Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Green Mountain Power and Vermont Magazine set a new deadline to enter to win one of the state’s great literary honors: The Vermont Writers’ Prize. Writers now have until January 1, 2020 to perfect their entries, and this year, for the first time, there are two prizes – one for prose, and one for poetry. The winners’ work will be published in Vermont Magazine’s Early Summer 2020 Issue and the winning prose author and poetry author will each win $1,250.

Vermont Business Magazine The Addison County Chamber of Commerce recognized a local business, individual, and non-profit organization with awards during its annual meeting held on October 24th at the Middlebury Inn. Three awards were presented in front of a crowd which included Chamber members, local business people and community members.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today issued the following statement on the closing and transfer of operations of the Energizer battery plant in Bennington to Wisconsin: “The news that the Energizer facility in Bennington is closing is extremely disappointing, and my team is working to learn more from the company about this decision... With the facility moving to another state within the US, this decision is an unfortunate example of why those of us in Montpelier need to work together to make Vermont a more affordable place to do business and make sure our policies help businesses thrive rather than creating unique burdens and barriers to growth that make us less competitive with other states."

Vermont Business Magazine The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that Jennifer Dwyer, 49, of St Johnsbury, Vermont, pled guilty today in federal court to one count of wire fraud involving the embezzlement of approximately $2.2 million over a ten-year period from her Lyndonville employer, Northeast Agriculture Sales, Inc (NEAG).

Vermont Business Magazine In recognition of Senator Patrick Leahy’s decades of support for important research and teaching initiatives, the University of Vermont today unveiled a new $3.3 million  fund that will pay tribute to Senator Leahy and his wife Marcelle. The new fund will benefit undergraduate, doctoral and post-doctoral students in two signature programs at the university, the UVM Honors College and the Gund Institute for Environment.

Vermont Business Magazine While weekly unemployment numbers have been inching up in recent weeks, they accelerated that trend last week, but are on par with totals from a year ago. Initial claims for the week of October 19, 2019, totaled 392, up 84 from last week but one fewer than they were at this time last year. Altogether 2,222 new and continuing claims were filed, an increase of 84 from a week ago, and 302 fewer than a year ago.

Vermont Business Magazine Through a competitive bid process, the state of Vermont has selected NIC’s Vermont Information Consortium (VIC) as its state digital government services provider. The new enterprise services contract is for three years with one three-year renewal option, continuing VIC’s commitment to providing efficient and convenient digital government services to citizens and businesses across the state.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Economic Development Authority (VEDA) today announced its financial summary for the 2019 fiscal year. VEDA approved 231 new loans, providing $87.9 million in financing assistance to Vermont entrepreneurs, manufacturers, small businesses, and agricultural enterprises. "It was a record year for our small business loan programs, with over $10.5 million in approved financing for a key sector that drives job creation and our state's economic vitality. Our loan programs provide access to capital at affordable rates for small businesses," said Cassie Polhemus, VEDA's Chief Executive Officer. "Some other trends we're seeing across the state include downtown revitalization projects, continuation of solar installations and diversification strategies from our dairy farmers."

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) and Senator Steve Daines (R-Mont) Thursday reintroduced their legislation requiring the government to have reasonable suspicion or probable cause to search or seize Americans’ electronic devices at the border.  Currently, under the so-called “border search exception” to the Fourth Amendment, US government officials can seize or search Americans’ laptops, cell phones and other devices without any showing of probable cause to believe the device may contain illicit content. This raises serious constitutional concerns.

Vermont Business Magazine In a joint statement issued Thursday afternoon, "The Vermont State Employees’ Association (VSEA) and Secretary of Administration Susanne Young are pleased to announce the State and three bargaining units represented by VSEA, namely the Supervisory, Corrections and Non-Management Units, covering approximately 6000 state employees, reached a tentative agreement on a new two-year contract that will commence July 1, 2020."

"The details of the agreement will be released once the ratification process, requiring the approval of VSEA’s members, is complete.

"Bargaining for this contract commenced in August and has continued on a weekly basis. Agreement was ultimately achieved over two days of mediation with the assistance of Federal Mediator Annie Rutsky."

Source: Montpelier, Vt. – Secretary of Administration Susanne Young 10.24.2019

Vermont Business Magazine Flanked by store owners, hunting and angling groups and supporters of outdoor recreation, Governor Phil Scott in Barre today recognized the important contribution hunting, fishing and related activities have in strengthening and diversifying Vermont’s economy. A new report by the US Department of Commerce finds that Vermont is fourth among states when measured by contribution of outdoor recreation to Gross Domestic Product. This is greater than states like Alaska, Florida and Colorado.