Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Community Loan Fund (VCLF) has announced the 2016 Building Bright Spaces for Bright Futures Fund (BBSFBFF) grants, with a total of $57,600 awarded to eight Vermont child care programs.

Vermont Business Magazine Lab results are back for the 477 adults and children who participated in PFOA blood draw clinics in the Bennington test area. The average PFOA level there is nearly five times the US average. The Health Department conducted eight blood test clinics in April, May and June at the Bennington District Office for people whose private drinking water was contaminated with PFOA, or who currently or formerly lived or worked at the former Chemfab site.

Overall, the results for PFOA in blood range from 0.3 to 1125.6 micrograms/Liter (µg/L). The geometric mean – a type of average – for the Bennington/North Bennington group is 10.0 µg/L, higher than 2.1 µg/L for the U.S. population. PFOA is found in the blood of most Americans.

Vermont Business Magazine Two tobacco dealers will pay Vermont a total of $69,000 for violating Vermont’s tobacco laws and Consumer Protection Act. In the spring of 2015, McIssac and Bairos New England Distribution, LLC of Avon, Massachusetts, a licensed wholesale dealer of tobacco products, sold 263 packs of Seneca cigarettes, a product that is illegal to sell in Vermont as it is not on Vermont’s tobacco directory, to Vermont retailers. 

Vermont Business Magazine Braeburn Pharmaceuticals announced today that healthcare provider training and certification for Probuphine will take place on July 29 and 30 in Burlington. Approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on May 26, 2016, Probuphine is the first implant for the maintenance treatment of opioid dependence in patients who have sustained clinical stability on low-to-moderate doses of buprenorphine, specifically 8 mg or less per day.  

Vermont Business Magazine Nearly every state received an 'F,' so Vermont's grade of 'C' puts it among the elite states for health care price transparency. New Hampshire again received the top mark. Most states could be doing more to give consumers the price information they need for making educated health care choices, according to an annual report card released by two independent health policy organizations. The report not only identifies the states failing at health care price transparency, but also lauds the few high-performing states and outlines practices lagging states should emulate. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets and the Department of Health want Vermonters to be aware that a common weed found along many Vermont roadsides can cause painful rashes and raised blisters, similar to second-degree sunburn. "Poison parsnip" (Pastinaca sativa L.), also known as wild parsnip, is found throughout the state. The plant produces a sap that reacts to sunlight, and skin that comes in contact with the sap becomes hyper-sensitive to ultraviolet light. It may take several hours after exposure for burns to develop, and some of the skin damage can be serious.

Wild parsnip produces small yellow flowers that look like Queen Anne's Lace. It is a close relative of carrots, parsley, angelica and giant hogweed, all of which can cause similar skin reactions in sensitive individuals.

Vermont Business Magazine People's United Bank, NA has announced that its subsidiary, People's Securities, Inc, has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Gerstein Fisher, a $3 billion, New York City-based investment management firm serving individuals and families, institutions, and third-party platforms. The transaction is expected to bring People's United Wealth Management's total assets under administration to nearly $20 billion, of which approximately $8 billion is under discretionary management.

Vermont Business Magazine Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc (NYSE: BHLB), the parent of Berkshire Bank with branches in southwestern Vermont, has reported second quarter GAAP earnings of $0.52 per share in 2016 compared to $0.35 in 2015. Core earnings increased to $0.54 per share from $0.51 for these respective periods. Results increased due to expanded operations and improved profitability. Core EPS is a non-GAAP financial measure and is adjusted to exclude net non-core charges primarily related to acquisitions and restructuring activities. GAAP results last year included higher noncore charges related to the Hampden Bancorp acquisition.

Vermont Business Magazine US Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) took to the podium at the Democratic National Convention Monday night in Philadelphia. He followed Michelle Obama and Elizabeth Warren. He was introduced by Representative Keith Ellison of Minnesota and was led on stage by his Simon & Garfunkel "America" TV ad from last winter. Paul Simon performed "Bridge over Troubled Water" earlier in the evening. Sanders' speech begins at about the 6:48 mark of the video below and lasted 32 minutes.

Bernie Sanders' Speech as Prepared for Delivery with video from Monday night's speech.

Good evening.

How great it is to be with you tonight.

Vermont Business Magazine The campaign of Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Lisman today announced that four prominent Southern Vermont leaders have endorsed Bruce Lisman for governor.

Vermont Business Magazine Monday, the Manchester Journal endorsed Phil Scott in the Republican primary and Sue Minter in the Democratic primary for governor. The primary is Tuesday, August 9.

Vermont Business Magazine Northern Power Systems Corp (TSX: NPS), a Barre-based developer and manufacturer of wind turbines, today announced financial results for its fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2015 on Form 10-K, which comprehensively completes its non-cash restatement of previously issued financial statements which, as the company announced on May 24, 2016, should no longer be relied upon. Northern Power restated its report based on the timing of revenues for foreign sales. It plans to issue first and second quarter 2016 results in August, which it states below will be below prior quarter sales. Revenues for 2015 were $54 million, which were the same as 2014. Net loss in 2015 was $7.8 million compared to a net loss of $8.8 million in 2014. Northern Power is known for its off-grid and remote-location wind generation stations.