Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) Wednesday on the floor of the US Senate called for the USICA conference committee to not approve the billions in corporate giveaways slated for a handful of wealthy and powerful microchip companies, including a $10 billion bailout for Jeff Bezos to fly to the moon. "At a time of massive income and wealth inequality, the American people are sick and they are tired of the unprecedented level of corporate greed that is taking place from one end of this country to the next. They are sick and tired of paying outrageously high prices at the gas pump and at the grocery store while the oil companies and the food companies are seeing profits at an all-time high."

VermontBiz Jon Gordon authored the book The Power of Positive Leadership and has spoken before hundreds of organizations about the value and principles of positive leadership, yet he readily admits he is not a positive person by nature. It takes work to become a more positive person, Gordon says, and that work needs to start at the beginning of every day.

“You can either rise and shine or rise and whine,” Gordon said. “What kind of day do you want to have?”

Gordon shared his insights into how to become a positive force in the workplace in the July episode of the 21st Century Business Forum, a monthly webcast that features one-on-one interviews with some of the nation’s most prominent business minds and thought leaders.

Vermont Business Magazine Strong financial performance contributed to a rating upgrade from Aa2 to Aa1 for Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA)'s multiple purpose social bonds from Moody's Investor Service last week. Aa1 is the second highest possible rating from Moody’s. The rating applies to all outstanding long-term debt under the multiple purpose program and should help lower the cost of affordable housing financing through VHFA. Vermonter investors can purchase VHFA bonds during a sale scheduled for Tuesday of this week.

Vermont Business Magazine Two Vermont startups have been selected to participate in a competitive global accelerator program that connects promising early-stage companies with support, mentoring, free services and the chance to compete for cash prizes. MassChallenge, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting innovation and entrepreneurship, announced invitations to 250 startups from 28 countries representing 42 industries to participate in the 2022 US early stage program. Among them were Shiki Wrap and Pictal Health, two new Vermont-based businesses. Last year, Vermont’s SheFly Apparel won the coveted $100,000 MassChallenge grand prize.

Vermont Business Magazine Starting July 16, Vermont is launching the 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Callers will be immediately connected to compassionate, caring counselors who are trained to provide support for individuals experiencing everything from emotional distress to a mental health crisis. While they are trained to treat and address suicidality, it is not only for those individuals in crisis. The 9-8-8 Lifeline is also not only for those experiencing challenges with their own mental health. If you are the family member, loved one or friend of someone whom you believe might need help, counselors are trained and ready to answer your call. Beginning July 16, people can access the Lifeline by calling 9-8-8. It is free, available 24/7, and confidential.

Vermont Business Magazine The CARES Act, passed on March 27, 2020, provided funding to state governments for COVID-19 relief for only the last three months of fiscal year 2020, but even so, it seems to have had a major impact on some states’ finances compared to 2019. The US Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of State Government Finances captures the effect of the CARES Act funding and offers a glimpse of its impact on government finances. For example, as a result of the additional funding for April, May and June of 2020, eight states saw more than a 50% increase in government funding, including Vermont, which ranked fourth highest at 66.08 percent. Most of the states were among the smallest by population in the nation, with the exception of Virginia.

by John McClaughry With Montpelier awash in Federal money, the 2022 legislature balanced the General Fund budget while spending more on a long list of popular causes: extending broadband, subsidizing early education (as always with little or no assessment of the results), keeping the reorganized state college system alive, and spending more on favorites like home weatherization ($80 million) and subsidies to entice more people to buy electric vehicles ($32 million).

Vermont Business Magazine Leaders of the Vermont Army National Guard have initiated administrative investigations into allegations of misconduct in recent months. The investigations follow an Organizational Assessment made public by the Vermont National Guard in October last year. Conducted by the Office of Complex Investigations from the National Guard Bureau, the Organizational Assessment consisted of a Defense Equal Opportunity Climate Survey, site inspections and numerous interviews with members from across the Vermont National Guard.

Vermont Business Magazine Amtrak, in conjunction with the Vermont Agency of Transportation, is now selling Ethan Allen Express tickets for daily travel between Burlington and New York City including new stops in Vergennes and Middlebury. Service will kick off at 10:10 am Friday, July 29, 2022, with a celebratory event at Burlington’s Union Station. The details, coming soon, will include $1 ticketed train fares within Vermont on the Ethan Allen Express, limited shuttle service on the day of the event for return transportation to Burlington from Vergennes for ticketed passengers, and 50% promotional fares on the Ethan Allen Express this summer.

​by Michael Monte, Stephanie Lane, Andrew Winter The first questions families with young children ask when considering where in Vermont to live are, "Can we find housing we can afford?" and "Does that area have good childcare options?" Too often, the answers to both questions are not good enough and this is holding us back. According to state data, the cost of a primary home went up 10.2% between 2020 and 2021. While many may see this as an aberration, it’s actually just a blip in an overall market trend: over the last 20 years – through boom and bust cycles, the annual average increase has been a little over 6%.

Vermont Business Magazine Coldwell Banker Carlson Real Estate represented both the seller and buyer in the sale of the Springer-Miller office building and property located at 782 Mountain Road, Stowe, VT. The property traded at $5,350,000. The office building measures just over 26,000 square feet and is situated on 9.5 acres of land, with a prime location on the Mountain Road in Stowe.

Vermont Business Magazine On June 17, 2022, the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) formally accepted the Vermont State Colleges System’s plan to create a new university, Vermont State University, July 1, 2023. NECHE commended the VSCS for their comprehensive, multi-year planning, making special note of the realistic and extensive work the system has undertaken, the selection of Dr. Parwinder Grewal as president of Vermont State University, and the significant progress already achieved. NECHE also expressed enthusiasm for learning about the successes of the innovative hybrid operational model that Vermont State University is building.