Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced that Vermont businesses will see a double-digit rate decrease in workers’ compensation insurance in 2020. The new rates, approved by the Department of Financial Regulation (DFR), become effective on April 1, 2020. This is the fourth straight year of rate decreases since Governor Scott took office and represents the largest decrease in over a decade. When combined with decreases from 2017-2019, Vermont employers will pay an average of 30% less in workers’ compensation premiums than they did in 2016.

Vermont Business Magazine In December, Community Bank NA challenged the community to help low-income Vermont families heat their homes in conjunction with Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity’s (CVOEO) WARMTH program. The bank pledged to match WARMTH donations dollar for dollar during December, up to a total of $17,500. Statewide, overall donations equaled $130,029.53, which is nearly $10,000 above last year’s campaign total. On February 4, 2020, Community Bank N.A. presented CVOEO with the $17,500 donation to celebrate the end of a successful campaign.

Vermont Business Magazine A recent study shows Vermont has the Number 19 healthiest economy in the US. As the nation heads into an election year, 30 percent of people say the economy will be their primary consideration in how they vote in 2020. Vermont ranked: No. 1 in unemployment rate, 2.3%; No. 15 in change in unemployment (2015-2019), -36.1%; No. 19 in average annual wage, $50,150; No. 36 in per capita gross domestic product, $53,324.66.

by Jack Hoffman, Public Assets Institute There’s a lot in the budget the governor presented last month to the Legislature—and to the public. It’s a proposal to spend more than $6.3 billion for the fiscal year that starts July 1. The detailed budget book is over 1,350 pages, and that doesn’t count the supporting documents. Buried in all of that information is one number that is hard to understand: A saving of $449,704 in the Reach Up program, which helps to pay for food, clothing, and housing for children in low-income families that can’t afford these basic necessities.

Vermont Business Magazine Dealer.com, a leading automotive industry end-to-end digital marketing solution based in Burlington, has announced new enhancements to its digital storefront during the runway to the 2020 NADA Show. The company's latest offering harnesses Cox Automotive data – the largest collection of automotive shopping behavior insights available – to ensure dealers have the tools necessary to deliver unrivaled consumer experiences, forging the shortest and most personalized path to customer engagement and dealership growth.

With brands from all categories bombarding shoppers, there has never been a more critical time for dealers to capture consumer mindshare by delivering tailored experiences that capitalize on available intelligence and technology. The industry is at an inflection point; to remain relevant and competitive, dealers must prepare themselves for the ride.

Vermont Business Magazine Dartmouth is partnering with four leading electrical tech companies--GE Research, Analog Devices, Empower Semiconductor, and Ampt--to form the first NSF-funded Industry-University Collaborative Research Center (IUCRC) focusing on integrated power management and delivery for a wide range of electrified systems. Providing companies with unprecedented access to Dartmouth's R&D expertise, facilities, and intellectual property, the new Power Management Integration Center (PMIC) will address a range of challenges facing next-generation power electronics.

Vermont Business Magazine Mother Nature is sending over a foot of snow our way and VGS wants to ensure safety is top of mind during the snowstorm.

Vermont Fish & Wildlife Ali Thomas, education manager for the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department, will be leading an educational wildlife tracking walk in West Fairlee on February 8.

Vermont Business Magazine AARP has opened applications for the 2020 AARP Community Challenge grant program to fund “quick-action” projects that spark change across the country. Now in its fourth year, the program is part of AARP’s nationwide work on Livable Communities. Grants can range from several hundred dollars for small, short-term activities to several thousand, or tens of thousands for larger projects. In Vermont, grants totaling more than $42,000 were awarded to the cities of Newport and Bennington for specific community development projects in those communities.

Vermont Business Magazine GMS Inc (NYSE: GMS), a leading North American specialty distributor of interior building products based in Tucker, Georgia, has announced that it has acquired Trowel Trades Supply, Inc, a single-location distributor based in Colchester, Vermont. Founded in 1968, Trowel Trades serves residential and commercial customers in the greater Burlington area and related surrounding markets. Trowel Trades offers a full complement of interior building materials as well as masonry and hardscape products.

Vermont Business Magazine After facilitating 14 focus groups with statewide Young Professional (YP) groups, the Vermont Futures Project released a report to pursue their three major recommendations and incorporate their concerns into the sustainable economic growth plan slated for release in the fall of 2020. The Vermont Futures Project wanted to ensure the voice of the YPs currently living here will be included and help determine how best to secure a robust economic future for Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine State director Linda Rossi has announced that the Vermont Small Business Development Center (VtSBDC) has been awarded a $100,000 federal SBA grant to launch and develop a multi-faceted program benefiting Vermont’s small businesses, especially those most impacted by three campus closures: Green Mountain College, Southern Vermont College, and College of St. Joseph. The grant also supports entrepreneur education designed for college and high school faculty and students. Titled “FORWARD VT,” the program will launch in the southwest region of the state, and set the stage for taking the “Portable Assistance Program” to other communities.

FORWARD VT

FORWARD VT equips business owners and new entrepreneurs with strategies and tools to renew and restore their vibrancy and productivity, moving them forward from challenging circumstances. The official kick off events will take place in April 2020.