Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department says many people are having problems with bears looking for food near their homes, and with the food scrap ban in effect the department is providing tips for people who are composting at home so they can avoid attracting hungry bears.

“We have been receiving lots of reports of bears on decks, tearing down bird feeders, wrecking beehives, killing chickens, and getting into trash, compost and garbage containers,” said bear biologist Jaclyn Comeau. “We are offering some guidance on how to compost at home without attracting bears.”

Vermont Business Magazine Volunteers planted nearly 1,600 native trees and shrubs in Barre, East Montpelier, Westminster, and Brattleboro this spring, to restore wetlands and streams and to improve wildlife habitat, the Vermont Land Trust announced today.

The plantings along tributaries of the Winooski River and the Connecticut River will help restore the health of wetlands and streams. The restoration projects were completed on Old Soul Farm in Barre, Fairmont Farms in East Montpelier, and former farm fields in Westminster and Brattleboro.

Vermont Business Magazine On Friday, July 22, 2022, the SHRM Vermont State Council and the HR State Council of New Hampshire will join forces to present THE BUSINESS OF PEOPLE: A Leadership Summit in the Age of Challenge for all regional business leaders seeking an engaging one-day educational and networking opportunity.

Vermont Business Magazine Home prices in areas most impacted by climate change are increasing at a higher rate than the national median, according to a new report from Home Bay, an online publication that connects readers with expert real estate advice.

Median home sale prices have increased 167% in major metros within states that have had at least 50 Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disaster declarations since 2012, while the national median increase is only 113%.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (VBSR), the statewide, nonprofit business association with a mission to leverage the power of business for positive social and environmental impact, is now accepting nominations for three awards that encourage and showcase the growth and impact of socially responsible business activity in Vermont.

Awardees of the VBSR Inspiration and Innovation Award, the VBSR Young Changemaker Award and the Terry Ehrich Award for Lifetime Achievement will be recognized among their peers at the 21^st Annual VBSR Award Ceremony this fall.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Bernie Sanders endorsed Vermont State Senate President Pro Tempore Becca Balint today for Vermont’s lone Congressional seat. Sanders served in that seat from 1990 to 2006, before being elected to the United States Senate. Sanders’ endorsement adds to a broad and impressive list of endorsements for Balint’s campaign, which in recent weeks secured the support of 350.org founder and Vermonter, Bill McKibben, former Green Mountain Power CEO Mary Powell, the Professional Firefighters of Vermont, The American Federation of Teachers union, the Vermont Building Trades Council, and over 60 Vermont elected officials, including Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale, who withdrew from the Congressional race and then endorsed Balint. Balint has also been endorsed by Rep. Pramila Jayapal, Chair of the Congressional progressive Caucus, Rep. Jamie Raskin, Rep. Mark Pocan, Rep. David Ciciline and Rep. Mark Takano.

Vemront Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today formally provided public notice to Vermonters that Proposal 5, a proposed amendment to the Vermont Constitution passed by the General Assembly, will appear on the November general election ballot. Section 72 of Chapter II of the Vermont Constitution and Chapter 32 of Title 17 of the Vermont Statutes Annotated require the Governor to give public notice of the proposed amendment by proclamation.

Vermont Business Magazine Union Mutual Insurance Company is proud to announce its Employee Development Program has received national honors from the National Association of Mutual Insurance Carriers (NAMIC). The Program earned Best in Category – Adaptability during the 9^th Annual Award in Innovation presentation at the 2022 NAMIC Management Conference. President and CEO Lisa L. Keysar accepted the award on behalf of the Company from Jay Woods of Guy Carpenter, who sponsored the award.

Vermont Business Magazine Last week the Vermont Supreme Court dealt a serious blow to government transparency and accountability.

The Court’s decision cloaks the use of hundreds of millions of Vermont taxpayer dollars in secrecy, allowing Vermont state agencies to protect themselves and their contractors from independent performance and spending oversight.

Vermont Business Magazine As part of a comprehensive plan to stabilize facility staffing levels, reduce the need for field staff to cover overtime shifts, and improve the quality of life for staff on the frontlines, the Department of Corrections announced Wednesday that security staff at Vermont’s six correctional facilities will move from 8-hour to 12-hour shifts and the State will conduct a market factor analysis of corrections security staff pay.

Twelve-hour shifts are currently in place on an emergency basis at Northeast Correctional Complex (NECC) in St. Johnsbury and Southern State Correctional Facility (SSCF) in Springfield. The schedule change will take effect at the remaining four facilities on August 28, 2022. Staff will be on a five days on/two days off schedule to start, with the ultimate goal of moving to a biweekly schedule which allows for seven days off during a 14-day pay period.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott, the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and the Vermont Office of Veterans Affairs (OVA) announced today that the State is now offering two new license plates to honor Vermont veterans who received the Air Medal and the Bronze Star for their service to our country.

“Our work to honor military veterans is never ending,” said Governor Scott. “We will be forever indebted to the heroes who earned these medals in the line of duty, and this is a small gesture of our appreciation for their bravery, service and devotion to our country and its citizens.”

“Many of us notice license plates as we drive around town and throughout the state, and these two additional license plates for our decorated veterans will enable them to be further recognized by their neighbors, community members, and others around Vermont,” said DMV Commissioner Wanda Minoli.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Transportation (AOT) today announced that it is now accepting grant applications for the SFY 2023 Municipal Park-and-Ride Grant Program, which provides funding for improvements of small park-and-ride facilities in Vermont communities. These facilities will assist in the effort of reducing the number of single occupancy vehicles on the roadway, which in turn helps to reduce vehicle pollutants and traffic congestion.

A total of $215,275 is available for this program for the 2023 state fiscal year. Applications are due by e-mail by September 2, 2022.

To learn more about this year’s grant program and to access the Municipal Park-and-Ride Program information and applications, visit http://vtrans.vermont.gov/highway/parkandrides.