Current News

by tim

Vermont State Police The Capitol Police Department and Vermont State Police issue the following statement on the removal of disruptive protesters from the House Chamber at the Vermont Statehouse on Thursday, January 9, 2020: Shortly after Vermont Governor Phil Scott began his State of the State Address, a group of protesters interrupted the speech by chanting. They continued to demonstrate uninterrupted for several minutes before being asked to stop. Eventually, Vermont Lieutenant Governor David Zuckerman requested that the Sergeant at Arms clear the disruptive demonstrators from the House Chamber.

by tim
Vermont Business Magazine Student loan debt is a challenge gripping the nation with 1.5 trillion in debt; transcending all generations, with statistics showing that nearly 1/3 of borrowers are over the age of 40. In response to this troubling trend, NBT Bank has launched its own Student Loan Repayment Program to help reduce the outstanding balance on qualifying student loans for full-time employees as part of its financial wellness initiatives.
“Student loan debt is an issue impacting so many of today’s professionals, yet about 8% of companies offer assistance for their employees,” said Chief Human Resources & Ethics Officer Catherine Scarlett. “NBT Bank is proud to be out in front of this challenge, in offering our own Student Loan Repayment program to help alleviate this burden on our employees.” The program offers contributions in the amount of $100 per month to the qualifying loans of full-time employees for up to 60 months.
by tim

​Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Electric Co-op is continuing to offer a wide range of bill credits this year for members who purchase certain electricity-powered devices for their homes or businesses to transition away from fossil fuels.

by tim

Vermont Business Magazine The Kresge Foundation, Montpelier-based Clean Energy Group (CEG) and New York City Energy Efficiency Corporation (NYCEEC) announced today a groundbreaking $3.3 million commitment – through a Kresge loan guarantee and connected grants – to accelerate the market development of solar PV plus battery storage (solar+storage) technologies in historically underserved communities.

The Foundation’s investment represents the first time a U.S. foundation has committed to use both its grantmaking and endowment resources in a comprehensive strategy to bring these new clean energy technologies to affordable housing and critical community facilities in low- and moderate-income neighborhoods. NYCEEC is the lender selected to participate in the loan guarantee initiative. CEG will manage the effort.

by tim

Vermont Business Magazine Cary Brown, Executive Director of the Vermont Commission on Women, has announced new resources available today from the Workplaces For All public education program, workplacesforall.vermont.gov, to make workers, employers, and all Vermonters aware of laws that apply to them, their legal rights, methods of reporting, where to find information, strategies for prevention, and ways to address sexual harassment and discrimination in the workplace.

by tim

by US Attorney Christina E Nolan, District of Vermont Every year, we observe Law Enforcement Appreciation Day (LEAD) on January 9. On this day, we celebrate and honor our brave men and women in uniform. Every day, our law enforcement officers put their lives on the line to keep us safe, to combat dangerous crime, and to help preserve the Green Mountain State’s unique beauty and quality of life. This involves tremendous daily sacrifice on their parts, to be sure, but also on the parts of their families and loved ones, who worry that officers will come home to them safely at shift’s end.

by tim

Vermont Business Magazine Castleton Center for Schools will offer more than 75 courses during the spring semester to meet the professional development needs of K-12 educators and administrators. The spring course list includes a variety of delivery formats to accommodate educators’ schedules, including online options, on-site classes held throughout Vermont, and hybrid models that combine in-person and online learning.

by tim

Vermont Business Magazine Castleton University has formed an agreement with Marlboro College that will streamline the transfer of Marlboro students to Castleton. Under the agreement, Castleton will accept currently-matriculated students who are in good academic standing at Marlboro. The University will also provide a financial aid package that will allow current Marlboro students to attend Castleton at a tuition price that is equivalent to or less than what they paid at Marlboro in 2019-20.

Additionally, Castleton will waive application fees and facilitate a transfer process that will provide Marlboro students with a streamlined transition to Castleton.

by tim

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Symphony Orchestra (VSO) is announcing the departure of its executive director, Ben Cadwallader, as of February 7, 2020. Cadwallader has been with the VSO since 2015, and has helped the organization grow as a renowned innovator and collaborator among the arts community. During his tenure at the VSO, Cadwallader not only increased revenue and audience numbers, but he introduced Jukebox, a chamber music project with Burlington’s ArtsRiot and other unconventional venues throughout the state; created a beloved new family tradition in the New Year’s Eve celebration, Burlington Does Broadway; spearheaded collaborations with diversity and inclusivity-oriented organizations and social groups; transformed the organization’s programming; and so much more.

by tim

Vermont Business Magazine The Community Health Centers of Burlington (CHCB) announce the initiation of a comprehensive, nation-wide search for a Chief Executive Officer through ZurickDavis Executive Search Professionals. CHCB also said that Kate Reed will soon take over as Interim CEO. CHCB said in a statement that this is an opportunity to lead and shape a pioneering health care organization; the next CEO will position CHCB to thrive in a changing healthcare environment and to respond to the varied needs of community members.

by tim

Vermont Business Magazine Green Mountain Power (GMP) is building on the success of its customer programs to cut carbon and costs by renewing rebates for 2020 – helping customers find affordable options on electric vehicles, bikes and lawnmowers, heat pumps, and more. GMP launched the rebates in 2019 to reduce costs and customers’ carbon footprints, and customers responded by making thousands of purchases – offsetting 156 million lifetime pounds of carbon, equal to taking 15,000 fossil-fueled vehicles off the road for a year. GMP’s rebates will continue until June 30.

by tim

Vermont Business Magazine Efficiency Vermont is wrapping up a year of partnerships in four communities across Vermont, bringing together energy service providers and community groups to expand access to money and energy saving solutions. 2019 was the fourth year of the program, a collaborative effort launched by Efficiency Vermont and the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD) to bring efficiency solutions directly to residents in selected communities around the state. Residents, businesses, and non-profits in Rutland, Bellows Falls, St. Johnsbury, and Swanton were eligible for free home energy visits and consultations with an efficiency expert and enhanced incentives to bring down the cost of efficiency upgrades. In total, fifteen communities have partnered with Efficiency Vermont since the program launched in 2016, and four new communities have been selected for the upcoming year.