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Sanders hires David Reynolds for key role on HELP Committee staff

Tue, 03/14/2023 - 1:24pm -- tim

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) on Tuesday announced David Reynolds, his former health policy advisor and a longtime health care leader in Vermont, has rejoined the office as Sanders takes up the gavel as chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee. Reynolds will be focusing on policy to strengthen access to primary health care and address workforce shortages across the country. Reynolds founded and led Northern Counties Health Care (NCHC) in 1976, Vermont’s first Federally Qualified Health Center. Today, NCHC provides quality care to more than one-third of Vermonters in its region, including dental care, primary care, home health care, and hospice services.

Scott announces first approved Community Recovery and Revitalization Program project applications

Tue, 03/14/2023 - 12:45pm -- tim

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.

GMP alerts customers that winter storm warning expands in Vermont

Tue, 03/14/2023 - 11:10am -- tim

Vermont Business Magazine Green Mountain Power (GMP) is alerting customers that forecasters have now expanded the Winter Storm Warning to a larger section of Vermont, including Addison, Lamoille, Essex, and Caledonia Counties with Advisories expanded to Eastern Franklin and Eastern Chittenden Counties, as a long-duration storm event dumps heavy, wet snow across the state and entire Northeast region. Crews have restored power to more than 21,000 customers since the storm began last night, as the water-laden snow from this region-wide Nor’easter takes down trees and lines. Travel is expected to be difficult throughout the day, and more outages are expected as the wet heavy snow is forecasted to keep falling into Wednesday. Windham and Windsor Counties have been especially hard hit.

Lifestyle medicine a focus at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont

Tue, 03/14/2023 - 10:39am -- tim

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.

Weinberger calls for long-term public investment in child care 

Tue, 03/14/2023 - 10:39am -- tim

Vermont Business Magazine The City of Burlington calls on Vermont lawmakers to prioritize long-term public investment in Vermont’s child care system in 2023 to better support children, families, businesses, and early childhood educators statewide. The City Council passed a resolution Monday night that the Mayor will sign, which urges action from the Legislature to advance legislation that would make child care more accessible and affordable.    

VSP: Inmate dies at Springfield prison

Tue, 03/14/2023 - 10:38am -- tim

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.

No injuries in Richmond school bus crash

Tue, 03/14/2023 - 10:15am -- tim

Vermont State Police On 03/14/23 at 0744, Troopers from the Vermont State Police – Williston Barracks responded to a two-motor vehicle crash located between Cochran Road & Cochran Way in the Town of Richmond. Upon arrival, Troopers located the first vehicle at a position of uncontrolled rest facing east on Cochran Road and the second vehicle at a position of controlled rest on Cochran Road facing west. Further investigation revealed that Operator 1, Macauley Bernier was traveling east on Cochran Road and lost traction while on the slight curve and sideswiped Operator 2, Cris Cote who was driving the school bus traveling west on Cochran Road. As a result, all drivers and students aboard the bus sustained no injuries and none of the drivers provided any signs of impairment.

Terrace Assisted Living portfolio gets $46 million HUD loan

Tue, 03/14/2023 - 9:42am -- tim

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.

Rutland area medical community extends scholarship application deadline

Tue, 03/14/2023 - 9:32am -- tim

Vermont Business Magazine The Rutland Area Medical Community Scholarship committee will extend the 2023 application deadline from March 15 to April 1, 2023. The 2023 Rutland Area Medical Community Scholarship application is currently available for qualified candidates who are interested in pursuing or furthering their career in healthcare. Eligible candidates include high school seniors, local college students or Rutland area medical community employees. The Rutland area medical community established the scholarship program in 2016. Since that time, twenty-eight scholarships have been awarded to local recipients. 

You can make a difference: Volunteer for hospice

Tue, 03/14/2023 - 5:37am -- tim

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.

Vermonters with developmental disabilities join the push for permanent supportive housing

Tue, 03/14/2023 - 5:30am -- tim

Vermont Developmental Disabilities Council The need for more Service Supported Housing for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) is the centerpiece of a new study that will be released by the Vermont Developmental Disabilities Council at a State House press conference on Wednesday, March 15 at noon in the Cedar Creek Room. Resources exist to build, rehabilitate, subsidize, and enhance housing for financially eligible Vermonters, including those with I/DD, but disability service providers and housing developers have not traditionally worked together in Vermont, according to the report. During the 2022 legislative session, parent of adults with I/DD came forward to advocate that more housing options be created for their sons and daughters. The result was Act 186, which commissioned the Council to prepare the report and set aside $500,000 for pilot planning grants for new housing models. The grants will be awarded later this spring.

Grace Cottage Hospital recognized as ‘Age-Friendly’ 

Tue, 03/14/2023 - 4:44am -- tim

Vermont Business Magazine Grace Cottage Hospital has joined a nationwide initiative to improve health care specifically for older adults. The Age-Friendly Health Systems Initiative is helping hospitals and other care settings implement a set of evidence-based interventions specifically designed to improve care for older adults. In its letter congratulating Grace Cottage Hospital for its “Age-Friendly” level 2 recognition, the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) calls Grace Cottage Hospital “a leader in this rapidly growing movement committed to care of older adults.” Grace Cottage is the only Vermont hospital that has achieved this recognition.

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