Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Marijuana will become legal for adults in Vermont on Sunday, making it the ninth state to lift its prohibition on adult marijuana use (in addition to DC) and the first to do so via the legislative process. H5111 was approved by the Legislature and signed into law by Governor Phil Scott in January. It eliminates the state’s civil penalty for possession of up to one ounce of marijuana and removes penalties for cultivation of up to two mature marijuana plants and four immature plants by adults 21 and older.

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General TJ Donovan today announced that Vermont has joined a multistate lawsuit challenging the Trump Administration’s policy of forced family separation at the US southern border. A total of 17 states and the District of Columbia joined the lawsuit. The basis of the lawsuit is that the policy violates due process and equal protection, along with the Administrative Procedures Act and asylum laws. The lawsuit was filed today in the US District Court for the Western District of Washington.

“This policy is not only unconstitutional, it’s simply wrong,” Attorney General Donovan said. “Our country has always been a beacon of hope and safety. And our constitution entitles all people to equal protection under the law.”

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) issued the following statement Tuesday after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld President Donald Trump’s travel ban on several mostly-Muslim nations.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, the US Environmental Protection Agency wrapped up the second day of the first ever per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) Community Engagement event in Exeter, NH. Today’s session brought together key stakeholders and state partners to discuss and gather input to help inform EPA’s plan for managing PFAS, which is set to be released by the end of the year.

“EPA is taking concrete steps to address PFAS and the input we heard over the past two days will help us develop a plan for managing PFAS,” said EPA New England Regional Administrator Alexandra Dunn. “Today’s community engagement event was critical for hearing directly from communities who are on the ground dealing with these issues.”

Vermont Business Magazine Winter cold might be the furthest thing from Vermonter’s minds right now, however, now is the time to start thinking about how to heat next winter. They can also save money with wood heat. The savings available to Vermonters come from a number of places. First, a rural economic development bill sponsored by Senator Starr and recently signed into law by Governor Scott eliminates the sales tax on modern automated wood heating systems. In addition to the sales tax exemption, there are a number of new incentives and many utilities-specific incentives. Efficiency Vermont offers a $3,000 flat rate incentive for new advanced wood boilers. Additionally, the Clean Energy Development Fund (CEDF) offers $3,000 flat-rate incentive for a total of $6,000 off a new renewable wood heating system.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont’s Killington Resort, the largest mountain resort in Eastern North America and a POWDR company, today announced the return of Killington Divas of Dirt, an initiative led by Pro Downhill/Enduro Racer Amy Alton and the Killington Bike Park, to foster the community of passionate female mountain bikers.

Vermont Business Magazine After fewer than six months of negotiations, Community College of Vermont and the College’s newly formed faculty union have signed their first contract. In October, CCV’s part-time faculty voted in favor of representation by the American Federation of Teachers union. Contract negotiations with CCV administration began in January, and the two parties reached a tentative agreement on June 11th.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) today condemned the US Supreme Court’s 5 to 4 decision upholding President Trump’s travel ban. SCOTUS majority ruled Tuesday that the president's ban was within executive authority, while the minority issued a scathing rebuke of their colleagues.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Manufacturing Extension Center (VMEC) has announced that Patricia Moulton, President of Vermont Technical College (www.vtc.edu) and a member of the VMEC Advisory Board since 2014, has been appointed to a 3-year term as a member of the national Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Advisory Board. Following a thorough selection process, Dr. Walter Copan, Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), made Pat’s MEP Advisory Board member appointment, effective June 12, 2018.

by Timothy McQuiston Vermont Business Magazine The United Nurses and Allied Professionals Union members at the Brattleboro Retreat are beginning a series of public protests with an "informational picket" on Tuesday afternoon on The Brattleboro Common. The Common overlooks the Retreat. The Retreat is a private, mental health and treatment facility. Union members said they overwhelmingly voted at meetings last Friday to begin a series of pickets following administrative policy changes.

Vermont Business Magazine Champlain Housing Trust (CHT) announced today a three-year $240,000 commitment from KeyBank Foundation to support the organization’s goal of eliminating chronic homelessness in Chittenden County. The grant will be used by CHT to hire a social worker to help homeless individuals and families attain access to permanent housing, as well as provide ongoing support and services to help them retain housing.

“KeyBank’s recognition that this bold goal is achievable demonstrates what a committed community partner they are,” said Brenda Torpy, CEO of the Champlain Housing Trust. “In collaboration with many partners, we’ve made tremendous progress over the past few years. With this infusion of funds we will eliminate chronic homelessness in Chittenden County.”

Vermont Business Magazine In an email sent late Monday night, a frustrated Governor Phil Scott issued a statement announcing that he would let a third budget attempt become law without his signature. He said Democratic leadership ultimately reneged on a compromise over property taxes negotiated last Friday. Despite that, he said the state needed to avoid a government shut down, which would have occurred on July 1 without a budget deal. Democratic leadership, meanwhile, itself frustrated by the process, said in its own statement early Tuesday that it had offered several compromises and moved farther than the governor to find a solution. Both statements are below.

Governor Scott Statement