Current News
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Vermont Business Magazine Governor Peter Shumlin provided the following update on PFOA private well and agricultural product testing results from North Bennington and Pownal. Three maple syrup samples were taken in North Bennington two weeks ago and tested for PFOA. All results came back clean with no detection of PFOA. The Agency of Agriculture has been working in tandem with the Department of Environmental Conservation to determine if the environmental contamination of PFOA extends to soils and the agricultural products produced in the area. Soil results are expected within a week. The “non-detect” result of the maple syrup testing is a welcome early sign.
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Vermont Business Magazine In an effort to reduce overprescribing of opioid pain relievers, Vermont Health Commissioner Harry Chen, MD, and dozens of public health officials, health care organizations, medical experts, and consumer advocacy groups from across the country today petitioned the Joint Commission, an agency that accredits health care organizations, and to the federal agency that oversees Medicare. Signers are requesting changes to pain management requirements they believe foster dangerous prescribing practices.
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Vermont Business Magazine Following up on previous guidance provided to solar projects this past December, the Vermont Attorney General’s Office and Department of Public Service provided additional guidance to all companies, including utilities, who market renewable energy projects in Vermont. “Today’s Guidance follows the earlier statement on solar energy projects and clarifies that all renewable energy projects must comply with the law and avoid deceptive marketing statements,” said Attorney General Sorrell.
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Vermont Business Magazine US Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont), one of the core of congressmen who helped develop the US EB-5 immigrant investor program, is urging Congress today to reform the program. In his statement below, Leahy points out that wealthy areas of the country, in particular Manhattan, have benefited from the program that is intended to bring much-needed capital to rural and poorer areas of the nation. Developers have been able to do this by "gerrymandering" where they want to build with poor areas in the city to create EB-5 districts that qualify for the lower investor amount of $500,000. A wealthy district would require a $1 million investment from each immigrant investor.
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Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Gas Systems announced today plans to offer renewable natural gas (RNG) to customers this year. Renewable natural gas from agriculture and landfills will be offered to participating customers who sign up for the program.
“This is an environmental win-win for our customers. Natural gas is a cleaner and more affordable home heating option for almost 50,000 Vermont families and businesses. Beginning this fall, our customers can further reduce their carbon footprint by choosing to heat their homes and businesses with renewable natural gas,” said Vermont Gas CEO Don Rendall.
Capturing methane from farms and landfills provides dual environmental benefits by preventing an intense greenhouse gas pollutant from entering the atmosphere (allowing the constructive use of a waste product as energy) and displacing other higher-emitting fuels such as heating oil and propane.
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by Jack Hoffman Public Assets Institute Income inequality is a serious problem in Vermont that needs to be addressed on several fronts, and paying people more for their labor, especially those at the bottom, should be part of the strategy. Now political leaders and workers’ advocates who support a higher minimum wage may find they have some unexpected allies. The Washington Post reported last week on a leaked survey of business leaders throughout the country. It found that 80 percent were in favor of increasing the minimum wage. They also expressed strong support for maternity and paternity leave, paid sick time, and paid family leave.
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Vermont Business Magazine Nominations are now open for the 2017 Vermont Teacher of the Year program. The public is invited to join Vermont educators to directly nominate teachers for the prestigious statewide distinction; the winner serves as an advocate for Vermont’s teachers, students and education system. Nominations can be completed through May 31. To encourage more submissions, the process has been simplified to require only the most basic information about the nominator, the nominee, and their school, as well as a short overview of what makes the nominee an extraordinary teacher.
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Vermont Business Magazine Governor Peter Shumlin has ordered flags statewide to fly at half-staff in honor of former Vermont Chief Justice Fred Allen, who passed away this weekend. The governor has ordered flags lowered tomorrow at sunrise through Friday at sunset. The governor issued the following statement.
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Vermont Business Magazine Overall, General Fund (GF) revenues for the month of March were down by -$13.26 million or –13.94%, totaling $81.87 million vs. a monthly target of $95.12 million. This shortfall reflects a clearing out of the backlog of refunds that were not processed in Febru-ary due to fraud concerns. While Personal Income was down -$18.97 million (–71.68%) and Sales and Use and Meals and Rooms were off target by -$0.42 million and -$0.52 million respectfully, they were offset with an up in Corporate Tax +$6.94 million (+33.71%).
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Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Secretary of State Jim Condos announced today a new searchable database of Vermont elections results. The new site makes it easier to find results by year, office, or candidate and continues the efforts by Secretary Condos to make information more accessible for Vermonters.
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Vermont Business Magazine An award from the Keep Local Farms Fund is being used by two Vermont farmer organizations, The Champlain Valley Farmer Coalition (CVFC) and DairyVision Vermont, to help Vermont farmers protect water quality with recommended new practices and technology improvements. The $45,000 to CVFC and $12,500 to DairyVision Vermont in scholarship aid is part of awards totaling $104,900 in grants to dairy-related education and other initiatives across New England.
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Vermont Business Magazine The Copley Health Systems, Inc Board of Trustees is pleased to announce that following a thoughtful national search, they have selected Arthur “Art” Mathisen to serve as President and Chief Executive Officer. Mathisen will take over leadership of the hospital when CEO Melvyn Patashnick retires after serving 30 years in healthcare administration; leading Copley Hospital for the last 10 years. Mathisen is currently Chief Operating Officer at Copley Hospital, having joined Copley in July 2015.
Arthur “Art” Mathisen