Current News

Vermont Business Magazine For the third consecutive year, the University of Vermont Grossman School of Business’ Sustainable Innovation MBA has been named the No. 1 “Best Green MBA” program by the Princeton Review. By being recognized as the top “Green MBA” for 2018, 2019 and 2020, the continued ranking success underscores that, while the program retains the foundational business school toolkit required for graduates to succeed in business, its complete redesign five years ago prepares and equips the next generation of business leaders to transform existing businesses and create new enterprises that address critical issues facing the planet.

Vermont Business Magazine Casella Waste Systems, Inc (NASDAQ: CWST), a regional solid waste, recycling and resource management services company, has priced the previously announced remarketing of $25.0 million aggregate principal amount of New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation Solid Waste Disposal Revenue Bonds Series 2014. Pursuant to the indenture under which the Bonds were issued, the interest rate period under which the Bonds were previously issued is expiring on December 1, 2019, and accordingly, the Bonds will be remarketed on December 2, 2019 at the new interest rate of 2.875% per annum for the new interest rate period ending on December 2, 2029.

by Joyce Marcel, Vermont Business Magazine The City of Burlington is defined by its waterfront, and its waterfront is defined by the work of Melinda Moulton. Moulton has restored, built or rebuilt some of the waterfront’s most iconic structures, including a stunning restoration of the 1916 Union Station at the foot of Main Street. All the while, she has been proving that you can do well by doing good — really. However, life sometimes circles ‘round and bites you on the butt. Long an outspoken champion of commuter rail, Moulton is now fighting the railroads to preserve her legacy. Moulton, 69, is the CEO and co-founder of Main Street Landing, which is owned by her business partner and co-founder, Elizabeth “Lisa” Steele.

by C.B. Hall, Vermont Business Magazine The controversy over the overnight storage of an Amtrak train due to begin serving Burlington in 2021 heated up at a November 19 public meeting of the City Council's Transportation, Energy and Utilities Committee (TEUC). Speakers directed their ire over the plans primarily at the Vermont Rail System (VRS), for its insistence on construction of a second track, or siding, to accommodate the train at Burlington Union Station, its destination in the Queen City.

Vermont Business Magazine For over 20 years the Bowse Health Trust (BHT) has awarded grant funds to collaborative community programs which measurably improve the health of Rutland County residents. This year the committee has approved funding for three innovative projects over the next three years. To date, the BHT has funded a total of 66 programs many of which are still operating. Rutland County Early Head Start, the Castleton Early Childhood and Special Education Initiative, and the Caregiver Support Program will receive BHT funding starting in 2020. The projects were selected because of a critical need for these services within the community. 

Vermont Business Magazine ARC Mechanical, an HVAC contractor, recently received over $14,000 in grant funding from the Vermont Training Program (VTP). With this grant funding, ARC Mechanical will focus on employee training in areas of plumbing, HVAC, gas training and sheet metal fabrication. Training will be done through professional development and apprenticeship programs at Vermont Technical College, New Hampshire School of Mechanical Trades, Mitsubishi Electric, and Granite State Trade School. 

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced the appointment of Heather Pelham as the commissioner of the Department of Tourism and Marketing. Pelham has served as the deputy commissioner of the Department since March 2019 and prior to that served as the state’s chief marketing officer for four years.

Pelham will now lead the team responsible for promoting Vermont as a top tourism destination and attracting 13 million visitors each year who contribute $2.8 billion in spending to the state.

Heather Pelham, Commissioner of the Department of Tourism and Marketing

Vermont Business Magazine Several news sources are reporting that Jake Burton Carpenter died Wednesday evening. Carpenter is the founder of Burton Snowboards based in Burlington. Carpenter formed the company in the 1970s, which created the sport and became its most visible brand. Carpenter was hospitalized last week at the UVM Medical Center in Burlington for an upper respiratory ailment. He had informed Burton staff earlier in November that his cancer from 2011 had returned. Co-CEO John Lacy, who runs the company with Carpenter's wife Donna Carpenter, sent an email to employees Thursday morning announcing his death. Jake Burton Carpenter was 65.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont’s Killington Resort, the largest ski and snowboard resort in Eastern North America, reported today that it has received a positive snow control announcement from FIS (Fédération Internationale de Ski), the governing body of the Audi FIS Ski World Cup. This comes as no surprise to those of us in Vermont experiencing an early start to winter. But the FIS decision is not a mere formality. In 2016 FIS canceled the parallel men's races in Colorado set for the same Thanksgiving weekend. And just last year the opening races in Austria were rescheduled by FIS because of wind that blew in as part of a snow storm in October.

Vermont Business Magazine GasBuddy, the smartphone app helping consumers avoid paying full price for fuel, today projects the national average gasoline price for Thanksgiving will be at its highest since 2014. While it may lead to some complaints — 30% of Americans saying high prices are impacting their plans — it won’t slow them down much, with a 7% rise in motorists on the road for Thanksgiving versus last year. Vermont prices are averaging $2.62 per gallon, the same as a week ago but 15 cents lower than last year.

Vermont Business Magazine Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) and Susan Collins (R-Maine), and Representatives John Yarmuth (D-Ky.), Don Bacon (R-Neb.), Jahana Hayes (D-Conn.),and Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) Wednesday reintroduced the bipartisan Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act. The legislation will reauthorize key federal grant programs to provide states with grants to help thousands of homeless young people nationwide.

Vermont Business Magazine Many Vermont residents will have heating oil tanks inspected before the first fill of the winter season. The inspections, required by a 2017 Rule, reduce the number of spills or leaks from these tanks. Under the 2017 rule, inspectors must attach a “do not fill” or “red-tag” if the tank is at risk of spilling or leaking fuel.  

“To protect the environment and keep people safe from hazardous fuel leaks, we’re working with fuel suppliers to inspect tanks so that we’re able to prevent spills before they happen,” said Emily Boedecker, Commissioner of the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation. "The inspections and the red-tag rule identify problems in advance, avoiding dangerous and costly oil spills.”