Current News

Vermont Business Magazine - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) provided capital support to 17 Vermont businesses transitioning to renewable or energy efficient technologies to cut costs and reduce energy consumption this year. Vermont farms and small businesses used more than $3 million in grants and loan guarantees through USDA Rural Development’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP).

“Energy costs remain one of the largest expenses for a rural small business,” said USDA Rural Development State Director Ted Brady. “By providing these businesses with capital, the USDA aims to incentivize small businesses and farms to invest in new technology that not only increases their profitability, but also reduces greenhouse gases, fossil fuel consumption, and increases our nation’s energy independence.” 

Vermont Business Magazine - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the state of Vermont jointly announced today the Vermont All-Payer Accountable Care Organization (ACO) Model, a new initiative aimed at accelerating delivery system reform for Vermont residents. The Vermont All-Payer ACO Model aims to transform health care for the entire state and its population.

Vermont Business Magazine On Wednesday, the Green Mountain Care Board (GMCB) voted to approve the experimental all-payer waiver agreement. Gov. Shumlin will sign the All-Payer Model (APM) into law on Thursday, once again overhauling the state’s healthcare system. Expressing a lack of confidence in the Shumlin Administration, House Republican Leader Don Turner asked GMCB Chair Al Gobeille to provide a letter before the vote, assuring that the APM complies with all the benchmarks (including the requirements for any Medicare waiver agreement made between Vermont and the federal government), as specified under Act 113 of Vermont law.

Vermont Business Magazine - Gov. Peter Shumlin today announced the appointment of Otto Trautz to replace Washington County Assistant Judge Otto Kinzel.

“Otto’s longstanding experience with state government, his budget expertise, and his thoughtful temperament make him a strong addition to Vermont’s assistant judges,” Gov. Shumlin said.

Vermont Business Magazine - Whether organizational change results from reorganization, acquisition, merger, downsizing or new strategic direction, there are unique components to a change situation that demand special communication considerations for internal and external publics.

Vermont Business Magazine - Gov. Peter Shumlin issued the following statement after the Green Mountain Care Board approved a plan that will allow Vermont to transform its health care system so it rewards quality of care rather than quantity of care. The so-called All Payer Model will align incentives across all payers in the health care system – Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance – so that doctors and others are paid for focusing on keeping people healthy rather than running tests or procedures. Vermont is the first state to pursue this transformation across all payers, statewide.

Gov. Shumlin and others plan to officially sign the agreement at a ceremony on Thursday at 2 p.m. in the Governor’s Ceremonial Office.

Vermont Business Magazine This past summer Castleton University was awarded $85,000 for year one of a three year, $275,000 grant from the Davis Educational Foundation to enhance integrative learning on campus. Labeled the Integrative Learning Project, the endeavor aims to amplify Castleton’s approach to relationship-based learning by creating a signature program that will meld existing curricular and co-curricular elements to create a transformative experience for all students at Castleton.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont congressional delegation today announced that the Vermont Student Assistance Corp will receive $2.4 million over five years in a federal Educational Opportunity Center grant to promote education and workforce development with Vermont adults. In a joint statement, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont), Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) and Representative Peter Welch (D-Vermont) said: “While Vermont is fortunate to have one of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation, many Vermonters continue to struggle to find good-paying jobs. Employers are also seeking highly skilled workers to help their businesses grow. In this economic environment, we must continue to do more to help educate and train underemployed workers for the jobs of tomorrow.

Vermont Business Magazine Today Mayor Miro Weinberger, Parks, Recreation & Waterfront Department (DPRW), the Burlington Parks Foundation, and other City officials celebrated the Parks Foundation reaching its goal of raising $1 million in support of the rehabilitation of the Waterfront Bike Path. The Parks Foundation set the goal in 2014, and today announced at one of the Bike Path’s new pause places that it has raised $1,026,622 in cash and pledges from over 250 residents and businesses, and presented a symbolic check to Mayor Weinberger.

Vermont Business Magazine VSECU announced today its going solar, unveiling a solar array in Guilford that will allow the 60,000-member, nine-branch credit union to offset its Green Mountain Power electricity consumption by purchasing the net metering credits produced by the array. In a unique partnership with East Dummerston-based solar developer Soveren Solar, VSECU will be able to retire the renewable energy credits (RECs) resulting in 100 percent renewable energy. The partnership also allows VSECU to benefit from the Federal Tax Credit for solar investment, that is typically not available for non-profits. This could be a model for non-profits statewide, further incentivizing renewable energy adoption.

Vermont Business Magazine The US Department of Labor recently announced $140 million in grant awards through the end of Program Year 2016 ($337 million annually for an additional 3 years) in job training grants to 19 organizations nationwide, including a $10.2 million annual award to Vermont Associates for Training and Development, Inc, a non-profit headquartered in St. Albans. The grant, funded through the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), provides critical job training and related services to low-income workers age 55+.

Vermont Associates continues to administer the SCSEP in Vermont, with locations in Bennington, Brattleboro, Burlington, Montpelier, Rutland, St. Johnsbury, and St. Albans. In addition, as part of the new grant, Vermont Associates will administer the SCSEP in Maine, and in large parts of New York and Pennsylvania, where they will be doing business as Associates for Training & Development.

by Timothy McQuiston Vermont Business Magazine Merchants Bancshares (NASDAQ: MBVT), the holding company for Vermont's largest, locally based bank, will be acquired next year by Community Bank System, Inc, (NYSE: CBU) based near Syracuse, NY. Merchants Bank, based in South Burlington, is a $1.9 billion financial institution, while Community Bank is $8.7 billion. Once the transaction is completed, Merchants will be re-branded under the Community Bank NA name. The banking companies jointly announced Monday that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Community Bank System will acquire Merchants Bancshares, parent company of Merchants Bank, in a cash and stock transaction for total consideration valued at approximately $304 million.