Vermont Business Magazine

GMP, GW Plastics, Instrumart finalists for Deane Davis Award presented Wednesday morning

Tue May 21 2013

Green Mountain Power, GW Plastics and Instrumart are vying for Vermont's most prestigious business award. One of these finalists will be named the Deane C Davis Outstanding Vermont Business of the Year on Wednesday, May 22.

Vermont spends fifth highest in US for public education, New York most and Utah least

Tue May 21 2013

Vermont had the fifth highest per pupil public school spending in the country in 2011, but, typical of high-spending states, the third lowest funding coming from the federal government, according to the US Census. School spending went up 4.3 percent in Vermont from 2010. Meanwhile, fiscal year 2011 marked the first decrease in per student public education spending nationally since the US Census Bureau began collecting data on an annual basis in 1977, according to new statistics released today.

Vermonters receive $14.7 million in foreclosure relief to date under national settlement

Tue May 21 2013

Vermont Attorney General William H Sorrell announced today that Vermont homeowners have received $14.7 million in foreclosure relief benefits during the first year of the 2012 state-federal settlement with the nation’s five largest mortgage servicers, Bank of America, JP Morgan Chase, Citigroup, Wells Fargo, and Residential Capital (GMAC/Ally). The settlement addressed foreclosure abuses and unacceptable nationwide mortgage servicing practices.

Pipeline company claims Act 250 ruling unfair

Tue May 21 2013

by Andrew Stein, vtdigger.org - The Portland Pipe Line Corporation says an Act 250 land-use coordinator didn’t give the company a fair shake when issuing a jurisdictional opinion saying the board has oversight of a prospective project. The company’s attorney also says the decision was based on “misleading” and “incorrect” information.

Public Service Board officer recommends backup generator permit for Vermont Yankee

Tue May 21 2013

by Andrew Stein, vtdigger.org - Almost two weeks before Entergy Corporation and the state of Vermont are set to meet in federal court, a Public Service Board officer recommended giving the owner of the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant what it wants: a permit for a backup generator.

Vermont nets $6.3 million in homeland security grants

Tue May 21 2013

Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) on Tuesday announced that Vermont will receive $6.3 million in federal grants from the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), up from $5.7 million last year. The grants – under a formula championed by Leahy that protects smaller states like Vermont - will help Vermont develop prevention and preparedness programs to respond to and recover from acts of terrorism and other catastrophic events.

Legislative Wrap-up: Economic development

Tue May 21 2013

by Nat Rudarakanchana May 20, 2013 www.vtdigger.org Lawmakers helped state businesses this session by mitigating some impacts of Tropical Storm Irene and by tweaking laws regarding the state’s unemployment insurance trust fund, which pays benefits to the unemployed.

LCBP releases Vermont/Quebec flood resilience report

Tue May 21 2013

The Lake Champlain Basin Program has released the report Flood Resilience in the Lake Champlain Basin and Upper Richelieu River. The report presents results of an LCBP flood conference held in 2012 at the request of Vermont Governor Shumlin and Québec’s (former) Premier Charest, following the spring 2011 flooding of Lake Champlain and the Richelieu River Valley.

‘Death with Dignity’ signed into law in Vermont

Tue May 21 2013

by Alicia Freese May 20, 2013 vtdigger.org A decade of lengthy and divisive debate ended Monday when Vermont became the first state in the US to enact legislation allowing terminally ill patients to obtain medication to help them end their lives. In a room jam-packed with lawmakers and supporters of the so-called physician-assisted death bill, Gov. Peter Shumlin signed into law S77, which takes effect immediately.

Vermont State Parks open this weekend

Tue May 21 2013

Vermont State Parks announces the annual opening of its summer operating season this weekend. The Memorial Day holiday, the unofficial beginning of summer, also marks the beginning of the prime season for all 52 state parks. Officials are optimistic that this year’s park visitation will at least match last year's 20 year record.

Janet Gorman McCarthy, former President of Lyndon State College, dies at home in Massachusetts

Tue May 21 2013

Janet Gorman McCarthy, the ninth president of Lyndon State College, passed away on May 15 at her home in South Dennis, Mass., with her family by her side. She was 76 years old. McCarthy - - who the Lyndon community will recognize as Murphy - - was president from 1977 to 1983.

Debt adjustor sanctioned for violating licensing and consumer laws

Mon May 20 2013

American Debt Counseling, Inc, a Florida company that provides debt reduction programs and credit counseling to consumers, will refund almost $4,000 in fees to Vermont consumers and pay the State of Vermont $10,000 to settle claims that the company violated Vermont consumer protection laws.

Merchants Bank donates historic Bennington building

Mon May 20 2013

Representatives of the Merchants Bank, The Fund for North Bennington and the Preservation Trust of Vermont announced today that the Bank has donated its 1864 building in the center of North Bennington Village to the two nonprofit organizations.

