Current News

Vermont Business MagazineThe Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department is holding a series of free workshops on using the recently updated online mapping tool, BioFinder. The workshops are aimed at town planners and conservation commissioners, but all members of the public are encouraged to attend. BioFinder is a mapping resource used to find the places in Vermont most important for maintaining biodiversity, even as the climate changes. It includes maps of Vermont's connected forests and waterways, locations of important ecological resources, and other information used for conservation and land use planning.

Vermont Business Magazine On February 22, the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Board preliminarily approved a total of 80 bulls-only permits for the October 2017 moose hunting seasons. Based on the Fish & Wildlife Department's recommendation, 63 bulls-only permits will be issued for the regular hunting season and 17 bulls-only permits for the archery hunting season.

Limited, regulated moose hunting through a permit system is proposed in 12 of the state's 21 Wildlife Management Units (WMUs). After receiving public comment through emails, letters and public hearings, the Board will set the number of permits for Vermont's 2017 moose hunting seasons on April 5, 2017.

Vermont Business Magazine Boyden Valley Winery, nestled in the bucolic town of Cambridge is celebrating 20 years in business. As fourth generation Vermonters, the Boyden family has been a pioneer of innovative wine-making techniques and one-of-a-kind wine and spirits since planting their first grapes in 1996. David Boyden and his wife Linda were some of the first entrepreneurs to grow their own winter-hardy grapes in Vermont. From these grapes, they launched two ice wines and an ice cider, including the first red ice wine in the nation.

Vermont Business MagazineVermont Attorney General Donovan released a joint statement with a coalition of attorneys general opposing President Trump’s executive order that undermines the Clean Water Act. The President described the executive order as paving the way to the elimination of the Clean Water Rule (also known as the Waters of the United States Rule).

Vermont Business Magazine Andrew Savage, the Chief Strategy Officer for AllEarth Renewables in Williston, is leaving Vermont for the West Coast to help develop a bike share company in Oakland. Savage is a former communications director for Congressman Peter Welch and a VBM Rising Star. In a general email sent Thursday to colleagues and media, Savage said: "As some of you know, I am moving with my family to Oakland next month and my last day with AllEarth will be March 2.

"It's been a great 6 year journey helping AllEarth become a national company while also supporting our much-needed renewable transformation in Vermont and across the country.

Vermont Business Magazine The House Judiciary Committee is focusing this year on proposals that increase Vermonters access to justice and address inequalities in the state’s criminal justice system. On Thursday, the House passed H171, a bill that expands Vermonters access to expungement on a vote of 88 to 51, after three amendments failed. This bill reduces waiting periods and modifies the requirements that must be met before an individual may petition the court for expungement.

“This bill protects the rights of crime victims and maintains public safety while providing an important reduction in the negative impacts on individuals in the criminal justice system. This improves Vermont’s economy and continues to develop and maintain a strong workforce, ensuring that we are on the right path for a strong and healthy future for Vermont” said Representative Maxine Grad.

Vermont Business Magazine The 2017 maple season is underway and off to a promising start in Vermont. Vermont is the nation’s leading producer of maple syrup and is once again hoping for a robust spring for its sugar makers. Both Vermont and the United States set records in 2016 for their annual production of maple syrup. Last year, Vermont produced almost 2 million gallons of maple syrup, the most it ever yielded, and 47 percent (almost half) of all syrup produced in the United States.

Vermont Business Magazine Weekly unemployment claims were up by over 200 claims, or 37 percent, last week, but are still lower than the same time last year. By industry, Services reported the most claims. Services typically report the most claims, though Construction had led the way for most of the winter. The spikes in the graph below reveal the volatility in hiring and firing in Service positions around the holidays.

For the week of February 25, 2017, there were 783 claims, up 212 from the previous week's total and 174 fewer than than they were a year ago. Year-to-year claims have been lower the last several weeks.

Altogether 6,011 new and continuing claims were filed, an increase of 173 from a week ago, and 924 fewer than a year ago.

The Department processed 0 First Tier claims for benefits under Emergency Unemployment Compensation, 2008 (EUC08).

Vermont Business Magazine SymQuest Group, Inc, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Konica Minolta Business Solutions USA, Inc, and regionally based IT services and office technology provider, has announced the appointment of Meg Fleming as President of SymQuest effective April 1, 2017. Fleming will succeed Co-Founder, and acting President and CEO, Larry Sudbay, after 21 years of service with SymQuest.

by Seth N Blanchard Age 70-1/2 represents an important milestone for your retirement savings. Once you reach this age, you will need to begin withdrawing money from your retirement accounts. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) requires you to take these mandatory annual withdrawals, which are formally known as Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs).

RMDs apply to assets held in individual retirement accounts (IRAs), SEP IRAs, SIMPLE IRAs and workplace retirement plans like 401(k), 403(b) and 457(b) plans. The RMD rules do not apply to Roth IRA owners, but may apply to owners who inherited someone else’s retirement savings.

The rules governing RMDs are complex, and the steps required to take distributions may appear overwhelming. Here are some answers to common questions that may clear up the process:

Q: When am I required to take annual minimum distributions from these accounts?

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Senators Patrick Leahy Bernie Sanders and Congressman Peter Welch issued the following statements Thursday after it was reported that Attorney General Jeff Sessions misled the Senate Judiciary Committee about previous contacts withRussia’s ambassador to the United States. Sanders and Welch called for his immediate resignation while Leahy wants a special counsel appointed to investigate.

Senator Patrick Leahy: “My message to the Attorney General is this: No more excuses, recuse yourself and appoint a Special Counsel immediately, and come clean about any contacts you had with the Russians.

Vermont Business Magazine VSECU CEO Rob Miller was recently appointed to the First District’s Community Depository Institutions Advisory Council (CDIAC). The council, which includes members from all New England states, meets twice annually to advise the Bank on the economy, lending conditions, and other issues. Miller plans to amass data and policy advice from other Vermont financial institutions to share with the council.