooper Giancarlo DiGenova as outlined in court documents represent an extraordinary betrayal of the public’s trust, his oath as a sworn police officer, and his colleagues in law enforcement who serve the state honorably every day. I know all Vermonters are angered and disappointed. So am I. Your outrage is appropriate. But I also want you to know that the system worked as well as it can when someone is determined to commit crimes by abusing their power and trust. The former trooper’s actions were uncovered by his peers, who reported him to supervisors. We launched an intensive, lengthy and comprehensive investigation that led to the filing of serious criminal charges. And we have reviewed our policies and procedures, making changes where necessary and increasing the oversight already in place.

Vermont, US gasoline prices edge down

Mon, 03/20/2023 - 12:34pm -- tim

Vermont Business Magazine Average gasoline prices in Vermont are $3.40 per gallon, down 4 cents per gallon from last week, down 6 cents/g from last month and down 79 cents/g from the same period last year, according to GasBuddy. The lowest price in Vermont today is $2.99/g in Middlebury and the highest price is $3.69 in Killington. The national average price of gasoline has fallen 5 cents per gallon in the last week, to also average $3.40/g today. The national average is up 4 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 83 cents per gallon lower than a year ago. The national average price of diesel has fallen 5.6 cents in the last week and stands at $4.25 per gallon.

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