Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Teucrium Trading, LLC, the Sponsor of agricultural futures-based ETFs, has announced that the Teucrium AiLA Long-Short Agriculture Strategy ETF began trading on the New York Stock Exchange December 20 under the ticker OAIA. The Fund seeks to track the AiLA-S033 index, a strategy holding both long and short positions in agricultural futures contracts listed on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) and the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE). OAIA allows investors to access a sophisticated, long-short strategy through a passively managed, liquid, and tax-efficient fund.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced he’s appointed 52 individuals to State boards and commissions in November and the first half of December. Boards and commissions serve an important role in state government, giving Vermonters numerous opportunities to serve their state and communities. The governor’s office is currently soliciting applications to fill vacancies and upcoming term expirations. All those interested in serving on a board or commission should visit the Governor’s website at https://governor.vermont.gov/boards_and_commission to apply.

Vermont Department of Economic Development As we approach a new year and a new legislative session, workforce and housing remain our top priorities. That is why I joined Department of Housing and Community Development Commissioner Josh Hanford at the annual Wellspring Forum for business leaders, hosted by the Vermont Chamber of Commerce. We discussed initiatives to grow the economy and attract more workers to Vermont and also touched on the recently announced paid family leave plan, for which we are collecting feedback from employers. Please take a moment to complete a brief survey at the link below to help us gauge interest in this program.

by Bill Schubart The Vermont Council on World Affairs (VCWA) is celebrating its 70th Anniversary this month and there is much to celebrate. In the last week of October, as members, we hosted two visitors, Radouane Bousnane from Algiers, Algeria, and Maryem Guaali from Casablanca, Morocco. They came to Burlington to be part of VCWA’s international exploration A Just Transition to a Green Economy.

Vermont Agency of Agriculture Food & Markets As we head into the holiday season and a New Year is on the horizon, The Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets has a number of funding opportunities to support food, farm, and forestry businesses in 2023. We encourage you to keep up to date on deadlines with the Funding Opportunity Calendar. The Community Supported Agriculture Grant, Dairy Processor Innovation Grant, Trade Show Assistance Grants,, and the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program are just some of the great opportunities open in the new year.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The state’s tax revenues continue to exceed expectations, led by the personal income tax (the most important source) and the corporate tax (which tends to fluctuate. And while the Transportation Fund continues to lag the other funds, especially in fuel receipts, motor vehicle sales were up and the fund overall had a positive month. Secretary of Administration Kristin Clouser has released Vermont’s revenue results for November 2022. For the second month in a row, all three major funds – the General Fund, the Transportation Fund and the Education Fund – ended the month with revenue above target. Year to date, the General Fund and the Education Fund remain ahead of target while the Transportation Fund is slightly behind.

Vermont Business Magazine Children experiencing an acute mental health crisis will have faster access to initial treatment thanks to a pilot project pairing emergency room doctors at Rutland Regional Medical Center with psychiatric specialists at the Brattleboro Retreat. Called the Vermont Emergency Telepsychiatry Network, the project is funded and managed by The Vermont Program for Quality in Health Care and is expected to be fully operational early next year. The Vermont Program for Quality in Health Care, Inc (VPQHC) received a $901,123 Congressionally Directed Spending grant from Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to support the coordination of a state-wide Vermont Emergency Telepsychiatry Network (VETN).

Senator Patrick Leahy Mr President, there are some things we experience in life that we can never prepare for...no matter how hard we try. Embarking on a life with the person you love is one. Having, raising and loving a child is another. And then there’s this one. I have been here 48 years. Perhaps to the dismay of hundreds of presiding officers, I have delivered many floor statements...some more eloquent than others. But I have never delivered a speech like this. And I so appreciate all of you indulging me.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor on the retirement of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT). Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks: It’s never easy to bid farewell to a retiring colleague. But boy, this one’s hard. It’s even harder to bid farewell to a friend—and everyone is Pat’s friend. Today, we say thank you not just to a colleague—and it’s not just to a dear friend—but to an institution all his own.

Governor Phil Scott will join Jewish community leaders today for the annual State House Menorah lighting ceremony on the third night of Chanukah. Following the ceremony, there will be additional activities and light refreshments inside the State House. The public event will be held Tuesday, December 20, 2022, at 5 pm.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Corrections (DOC) announced today that it will immediately move to digitize its grievance system and create an independent investigative unit following recommendations from a new report by the State Auditor’s Office. Vermont will be among the first states to deploy a digital, tablet-based grievance system statewide. The new software will move the current paper-based system—which involves collecting carbon copy forms and mailing them to a central office—directly onto the tablets all incarcerated individuals in Vermont already use for education, communicating with family, and entertainment. DOC is designing a larger technological modernization later next year but is expediting the plan for the new grievance system for early 2023.