Wynton Marsalis brings a father's perspective to UVM graduation

Mon May 20 2013

Heralding the passage of a college graduation, it’s a happy circumstance to have one of the world’s foremost trumpeters in the house.

Same Same: Unemployment rate down, employment too

Mon May 20 2013

by the Public Assets Institute, Montpelier May 17, 2013 Vermont’s employment picture was essentially unchanged from March to April. The unemployment rate, labor force, and non-farm jobs all ticked down, but only slightly. Comparing this April to the same month in previous years, the recent trend shows a steady decline in the number of Vermonters who report having jobs, even while the unemployment rate was dropping.

Cigna leads Vermont health insurers in denied claims

Mon May 20 2013

by Andrew Stein May 19, 2013 vtdigger.org When Cigna disclosed its claims denials and executive compensation to the state, the publicly traded health insurance company revealed the highest rejection rate in Vermont. Its 2012 filing also contained some key inconsistencies.

GMP, NRG Residential Solar announce partnership, Rutland pilot program

Mon May 20 2013

Green Mountain Power and NRG Residential Solar Solutions, part of NRG Energy (NYSE: NRG) based in New Jersey, have signed a groundbreaking agreement to pilot a central solar lease program in Rutland, Vermont. The agreement includes the development of two 150-kilowatt solar projects by NRG in the city, adding to GMP’s Solar Capital initiative, and a new NRG office downtown.

Blue Cross opening new information and wellness center in Vermont

Mon May 20 2013

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont (BCBSVT) was joined by Governor Peter Shumlin Monday to announce the opening of the BCBSVT Information and Wellness Center in the Blue Mall in South Burlington. The BCBSVT Information and Wellness Center is an important part of the company’s comprehensive outreach effort to support and assist Vermonters in their transition into Vermont’s new health benefits exchange – Vermont Health Connect, later this year.

Speaker Smith highlights Vermont legislative successes in the first half of 2013-2014 biennium

Mon May 20 2013

Vermont Speaker of the House Shap Smith made the following statement at the end of the 2013 legislative session. “This week, the legislature completed a successful first half of the biennium. We have recognized that in times of great uncertainty it is our responsibility to make investments in the state that will make it stronger. These have included investments in our communities, in our infrastructure, and in our people.

Some bills will just have to wait for next year

Mon May 20 2013

by Nat Rudarakanchana May 19, 2013 vtdigger.org An attempt to regulate police Taser use and training more closely stalled, despite calls from advocates and relatives of victims of Taser use. The House Government Operations Committee decided it needed more time to address the concerns of police, who feared regulators would micromanage the use of an effective weapon.

Featured Stories

Fuse and Blue Cross named Best Places to Work in Vermont, 21 companies honored
Fuse LLC, the nationally recognized marketing agency based in Burlington, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont, based in Montpelier, are the “Best Places to Work in Vermont,” as announced at a presentation Thursday night. Vermont Business Magazine and the Vermont Chamber of Commerce revealed the rankings of the Best Places to Work in Vermont at a special awards ceremony at the ECHO Lake Aquarium on the Waterfront in Burlington.
Shelburne Museum’s Spring Fest begins May 12
Celebrate spring and new exhibitions at Shelburne Museum’s Spring Fest, Sunday, May 12 – Mother’s Day. The opening day festival features indoor and outdoor activities for visitors of all ages.
Personal income tax drives Vermont 'remarkable' revenue gains
Secretary of Administration Jeb Spaulding released the April 2013 General Fund (GF) Revenue results today. General Fund revenues totaled $216.66 million for April 2013, and were +$26.95 million or +14.21% above the $189.71 million consensus revenue forecast for the month. Year to date, General Fund revenues were $1,103.74 million, and +$26.73 million or +2.48% ahead of the cumulative target of $1,077.01 million. April is the tenth month of fiscal year (FY) 2013.
Vermont unemployment rate drops to 4.0 percent in April
The Vermont Department of Labor announced today that the seasonally-adjusted statewide unemployment rate for April 2013 was 4.0 percent. This represents a decline of one-tenth of a percent from the prior month’s estimate of 4.1 percent. The comparative national average was 7.5 percent which was down one-tenth of a percent from March. April 2013 represents the ninth consecutive month without an increase to the unemployment rate in Vermont. As of the prior month’s data, Vermont’s unemployment rate was the third lowest in the country.
VNRC, Bennington residents reach settlement with Wal-Mart developer
The Vermont Natural Resources Council (VNRC) together with Citizens for a Greater Bennington (CFGB), and individual Bennington residents have reached a settlement in several cases related to the proposed expansion of a Wal-Mart store in Bennington.