Current News

Vermont Business Magazine ACLU affiliates in New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont have settled a federal lawsuit challenging unconstitutional Border Patrol checkpoints in northern New England. The ACLU filed suit in August 2020, following a series of unlawful searches and seizures at a Border Patrol checkpoint in Woodstock, NH—a small town (population 1,374) in the White Mountains approximately 90 miles from the Canadian border. Border Patrol has not operated the Woodstock checkpoint—or any other temporary interior checkpoints in northern New England—since 2019. In exchange for the withdrawal of this lawsuit, Border Patrol has agreed to refrain from operating the Woodstock checkpoint until January 1, 2025.  

Vermont Business Magazine The University of Vermont Board of Trustees approved the naming of the Patrick Leahy Honors College at its May meeting Friday, aligning student and faculty excellence across a wide range of academic programs with the ongoing legacy of the retired senator’s 48 years of service to the nation and support for his home state of Vermont. Senator Leahy and his wife, Marcelle, attended Friday’s meeting to witness the Board’s approval vote for the naming. The senator was appointed in March by President Garimella to the position of President’s Distinguished Fellow, a role in which he advises UVM students, faculty members and staff, appears as a guest lecturer in classes and at public events, and acts as a conduit between the university and organizations and communities in all corners of the state.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Big gains in jobs and significantly fewer unemployed led to a decrease in the state's unemployment rate for April of three-tenths to 2.4 percent. The Vermont Department of Labor released the data today, according to household data. The comparable United States rate in April was 3.4 percent, a decrease of one-tenth of one percentage point from the revised March estimate. Vermont is tied for 8th lowest in the nation and New Hampshire is tied for 3rd (2.1%), as efforts by the Federal Reserve Bank to slow the economy with interest rate hikes have reduced inflation (4.9% in April) but not put a dent in employment. The seasonally adjusted Vermont data for April show the Vermont civilian labor force increased by 194 from the prior month’s revised estimate (see Table 1). The number of employed persons increased by 1,100 and the number of unemployed persons decreased by 906. Weekly unemployment claims also improved. The Vermont civilian labor force participation rate was 63.7 percent in April, unchanged from last month.

Vermont Business Magazine On Monday, May 8th, Governor Phil Scott signed legislation into law making several updates to Vermont’s statutes. Bill H.76 proposed several updates to Vermont’s captive insurance law, such as improving the confidentiality of company information and increasing funding for the Vermont Captive Insurance Division’s operations. Multiple updates were made with industry input to clarify regulatory expectations and best practices. The legislation aligns the statute with the information collected when a new company applies for a license, updates the language for how the confidentiality of the information collected is handled, extending such treatment to subsequent updates, approved amendments or revisions to a company’s information, and its plan of operation.

Vermont Business Magazine The University of Vermont will hold its 222nd commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 21 for the class of 2023—the first class to complete four years of study at UVM paying the same for tuition as they did when they started, thanks to an ongoing commitment to keep UVM affordable and accessible for students and families from Vermont and across the nation. UVM President Suresh Garimella will confer degrees on an estimated 3,383 graduates, including 2,645 bachelors, 493 masters, 133 doctoral and 112 medical degree recipients. Among expected degree recipients are students from 44 states and 102 international students from 30 countries. Approximately 1,025 graduates are from Vermont. The graduating class includes an expected 440 students of color.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont) and Susan Collins (R-ME) today introduced the Supporting All Producers (SAP) Act, legislation to require the United States Department Agriculture (USDA) to consult with maple producers when determining education and research priorities for the Acer Access and Development Program (Acer). Acer is a competitive grant program, supporting research and education related to maple syrup production and sustainability in the maple syrup industry. The bill was introduced in the House of Representatives by Representatives Becca Balint (D-Vermont) and Nick Langworthy (R-NY). 

by Jack Hoffman, Public Assets Institute Expansion of Vermont’s childcare subsidy program with an infusion of $120 million in new revenue will be a signal achievement of the 2023 legislative session if it survives a gubernatorial veto. There is more to be done, but this will be transformative for Vermont. Not just for families currently using paid childcare and any family thinking about having a kid or another kid, going back to work, or moving to Vermont, but for the well-being of all our kids. That means a better state for all of us. Unfortunately, in the rush to adjournment, public debate about how to fund childcare expansion got short shrift.

Vermont Business Magazine The national average price of gasoline this Memorial Day weekend is projected to be $1.10 less than it was in 2022, at $3.53 per gallon on average. Though, lower gas prices alone may not be enough for many Americans to hit the road this summer. According to GasBuddy’s 2023 Summer Travel Survey, released today, 64% of Americans are planning to take a summer road trip this year, up from 58% last year. However, 60% of that group has yet to confirm their plans by booking accommodations, activities or other travel plans. Meanwhile, Vermont gasoline prices have fallen below the national average, after rising during the winter.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott and the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced the availability of $3.6 million in grants to municipalities to upgrade their wastewater pretreatment facilities and capacity management. These improvements protect the health and safety of workers at these wastewater treatment facilities while also improving clean water and environmental outcomes and ensuring capacity for future growth.

Vermont Business Magazine The increasing frequency and damage from cybersecurity attacks against public institutions are driving demand for improved protection and more effective security operations. In response to this challenge, NuHarbor Security, the industry’s most trusted managed security provider, has scaled rapidly to support the evolving and critical needs of this market. NuHarbor has expanded their team by over 150% since 2021 and today announces the arrival of seasoned business executive Mark Fleeman as Vice President of Commercial. Mark will lead the company’s continued expansion into new accounts and new markets.

Vermont Business Magazine State and regional planners are hosting two meetings in May 2023 about the state’s Draft Tactical Basin Plan for the Ottauquechee and Black Rivers and adjacent Connecticut River Tributaries (Basin 10). This Plan has been developed to protect and restore rivers, lakes, and wetlands in southeastern Vermont from Killington to Springfield. “Tactical basin plans are the guidebooks for achieving healthy watersheds – from identifying surface waters that need restoration and protection to outlining action items to achieve water quality goals."

Vermont Business Magazine State and regional planners are hosting two meetings in May 2023 about the state’s Draft Tactical Basin Plan for the Lake Memphremagog, Tomifobia, and Coaticook Basin that runs from Craftsbury to Newport and Averill (Basin 17). This Plan has been developed to protect and restore rivers, lakes, and wetlands in northeast Vermont including the Black River, Barton River Clyde River, Tomifobia River, Coaticook River, and several smaller streams that flow directly into Lake Memphremagog. “This Tactical Basin Plan identifies water quality concerns across the Lake Memphremagog watershed and strategies to restore the lakes and rivers that are so important to this region of the state."