Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont has the second highest percentage of individuals covered by health insurance of any state in the nation and has the second lowest poverty rate. The US Census Bureau has released its most detailed look at America's people, places and economy with new statistics on income, poverty, health insurance and more than 40 other topics from the American Community Survey. Many states saw an increase in income and a decrease in poverty rates between 2014 and 2015. Vermont's houshold income increased 5.1 percent. During that same period, the percentage of people covered by health insurance increased in all of the largest 25 metropolitan areas. The findings are from the US Census Bureau's 2015 American Community Survey, the nation's most comprehensive information source on American households. Today's release provides statistics on more than 40 social, economic and housing topics for US communities with populations of 65,000 or more. 

by Michael Bielawski/Vermont Watchdog Attorney general candidates Republican Deborah Bucknam and Democrat TJ Donovan criticized Vermont’s handling of the opioid addiction crisis during a debate at Johnson State College on Thursday. The debate, moderated by state Sen. Bill Doyle, R-Washington, was attended by college students and largely focused on drug addiction.

“I think the heroin epidemic is the most serious issue facing our state,” Donovan said, speaking from a conference table in the college’s Ellsworth Room.

Vermont Business Magazine The Senate passed an amendment Thursday introduced by Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) that would allow Vermont to apply for up to $10 million for repairs to the Waterbury Dam, which was built in the 1930s. The amendment was included in the Water Resources Development Act of 2016, which now goes to the House of Representatives for consideration.

“The Waterbury Dam is an essential piece of Vermont’s infrastructure,” said Sanders, who serves on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. “Maintaining and repairing the dam has long been a priority for the state. This bi-partisan legislation is a first step in rebuilding aging dams in Vermont and throughout the United States.”

Vermont Business Magazine Heading toward the November 1 open enrollment period for Vermont Health Connect, Governor Peter ShumIin today applauded the dramatic improvements to the system and the expansion of more affordable coverage available to Vermonters. “What we’ve been able to do is take a huge federal investment and accomplish some great things for Vermonters,” Gov. Shumlin said. “We’ve expanded coverage, and now Vermont has one of the lowest uninsured rates in the country. We were also able use federal dollars to upgrade an aging state Medicaid technology system and ease Vermonters’ access to the program.”

“I’m proud that we were able to use federal dollars to solve problems that otherwise would fall on the backs of Vermont taxpayers,” the Governor added.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Sylvia M Burwell announced $548,467 in funding for 10 health centers in Vermont for health information technology enhancements. In total, today’s announcement includes $87 million in funding for 1,310 health centers in every U.S. state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and the Pacific Basin.

“Health centers across the country are instrumental in providing high-quality, comprehensive primary health care to millions of people,” said Secretary Burwell. “This investment will help unlock health care data and put it to work, improving health outcomes and building a better health care system for the American people.”

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Taxes and the home-hotel service Airbnb have worked out a deal in which Airbnb will collect meals and rooms tax on payment for lodging offered by its hosts. Vermont joins other states and the District of Columbia, as well as many other cities and counties, where Airbnb has agreed to collect their occupancy taxes on behalf of the hosts. Beginning October 1, Airbnb will collect and remit taxes to the state. This allows for a more streamlined booking process for the guests using Airbnb, and works to level the playing field with traditional hotels by ensuring hosts on Airbnb are collecting and remitting the taxes owed. Additionally, hosts on Airbnb will not be responsible for any back taxes they have failed to collect.

Vermont Business Magazine The Champlain Housing Trust announced today it had exceeded a benchmark set by Governor Shumlin to house more people who are without a home. In April, 2016 the Governor signed an Executive Order which “calls for owners of housing that receive state funds to make available at least 15 percent of their portfolio of housing units to Vermonters experiencing homelessness.” The Housing Trust identified 16 percent of the residents of its rental portfolio fitting the criteria under the Order.

“While we have made tremendous strides over the last few years resulting in a 28% decline in homelessness in Vermont, there still are over 1,100 Vermonters who are homeless,” said Michael Monte, COO/CFO of the Champlain Housing Trust and a member of the Governor’s Council on Pathways from Poverty. “We have met the target, but we know that there’s more to do.”

Vermont Business Magazine The Orton family, proprietors of The Vermont Country Store, announced today that the company’s Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer Jim Hall has been promoted to president of the 70-year-old business. “Our family has been very impressed with Jim’s skills and successes in his role as COO, and we are thrilled to offer him the opportunity to lead our company,” said Eliot Orton, chairman of the company’s board of directors. “We are confident that he is the right person with the right vision to take the success we’ve achieved in our first 70 years and grow it for future generations.” 

Jim Hall

by Mike Faher/The Commons, Brattleboro The town of Rockingham has notched a major victory in its years-long tax battle with energy giant TransCanada. The Vermont Supreme Court has ruled that TransCanada’s Bellows Falls hydroelectric station should be valued at $127.4 million, just under the $130 million appraisal advocated by the town and set by a lower-court judge. The justices’ ruling stands in stark contrast to TransCanada’s proposed $84 million valuation.

Vermont Business Magazine Northern Power Systems Corp (TSX: NPS), a Barre-based next generation renewable energy technology company, on Wednesday announced financial results and completed its quarterly filing requirements for its second quarter ended June 30, 2016. The company expects trading to resume within four to five business days after this filing. Northern Power was required to re-file its 2015 financial reports because of an error in when some foreign revenues could be accounted for. In so doing, the quarterly reports were delayed and trading was curtailed. The 2015 report was issued in July 2016. Northern Power is best-known for its remote generation systems, in particular its 100 kw wind turbines.

Vermont Business Magazine Phil Scott, candidate for Governor, released a comprehensive economic development plan at a press conference today, reinforcing his commitment to making the economy and affordability his top priorities. Joined at the event by 20 legislators and Vermont business leaders, Scott presented his economic plan, which contains more than fifty (50) specific proposals, initiatives, and ideas to strengthen the economy and make Vermont more affordable.

This comprehensive blueprint for Scott’s economic initiatives represents the most comprehensive plan presented by a candidate for Governor, giving voters a clear view of how Scott’s Administration will lead.

Debbie Winters, who owns Firetech Sprinkler in Colchester and hosted Thursday’s event, offered context for why economic development is the biggest issue for her in this election:

by Tom Pelham Vermont’s energy policies enacted and implemented over the past six years by the majority party parallel the same wasteful and undemocratic pattern as their healthcare and education policies. This 2015 report by the federal Energy Information Agency (EIA) provides baseline context for Vermont’s CO2 emissions. It reports that at 5.6 million metric tons, Vermont’s CO2 emissions are the lowest in the nation and on a per capita basis are second lowest among the 50 states.