Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today joined a bipartisan group governors in the US Climate Alliance to applaud the decision to rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement, while highlighting the work Vermont is doing to combat climate change. In May 2017, Governor Phil Scott and Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker wrote a letter to the US secretary of energy urging the Administration to keep the country in the Agreement. After the US announced its intention to withdraw, Governor Scott joined a bipartisan coalition of governors in the US Climate Alliance, a group committed to combating climate change.

Vermont Business Magazine Casella Waste Systems, Inc (NASDAQ: CWST), a regional solid waste, recycling and resource management services company, today reported its financial results for the three- and 12-month periods ended December 31, 2020. The Company also provided guidance for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2021. Revenues were $774.6 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2020, up $31.3 million, or up 4.2%, from the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019. Net income was $91.1 million for fiscal year 2020, up $59.5 million from fiscal year 2019.

Vermont Business Magazine Greater Burlington YMCA Interim CEO Marsha Faryniarz announced today that NorthCountry Federal Credit Union has made a generous gift of $50,000. This gift, like each made by NorthCountry over the past ten years to the YMCA, is to support youth programs. NorthCountry’s support now totals more than $950,000.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott has issued an executive order creating the Governor’s Commission on the Future of Vermont Agriculture to study and strategize how best to grow agriculture in the Green Mountain State. The Commission’s charge will focus on ensuring the viability and adaptability of this sector, including recommendations for more cross-sector collaboration, increasing production and promotion, reducing barriers to entry and increasing diversity within the sector, and continued progress on environmental issues.

Vermont Business Magazine Citizens Bank, with branches across Vermont, has opened its annual Small Business Community Champion Award Contest, aimed at recognizing the positive contributions small businesses make to their communities. Now in its fourth year, the contest will award $10,000 each to 30 small businesses across Citizens’ 11-state footprint, including at least ten minority-owned and ten women-owned businesses, to help further strengthen their communities and their businesses.

Vermont Business Magazine With only 7 days left to vote, Vermont’s own SheFly Apparel is looking for community support to win the opportunity of a lifetime. Middlebury’s own SheFly Apparel has been chosen as one of 10 finalists for Moosejaw’s Outdoor Acceleration program, aimed at supporting small businesses in the outdoor industry. This year, the program has placed additional emphasis on supporting underrepresented groups in the outdoor industry.

Vermont Business Magazine Driverbase, the dealers-only vehicle marketplace in Colchester that provides personalized vehicle recommendations, has announced it has completed integrations with 23 of the leading providers in automotive. Driverbase is charging dealers zero fees to take advantage of these new integrations. Whether dealers connect their inventory data to launch listings on the dealers only marketplace or deploy the Personalize vehicle recommendation engine on their website platform, these integrations enable over 90% of the dealerships in the United States to leverage Driverbase.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of health is reporting today 131 new cases of COVID-19 and two more deaths for a statewide total of 193. Those 70 years old and older may now sign up to get vaccinated. Nearly 81,000 Vermonters have received at least one dose. There is no cost to get vaccinated. Updated guidance to travel restrictions are expected to be forthcoming from Governor Scott and his team Friday.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Labor announced today it is now accepting applications for the 2021 Vermont Internship Program. Funded by VDOL, the program will award $350,000 to eligible organizations. The program promotes internships by providing grants to organizations that support or match Vermont employers with student-interns from public and private secondary schools, regional technical centers or postsecondary educational institutions.

Vermont Business Magazine The Medicare Part D program pays far more than any other federal health program for prescription drugs, according to a report released today by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). The report, “A Comparison of Brand-Name Drug Prices Among Selected Federal Programs,” commissioned by Senate Budget Committee Chair, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), found that on average Medicare Part D pays nearly three times more for brand-name drugs purchased at retail pharmacies than Medicaid.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, Vermont Conservation Voters (VCV) shared the results of the 2020 National Environmental Scorecard from the League of Conservation Voters (LCV). The Scorecard is a valuable tool for evaluating the environmental voting records of every member of Congress, and is available online at scorecard.lcv.org.

Vermont Business Magazine The Agency of Natural Resources, Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced today that the Rutland County Solid Waste District was fined $37,000 for multiple violations of Vermont’s hazardous waste and solid waste management rules. Hazardous wastes are substances that contain chemicals that are corrosive, flammable, reactive or toxic, and have harmful effects on public health or on the environment. Many sectors create hazardous wastes in Vermont, including small and large businesses, municipalities, and even households.