Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Last week Vermont Secretary of State Jim Condos attended the annual Winter Conference held in Washington, D.C. by the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS). Preceding the conference, Secretary Condos and staff members joined with Secretaries, election officials, federal agency staff, and private sector vendors from across the country to participate in an elections security tabletop exercise held by the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).

“Protecting the security and integrity of our democratic process requires non-stop diligence and vigilance,” said Secretary Condos. “It takes a team effort between state election officials, our federal intelligence community partners, and the private sector vendors who support our infrastructure. Opportunities like the CISA tabletop exercise help us all ensure we stay one step ahead of the bad actors.”

Vermont Business Magazine Union Mutual was represented by over 60 employees, independent agency partners, vendors, friends, and family members in the Penguin Plunge to benefit Special Olympics Vermont on Saturday, February 1, 2020 at the Burlington Waterfront. With the widespread support of hundreds of donors, the “Union Mutual Popsicles” were able to set yet another new high-water mark for the event’s fundraising with a grand total of over $131,500. The previous team fundraising record was $44,932, set by Union Mutual in 2019.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Electric Cooperative (VEC) has three seats up for election on its twelve-member board of directors this year. Voting will begin in mid-April and conclude during VEC’s Annual Meeting of the Membership on Saturday, May 9 at Smugglers’ Notch Resort.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Mutual Insurance Group, based in Montpelier, and Guidewire Software, Inc (NYSE: GWRE) of California have announced that Vermont Mutual has successfully implemented Guidewire InsuranceNow to increase business agility by eliminating unnecessary complexity and enabling faster speed-to-market for new products and rate changes. The company implemented InsuranceNow, through its SUMMIT legacy transformation program, for its dwelling fire line of business in the states where it operates and is currently extending the implementation to the rest of its personal and commercial lines of business in those states.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermod, a zero-energy, modular and affordable home builder based in Wilder, Vermont won the Best of the Best Innovation Award at Efficiency Vermont’s Better Building by Design Conference Thursday. Vermod was bestowed the 2020 Best of the Best Innovation Award for a 700-square foot home in White River Junction. The two-bedroom home features an innovative two-box “T” configuration.

Vermont Business Magazine Representative Peter Welch today introduced bipartisan legislation that will more than double funding for the federal Recreational Trails Program (RTP). Since 1991, RTP has provided funding to states to develop and maintain outdoor recreational trails, allowing millions of Americans and their families to enjoy activities such as hiking, bicycling, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling and 4-wheel driving. In 2019, Vermont received $1,028,010 in RTP funds.

Vermont Business Magazine NSA Industries, one of the top ten largest specialty manufacturers in North America, today announced it will be changing its corporate name to Momentum Manufacturing Group. The name change captures the internal energy and consistent double digit growth posted year after year as it strengthens its focus on providing end-to-end solutions for customers in a broad range of industry sectors from automotive, aerospace and solar, to security, medical sciences, logistics, exercise equipment and restaurant and hospitality.

"Our customers are continuing to look for greater agility and supply chain efficiency," said Jim Moroney, CEO of Momentum Manufacturing Group. "We've heard their challenges and responded, making continued strategic investments and acquisitions. Each helping us to build the most dynamic and full service metal fabrication, machining, extrusion and contract manufacturing operations in the Northeast."

Vermont Business Magazine A winter PARKING BAN will go into effect Friday February 7th at 10pm. There is not a parking ban Thursday night. Crews are currently out in full force and will continue to clear sidewalks and streets overnight. With colder, snowier conditions forecast for tomorrow, the parking ban will allow a more comprehensive cleanup. While there is not a ban tonight (2/6), we encourage residents to park off-street if space is available to them. This will give our plows the safest and best ability to push snow off the roads. Public Works appreciates your help as crews continue clearing roads and sidewalks through the remainder of this storm.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced that Vermont businesses will see a double-digit rate decrease in workers’ compensation insurance in 2020. The new rates, approved by the Department of Financial Regulation (DFR), become effective on April 1, 2020. This is the fourth straight year of rate decreases since Governor Scott took office and represents the largest decrease in over a decade. When combined with decreases from 2017-2019, Vermont employers will pay an average of 30% less in workers’ compensation premiums than they did in 2016.

Vermont Business Magazine In December, Community Bank NA challenged the community to help low-income Vermont families heat their homes in conjunction with Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity’s (CVOEO) WARMTH program. The bank pledged to match WARMTH donations dollar for dollar during December, up to a total of $17,500. Statewide, overall donations equaled $130,029.53, which is nearly $10,000 above last year’s campaign total. On February 4, 2020, Community Bank N.A. presented CVOEO with the $17,500 donation to celebrate the end of a successful campaign.

Vermont Business Magazine A recent study shows Vermont has the Number 19 healthiest economy in the US. As the nation heads into an election year, 30 percent of people say the economy will be their primary consideration in how they vote in 2020. Vermont ranked: No. 1 in unemployment rate, 2.3%; No. 15 in change in unemployment (2015-2019), -36.1%; No. 19 in average annual wage, $50,150; No. 36 in per capita gross domestic product, $53,324.66.

by Jack Hoffman, Public Assets Institute There’s a lot in the budget the governor presented last month to the Legislature—and to the public. It’s a proposal to spend more than $6.3 billion for the fiscal year that starts July 1. The detailed budget book is over 1,350 pages, and that doesn’t count the supporting documents. Buried in all of that information is one number that is hard to understand: A saving of $449,704 in the Reach Up program, which helps to pay for food, clothing, and housing for children in low-income families that can’t afford these basic necessities.