Vermont Business Magazine The Lakes and Ponds Program of the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) continues to draft a rule that would, if enacted, regulate wake boats on certain public waters. The draft rule is in response to a petition seeking to limit use of wake boats on Vermont lakes out of concern for safety hazards and environmental damage caused by these boats on lakes and ponds below a certain size. DEC’s draft rule would allow wake boats to engage in wake sports on public waters under the following three conditions: On lakes, ponds, and reservoirs with a minimum of 50 contiguous acres that are 500 feet from shore on all sides and 20 feet deep (eligibility rule); Wake boats must be 500 feet from shore at all times while engaging in wake sports (operating rule); A wake boat must stay in one lake per calendar year unless boat is decontaminated by a DEC-approved entity (home lake rule).

Vermont Business Magazine Berkshire Bank, a leading socially responsible community bank with branches in southern Vermont, today announced that it joins 483 other companies across the globe as a member of the 2023 Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index (GEI), a modified market capitalization-weighted index developed to gauge the performance of public companies dedicated to reporting gender-related data. This reference index measures gender equality across five pillars: leadership & talent pipeline, equal pay & gender pay parity, inclusive culture, anti-sexual harassment policies, and external brand.   

Vermont Business Magazine Green Mountain Power (GMP) announced renewed savings opportunities for customers in 2023, to continue to switch away from fossil fuel for driving, heating, and more. These rebates are available to all customers to make the switch and help cut carbon and costs for customers. GMP’s rebate for all-electric vehicles (AEVs) is increasing for 2023, to $2,200 for qualifying new vehicles, up from $1,500 last year. Income eligible customers can still get an extra $1,000 rebate for up to $3,200 in savings. If you purchase or lease from a participating dealership, they can apply the rebate as a discount during the transaction for immediate savings. This bigger AEV rebate is valid through June of 2023, and it can be combined with up to $4,000 in state EV rebates and $7,500 in federal tax incentives for qualifying vehicles, adding up to big savings. GMP’s base rebate for used AEVs is also increasing - to $1,500, up from $750 last year.

Devon Green, VP of Government Relations, Vermont Association of Hospitals & Health Systems Last week continued to be a mix of learning, introductions and policy initiatives. Workforce: VAHHS supports the Budget Adjustment Act’s language that would expand the preceptor pay beyond Critical Access Hospitals and provide flexibility for more wraparound services for pipeline programs. Our only concern is that the funding comes from the retention bonus program, and it is unclear how much will be dedicated to preceptor pay and pipeline programs. In addition to retention, Vermont must invest in future health care providers. Mental health: The House Health Care committee recommended including $9.25 million in the Budget Adjustment Act to fund inpatient psychiatric beds for adolescents.

Samaritan House, aka Tim’s House in St Albans, VT, a shelter serving adults experiencing homelessness in the Franklin and Grand Isle area, received a $960 donation from Northeast Delta Dental.  The money was raised from the company’s Miles with a Mission, a monthly program that pairs personalized participation with philanthropic reward. For each participant who completes a 5K race, run or walk each month, Northeast Delta Dental will donate $10 to a charity chosen and voted on by the employees. In December, 2022, Tim's Place was chosen.