Current News

by Representative Pattie McCoy (R-Poultney), House Minority Leader Despite a soaring stock market and strong GDP growth, many Vermonters are still struggling to make ends meet. High taxes, skyrocketing insurance premiums, escalating utility costs, and more, are keeping many stuck in a crisis of affordability. At the same time, small businesses that have been the bedrock of our towns and villages are struggling with excessive regulations, a labor force shortage, and intense competition from tax-friendly states like New Hampshire. It is no wonder so many Vermonters are leaving our state.

Vermont Business Magazine The new Cytation 7 Cell Imaging Multi-Mode Reader from BioTek Instruments combines an automated upright microscope, an inverted microscope, and multi-mode microplate detection in a single instrument. This combination of microscopes and multi-mode reading enables applications that would typically require multiple instruments.

Vermont Business Magazine This change will precede the plastic-bag ban legislation expected to take effect in July of 2020 (Act 69) and is part of an overall commitment that the Co-op has made to reduce single-use plastics in the store.

Vermont Business Magazine The Petersons, Inc is joining Four Seasons Sotheby’s International Realty effective January 3, 2020. The Petersons, Inc, located in Peterborough, NH, brings 12 experienced and respected sales associates to the company and is the leader in real estate sales in the greater Peterborough region of New Hampshire with over $50 million in sales volume for 2019.

Four Seasons Sotheby’s International Realty, based in South Burlington, now has over 200 sales associates and 17 offices throughout New Hampshire and Vermont. The firm places a high premium on the level of service they provide their clients and represent the finest properties on the market regardless of price. Four Seasons Sotheby's International Realty is currently ranked 1st in all residential sales over $500,000 as well as $1,000,000 and 5th in total sales volume sold regardless of price in the two states combined.*

Vermont Business Magazine Weekly unemployment spiked last week. While this is typical for the post-holiday period, claims this year have been higher than last year. After a long period during the summer and fall of very low numbers, claims have been higher over the last two months. Meanwhile the holiday period brings with it wild swings in claims, as retailers hire and then lay off seasonal workers.

AccuWeather.com A storm system will soak the northeastern United States and bring another dose of winter weather that will bring accumulating snow to parts of the region, including Northern Vermont. The northern part of the state could see up to six inches of snow, while the southern part could see a mix. Sunday will bring colder and blustery conditions.

Vermont Business Magazine The Burlington School District (BSD) Board of School Commissioners has announced that McPherson & Jacobson, LLC, Executive Recruitment and Development of Omaha, NE, has been selected to assist the Board in the important task of selecting superintendent candidates for the board to interview. Beginning immediately, the consultants and board commissioners will be meeting with community members to gather input regarding the qualities of the District’s next Superintendent. Superintendent Yaw Obeng announced in November that he would be stepping down June 30, 2020, after five years on the job.

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General TJ Donovan in St Albans today announced that his office filed a lawsuit against Pleasant Valley Farms of Berkshire, LLC and its operators Mark St Pierre and Amanda St Pierre for violations of Vermont’s agricultural laws and regulations. The alleged violations stem from actions at the Lumbra Farm in Berkshire, a dairy farm owned by the St Pierres that the state alleges is part of the Pleasant Valley Farms operation.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Council on Rural Development announced the launch of a new leadership program for Vermonters working to create climate solutions at the local level. The Climate Catalysts program will bring together 10 local leaders from all walks of life and all corners of Vermont to build peer connections, strengthen leadership skills, and receive support in developing a local project or initiative.

“This new program is a manifestation of VCRD’s core belief in the power of Vermont towns to build a prosperous future while leading in developing local climate solutions,” said VCRD Executive Director Paul Costello. “Through this program we will Invest in and support local leaders who are thinking creatively about the climate challenge and deeply committed to developing solutions.”

Vermont Business Magazine President Trump has signed into law bipartisan legislation championed by Representative Peter Welch that will crack down on unwanted and predatory robocalls.

Vermont Business Magazine According to United Van Lines, Americans are moving into Idaho, and Idaho is moving up—in the ranking of most popular 2019 moving destinations, that is. Vermont remains the highest by percentage, but with a small sample size. Still, Vermont is the only state to have achieved greater than a 70 percent in-bound rate, which it has done the last two years (74.3% in 2019 and 72.7% in 2018). Vermont also has increased its inbound rate every year for which data is available. In 2013, Vermont had more outbound than inbound (52.6% outbound) movers, but by 2014 (59.4% inbound) and every year since, the rate has gone up. According to United data, Vermont's migration demographic has also changed, as the inbound age has gotten older and, not surprisingly, wealthier. While the state's population has barely inched up during this period, other studies also have shown Vermont to be among the very top destinations for migration and the leader in the region.