Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott and Agency of Commerce and Community Development today announced the first round of approved grant applications for projects that spur economic recovery through the Community Recovery and Revitalization Program. The program, being administered by the Department of Economic Development, aims to strengthen communities across the state by reversing the harm caused by the COVID-19 pandemic through assistance with capital investments that will help businesses, nonprofits, and municipalities to recover, retain existing jobs, and grow the economy. Thirty-one projects have been approved by an inter-agency committee, resulting in a proposed award amount of $10,328,196 which is expected to support $153,515,054 in total project costs. The 31 projects are expected to support 354 existing jobs and enable the creation of 205 new jobs, 79 new affordable housing units, and 196 new childcare slots for low- to moderate-income families.

Vermont Business Magazine Keri LeCompte of Hinesburg, Vermont has been named the first Program Director for Lifestyle Medicine at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont, the state’s only local, non-profit health plan. In this new role, Keri will lead the planning, development, evaluation and implementation of effective lifestyle medicine strategies, initiatives, programs, and procedures that address the root cause of the growing problem of chronic disease for our members. Lifestyle medicine is an evidence-based educational approach that can address up to 80% of chronic disease, while empowering and motivating patients to take control of their own health through sustainable behavior change. Implementing these practices have also shown a reduction in provider burnout.

The Vermont State Police is investigating the death of a man who had been jailed at Southern State Correctional Facility in Springfield. Alexander Kelley, 34, of Putney was found unresponsive in his cell by prison staff during a routine check at 1:08 a.m. Tuesday, March 14, 2023. Prison staff provided emergency medical care and called first responders to the prison. Lifesaving efforts were unsuccessful, and Kelley was pronounced dead at 1:42 a.m. Following standard procedure, the Department of Corrections notified the Vermont State Police of Kelley’s death, and a detective responded to Southern State to perform a death investigation. An autopsy will be performed at the Vermont Chief Medical Examiner’s Office in Burlington to determine the cause and manner of death. Preliminary information obtained by VSP indicates Kelley’s health was being monitored by prison staff, and he was alone in a cell.

Vermont Business Magazine Walker & Dunlop, Inc announced Monday that it closed a $46 million 232/223(f) refinancing of Terrace Portfolio, a group of four assisted living facilities located in Vermont and New Hampshire, including Woodstock Terrace and Valley Terrace in White River Junction. Walker & Dunlop's Frank Cassidy led the Senior Housing Finance team in refinancing a bridge loan that the Walker & Dunlop team previously arranged in December 2020 to facilitate a partner buyout and re-leverage the portfolio. The bridge loan was structured as eligible debt in anticipation of the HUD takeout.

Vermont Business Magazine At the VNA & Hospice of the Southwest Region (VNAHSR), volunteers play a critical role in enhancing the end-of-life experiences of people facing serious illness and their families. Volunteers represent all life experiences and are drawn to hospice for a variety of reasons, but the defining characteristics that unite them are compassion and the desire to help others. Their many skills are matched to important tasks within our mission. VNAHSR provides training for those interested in becoming hospice volunteers. Training will be held on Friday, April 14 from 8am – 4pm in the Casella Conference Room at the Rutland office, located at 7 Albert Cree Drive.