Current News

Vermont Business Magazine On Tuesday afternoon, Governor Phil Scott joined Vermont’s Congressional Delegation and Vermont Agency of Agriculture Secretary Anson Tebbetts to encourage dairy farmers to take a hard look at the revised Margin Protection Program. “On June 1, farmers in Vermont and across the nation face an important deadline. Farmers could receive financial help if they enroll in the Margin Protection Program (MPP). Vermont is ready to help with financial support for the farmers who sign up,” Scott said.

by Governor Phil Scott Undoubtedly, many of you are aware of the disagreement between me and the Legislature over increasing statewide property tax rates. As I’ve said, I cannot accept an increase in statewide property tax rates and here’s why: I ran for office understanding state government needed to focus more of our efforts on making Vermont more affordable and growing the economy.

Last year, with the help of the Legislature, we passed a budget without raising a single tax or fee, without cutting services and while investing in economic growth. It was the first time this was achieved in decades, and we did it while addressing revenue shortfalls.

Vermont Business Magazine Copley Hospital in Morrisville and the United Nurses and Allied Professionals Local 5109 confirmed Friday morning that they have agreed to a new contract. A tentative agreement on the contract was reached on Thursday, May 24, and was ratified unanimously by union members on Wednesday, May 30, 2018. The contract runs through May 2021.

Vermont Business Magazine Below is an update on actions taken by Governor Phil Scott and sent by his office on bills between Saturday, May 26 and Wednesday, May 30. These include vetoes of S.281, An act relating to the mitigation of systemic racism; S.222, An act relating to miscellaneous judiciary procedures; and S.273, An act relating to miscellaneous law enforcement amendments.

Vermont Business Magazine With summer just around the corner, Vermonters are gearing up to mix their passions for physical fitness and philanthropy at the 2018 Point to Point, powered by VSECU. The cycling and running event was created in 2002 to raise funds and awareness for the Vermont Foodbank’s mission to end the growing problem of hunger in Vermont. One in four Vermonters are not sure where their next meal is coming from and, according to the Vermont Foodbank, the majority of those people are Vermont’s most vulnerable residents: children and seniors.

VSECU is adopting the leadership role of the Point to Point, previously held by the event’s founder Harpoon, because one of the credit union’s goals is helping to meet the essential needs of Vermonters; when these are met it empowers people to become greater participants in their communities.

Vermont Business Magazine The announcement by the White House earlier today that the US would levy steal and aluminum tariffs against several countries was greeted by Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy as a move that would "amount to a stiff tax on Americans and hobble US producers and workers throughout the American economy.

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General Thomas J Donovan announced today that four men were arrested during the week of April 17^th for possession/promotion of child pornography. The arrests were made as result of Operation Peer Review. Operation Peer Review, which was conducted by Vermont’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (VT-ICAC), involved undercover investigations of peer-to-peer networks. Peer-to-peer networks utilize file sharing software to share electronic files with others anywhere in the world. These networks are sometimes exploited by child predators to obtain and share files depicting child pornography.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today submitted to the Secretary of State the petitions required to seek reelection. Today, May 31, was the final day in which to file election papers for the major party primaries to be held August 14.

Vermont Business Magazine Burlington Code Academy and Northview Weather won the LaunchVT Final Pitch Competition on Thursday, May 17. The startups competed against six other teams to take home the top cash prizes.

LaunchVT provides early stage acceleration programs and resources for business to prep, launch, and soar in Vermont. The annual pitch competition comes at the end of a six-week intensive program where entrepreneurs in the LaunchVT cohort work with a dedicated coach, strategic advisors, and each other to refine their business models and hone their pitches.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today signed Executive Order 04-18, to promote racial, ethnic and cultural diversity, equity and equality in state government. The Executive Order seeks to achieve the goals of a bill passed by the Legislature (S281), which the governor said he had to veto due to an unconstitutional provision in the bill, as passed. The provision he refers to concerns separation of powers involves and how an executive branch official can be removed from office.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Fish &Wildlife Department says deer fawns are being born this time of year and asks that people avoid disturbing or picking them up. Most deer fawns are born in late May and the first and second weeks of June, according to Vermont deer biologist Nick Fortin. Fortin says it is best to keep your distance because the fawn’s mother is almost always nearby. When people see a small fawn alone, they often mistakenly assume it is helpless, lost or needing to be rescued.

Vermont Business Magazine In a strategic move to improve air quality and decrease transportation sector emissions, the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, in partnership with an interagency working group, has released the plan for how the state will use the funds received from the Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust. The plan includes a strong focus on advancing electric vehicle technologies in Vermont and will help Vermonters transition to low and zero-emission vehicles. One of the most innovative elements of the plan is an electric school and transit bus pilot program.

Blue Bird electric Type D school bus on road show in California earlier this year. Courtesy photo.