Current News

The Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation is pleased to announce that Commissioner Michael Snyder has adopted a set of voluntary harvesting guidelines for private landowners to help ensure long-term forest health and sustainability. In 2013 the Vermont General Assembly passed Act 24, requiring the Commissioner of Forests, Parks, and Recreation to “develop voluntary harvesting guidelines that may be used by private landowners to help ensure long-term forest health and sustainability.”

Mayor Miro Weinberger and Burlington Telecom General Manager Stephen Barraclough today reintroduced BT to the Burlington community, highlighting: BT’s ability to offer up to 1 Gigabit (1,000 MB) of Internet speed to its customers, a speed that is 100 times faster than the nation’s basic broadband speeds; and BT’s industry-leading customer satisfaction survey results. BT also unveiled its new logo, launched a new and improved Web site, and renewed its commitment to unbeatable customer service.

US Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) and Representatives Peter Welch (D-Vermont) and Annie Kuster (D-NH) are calling on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to assess the ability of FairPoint Communications to operate emergency communications networks in New Hampshire and Vermont. In a letter to Tom Wheeler, Chairman of the FCC, the lawmakers specifically cited concerns about outages in both New Hampshire and Vermont that have caused lapses in emergency communications services, including a six-hour outage of Vermont’s E-911 system and a four-hour outage of Portsmouth, New Hampshire 911 services. A majority of Fairpoint Communications workers have been on strike since October 17, 2014.

by Lawrence Miller, Chief of Health Care Reform As someone who for the past 25 years has owned, advised or worked closely with a Vermont business, I know firsthand how confusing our health care system is for employers. But here’s the most confusing aspect of all: Over the past three years, hospital budget growth has been kept at 3 percent, the lowest rate in 40 years. However, many private insurance premiums have risen way beyond that rate over that same time period. How can that be? The answer is the cost shift.

Vermont Business Magazine The ski industry has changed profoundly, but the long-term leases intended to boost this vital Vermont economic engine have not changed with it. Vermont State Auditor Doug Hoffer has released the findings of an investigation into the state’s land leases with seven ski resorts. The central aim of the inquiry was to evaluate the direct financial return to the public of the state leasing these unique land assets.

President Obama offered his State of the Union address Tuesday night and Vermont's highest elected officials had general praise for it, especially the idea of revitalizing the economy of middle class earners. The president also called for paid sick leave, which Vermont's delegation and state Democratic leadership, have also called for. Leahy, who is very involved with normalizing diplomatic relations with Cuba, spent most of his remarks on that subject.

Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont)

Vermont Business Magazine We all knew that a steep drop in gasoline prices would put more money in our pockets and help stimulate the economy. What we didn’t know is how profound that impact could be until today. Economists Jeff Carr and Tom Kavet briefed the state’s Emergency Board on current and expected tax revenues at the State House this afternoon. Governor Shumlin’s administration has already proposed $14 million in cuts to the current budget and the economists projected that that should be more than enough to cover what they see as a shortfall in the fiscal year 2015 revenue projections of $10 million.

Carr, on behalf of the administration, and Kavet, on behalf of the Legislature, offer their projections twice a year so the governor and lawmakers have a guide on how to budget. The E-Board is comprised of Shumlin and the chairmen of the four money committees in the Legislature.

BioTek Instruments will be recognized for their efforts in worksite wellness by the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness & Sports and Vermont Department of Health on March 25, 2015 at the Sheraton Hotel & Conference Center in Burlington from 7:30 a.m. to 4 pm. BioTek is one of 92 businesses that will receive an award for 2014. This is the fourth year the company has been honored.

“Worksites that promote healthy eating, physical activity, tobacco use cessation, and breastfeeding, contribute to the overall health and wellness of all Vermonters, and they are one of the key reasons we are routinely rated the nation’s healthiest state,” said Health Commissioner Harry Chen, MD.

Governor Peter Shumlin on Tuesday announced the resignation of Department of Vermont Health Access (DVHA) Commissioner Mark Larson, who will be stepping down in March after helping transition his deputy Lori Collins to Interim Commissioner. A search for a permanent replacement is underway. Much of the weight of Vermont Health Connect - its struggles, successes and blame - fell onto Larson's shoulders since its inception less than 18 months ago.

FINRA, a national research organization, reports that 62% of Vermont households lack a rainy day fund to cover unexpected emergencies like loss of income or major car repair. Merchants Bank is making a $5,000 grant to the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity’s Growing Money Program to address just such vulnerability. The grant will help Growing Money staff to continue to deliver financial classes and personal financial coaching in Vermont’s four Northwest counties.

House Speaker Shap Smith today asked Vermonters, employers, policy makers and stakeholders to submit proposals for economic development and job growth strategies for consideration in the legislative biennium. “On the first day of the session, I called on lawmakers to work together as we strive to create an atmosphere of opportunity across Vermont. It is in this spirit that we are asking for public input on state economic development strategies,” announced Speaker Smith.

The Speaker’s Office launched a similar initiative in December, requesting public input for education system reforms. Vermonters responded by submitting over 85 education proposals. Speaker Smith shared the feedback with the House Education Committee for review and incorporation into its agenda. Similarly, public proposals on economic development will be shared with the Commerce and Economic Development Committee for consideration.

David Silverman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Union Bank, announced today that Jonathan J Gould has been selected as the Bank’s new Senior Vice President and Senior Commercial Loan Officer. Gould joins the Bank on January 20, and is responsible for leading the commercial lending team, growing and managing the commercial loan portfolio, coordinating commercial lending activities, and promoting the Bank’s commercial lending services and products in northern Vermont and New Hampshire. He will serve on the Bank’s senior management team and the ALM committee.