Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The state’s largest union is pushing for the creation of a statewide health care commission to design and administer health benefits for all of Vermont’s public school employees. After a unanimous vote by delegates to Vermont-NEA’s annual meeting over the weekend, the union announced Monday it is advocating for a return of equity, predictability, affordability, and transparency in the health insurance covering nearly 40,000 Vermonters.

“Vermont-NEA’s members and their families must no longer be denied an equal voice in the determination of benefits so vital to their welfare and economic security as health insurance, including, critically, the matter of plan design and cost-sharing,” said Martha Allen, a K-12 librarian from Canaan who serves as president of the 14,000-member union. “Nor can we accept any longer the widespread and harmful disparities in health insurance coverage and costs among public school employees.”

Vermont Business Magazine Green Mountain Power and Freedom Nissan South Burlington announced on Monday the second year of a partnership to offer customers and eligible employees discounts when they purchase new electric vehicles (EVs). Vermonters who bring their GMP energy statements and a special code into the Burlington-based dealership will receive $3,000 off the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of a 2018 Nissan Leaf. Customers could also get up to a $7,500 federal tax credit.

“At GMP, we are committed to helping customers find ways to reduce carbon and to save money,” said Mary Powell, GMP’s President and CEO. “The Leaf is a cutting edge, fully electric car that frees its owners from paying for gasoline and oil changes ever again.”

Leonine Public Affairs It was an extremely quiet week politically. There was a public hearing on minimum wage but aside from that, not much happened on the House or Senate floor. This is in part due to the fact that committees have been focused on the bills that they received after crossover and in part due to the heavy workload they have faced recently with gun safety legislation as well as the House passing the revenue and appropriations bills. Obviously this will not be the norm between now and adjournment but a one week hiatus was well received by most.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Environmental Consortium and Vermont Technical College (VTC) are excited to announce registration is open for their annual environmental Conference, The State of Vermont’s Water. The conference will be held June 6, 2018 at VT Technical College in Randolph, VT. The conference will include topics like groundwater and storm water rule updates, nitrates and chloride in water, agricultural best practices, permits, and more. The event runs from 8:00AM – 4:00PM. Pre-registration includes all sessions and lunch. The Conference welcome and opening remarks will be given by VEC President Miles Waite, Waite-Heindel Env. Mgmt; Allan Rodgers, Academic Dean, Vermont Tech; and by Julie Moore, Vermont ANR Secretary.

Vermont Business Magazine Spoons at the ready, Free Cone Day is back! On April 10^th, Ben & Jerry's 40^th Free Cone Day arrives and as always, YOU are invited to celebrate. Imagine waking up to a day of endless ice cream … plus unlimited chunks and swirls. It must be Free Cone Day 2018. Free scoops of Ben & Jerry's euphoric ice cream, packed with chunks and swirls, will be offered at Scoop Shops around the country.

Vermont Business Magazine Local Burlington company SAP! Beverages is just one of 20 startups announced as finalists at Rabobank’s FoodBytes! Montreal, where leading food and agriculture entrepreneurs will pitch innovative solutions to food system fractures. Making its Canadian debut on Wednesday, May 16 at New City Gas, FoodBytes! Montreal will offer SAP! Beverages the chance to showcase its plant-based superfood sparking beverages made from maple and birch sap to investors, executives and media, and receive mentorship from food and agriculture industry leaders.

Vermont Business Magazine A construction management and consulting company has been named the 2018 Vermont Woman-Owned Business of the Year. Mel Baiser and Kate Stephenson, owners of HELM Construction Solutions, are being recognized by the U.S. Small Business Administration for employment growth, financial success, expansion and community involvement.

by Christine McGowan Butternut Mountain Farm in Morrisville, Vermont epitomizes both the quaint history and bright future for Vermont’s maple industry. The third generation sugaring operation, now run by siblings Emma and Ira Marvin, stands poised to build on the foundation of botany, forestry and maple syrup production laid by their father and grandfather, to capitalize on growing demand for pure maple syrup.

Vermont Business Magazine NBT Bancorp Inc (NBT) subsidiary EPIC Advisors, Inc. (EPIC), a full-service 401(k) recordkeeping firm, has acquired Retirement Plan Services, LLC (RPS), a retirement plan services company located near St Louis, Missouri, that provides full-service recordkeeping, administration and plan design solutions to employers nationwide. NBT Bank has branches in Northwestern Vermont.

“We’re pleased to have this opportunity to continue the growth of our well-established retirement services business with the acquisition of RPS by EPIC,” said NBT President and CEO John H. Watt, Jr. “We now have retirement plan clients in all 50 states and we serve over 220,000 plan participants through our retirement plan services entities. EPIC and RPS together will enable us to build on our mission of helping America retire.”

Vermont Business Magazine The Attorney General’s Office settled with six landlords in Vermont for violations of consumer protection and lead laws. Vermont’s lead law protects all Vermonters, especially children, from the harmful effects of lead poisoning. Every landlord with pre-1978 rental properties is required to submit annual compliance statements which show that the landlords have performed the essential maintenance practices (known as EMPs) and the properties are in compliance with the lead law.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Chamber of Commerce announces the recipients of its annual Hospitality Awards, the award ceremony will take place at the 35th Annual Vermont Tourism Summit on Wednesday, April 11, 2018.

Vermont Business Magazine Green Mountain Power crews are working hard and are well on the way to getting the lights back on for the nearly 56,000 customers affected by Wednesday’s strong winds. The storm brought tropical storm force winds, leaving widespread damage across the state, particularly east of the Green Mountain Ridge, with Windham County hit especially hard. Crews are encountering downed trees, lines, and broken poles.

A pine tree brings down power lines on Route 5 in Bellows Falls. GMP photos.

GMP and external crews were positioned to respond quickly before the storm hit and have been working non-stop to get the lights back on with more than 500 people doing storm repairs.