Current News

Vermont Business Magazine As high-tech jobs grow, Vermont Industry increasingly needs maintenance technicians to manage complex processes and maintain advanced equipment. This, coupled with the retirements of many skilled workers, means opportunities for well-paid careers close to home. GlobalFoundries (GF), Vermont’s largest private sector employer, and Vermont State University (VTSU) have partnered to develop the GlobalFoundries Maintenance Technician Apprenticeship Program to educate more students—especially recent high school graduates—for open positions. GF and VTSU have partnered together to market and create interest for GF’s Maintenance Technician Apprenticeship opportunity to students, recent high school graduates, and those looking for a career change.

Vermont Business Magazine Average gasoline price in Vermont is $3.18 per gallon, down 2 cents/g gallon from last week, down 14 cents/g from last month and 26 cents/g lower than a year ago. The lowest price in the state yesterday was $2.85/g in Rutland, while the highest was $3.39/g in Stowe, a difference of 54 cents per gallon. The national average price of gasoline has risen 3 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.10/g today.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Electric Co-op is accepting petitions from eligible candidates for four board of directors’ seats that are up for election in May. “VEC board members have a broad range of perspectives and backgrounds, care deeply about the community, and enjoy learning about and influencing energy issues,” said Rebecca Towne, VEC’s chief executive officer. “If this describes you – and you have a passion for safe, reliable and affordable electricity, then consider running for the VEC board this year.” In order to run for the board, a candidate must be a VEC member and may not be employed by the cooperative. Candidates must have a principal residence within VEC service territory and in the district or zone they are running to represent. Directors are elected to serve four-year terms. 

Vermont Business Magazine If your business sells fossil-based heating fuel—including oil, propane, natural gas, coal, and kerosene—into or in Vermont, you must register with the Vermont Public Utility Commission. Complete your registration form online at puc.vermont.gov. Registrations are due by January 31, 2024, and are required by Act 18, which was enacted last year to design a potential Clean Heat Standard to address fossil-fuel emissions from Vermont’s heating sector.

Vermont Business Magazine Union Bankshares, Inc (NASDAQ - UNB), based in Morrisville, has announced results for the three months and year ended December 31, 2023, and declared a regular quarterly cash dividend. Consolidated net income for the three months ended December 31, 2023 was $3.0 million, or $0.68 per share, compared to $3.4 million, or $0.77 cents per share, for the same period in 2022, and $11.3 million, or $2.50 per share, for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to $12.6 million, or $2.81 per share for the year ended December 31, 2022. The Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.36 per share for the quarter payable February 1, 2024 to shareholders of record as of January 27, 2024.

Vermont Natural Resources Council Did you know that VNRC is Vermont’s state affiliate of the National Wildlife Federation (NWF)? NWF has been working across the country on behalf of wildlife since 1936, fighting for conservation and wildlife protection in the face of the biodiversity crisis. Once per quarter, NWF produces National Wildlife, a comprehensive magazine highlighting wildlife and conservation efforts, and spotlights the work of state affiliates. We are honored to have our work recognized in the Winter 2024 issue of National Wildlife, and hope you enjoy reading a bit about what we’ve been up to through the eyes of NWF! 

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott and The Hartford, a leading provider of employee benefits and leave management, will begin offering the Vermont Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FMLI) program for employers on February 15. Employers with two or more employees will have the opportunity to design a plan to fit the needs of their employees and business, with benefits beginning on July 1. The FMLI benefits provide partial income replacement for workers who need to take care of a family member with a serious health condition, bond with a new child, tend to their own serious health condition, care for a military service member’s serious injury or illness, or address certain needs related to a family member’s covered active military duty or call to active duty.

Vermont Business Magazine State Treasurer Mike Pieciak announced today the formation of the Vermont Saves Advisory Board. Consisting of retirement, payroll, and HR specialists and business representatives from across industries and regions, the Advisory Board will work with the Treasurer’s Office to help launch their public retirement initiative, Vermont Saves. The Advisory Board will provide guidance on program design and rule development and support outreach and educational efforts. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Central Vermont Medical Center Board of Trustees in Berlin recently appointed Mike Dellipriscoli to its board for his deep ties to central Vermont and experience with health care governance. As part of the group’s reorganization, Trustee Joyce Judy, president of Community College of Vermont, was elected board chair. Erica Metzger Hare, the chief financial officer of Aspire Living & Learning, was elected vice board chair.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (VAAFM), alongside our many statewide partners, invites those involved with agriculture in the state to participate in our 2024 listening sessions, focusing on hearing from producers, processors, distributors and service-providers on topics such as: severe weather impacts, grant and programming feedback and business/industry needs. In 2023 the Agency and partners co-hosted three listening sessions – two in-person for Windsor, Chittenden and Washington counties and one (virtual) state-wide session. In each session legislators, Agency employees, producers and service providers came together to discuss hard topics including farmer and farmworker housing, disaster relief needs and climate resiliency and planning. 

Vermont Business Magazine After more than 75 years in Burlington, the Vermont Department of Health is moving most offices and operations to the Waterbury State Office Complex. The state is selling the Zampieri State Office Building, located at 108 Cherry Street in Burlington, which currently houses the Health Department and the Department for Children and Families’ Division of Economic Services local office. The Health Department’s move will take place in stages starting Jan. 29 and continue over the next two months. No changes in services are expected during this time.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Labor Commissioner Michael Harrington gave the following statement regarding the announcement of layoffs at Putney Paper Mill operated by Soundview Vermont Holdings LLC.  According to the Brattleboro weekly The Commons, the paper mill has operated next to Sacketts Brook in downtown Putney for more than 150 years - a tradition that came to an abrupt end on January 16 with its sudden closure by its current owner, New Jersey–based Soundview Vermont Holdings LLC. All 127 workers were laid off.