Current News

Vermont Business Magazine October 8th and 9th 2019, The Logger Education to Advance Professionalism (LEAP) program is offering a modernized logging safety course. The program is one of the requirements for participants to become eligible for the Vermont Logger Safety and Workers’ Insurance program, a certification in high demand by contractors, that can result in a 15% discount on workers’ compensation insurance premiums. The course will cover many safety elements in a mechanized logging environment, as well as expectations set for employers and employees, delivered by safety qualified instructors.

The safety course includes, hazards and protection, safe practices for low-sulfur diesel, machine operation safety, working around power lines, safe planning operations, safety documentation, and the development of a culture of safety in the work environment. 1,200 logging contractors and their employees completed this course in Maine in the spring of 2019.

Vermont Business Magazine The Andrews Community Forest Committee is seeking comments on a new Forest Management Plan proposed for the Andrews Community Forest, a 428-acre conserved property in Richmond. Acquired by the Town of Richmond in 2018 with assistance from the Vermont Land Trust, this is one of Vermont’s newest town forests. The property, a beautiful and important piece of forested land with unique forest types and wildlife habitat, is now protected with a conservation easement held by the Vermont Land Trust and the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board.

Vermont Business Magazine The 19th annual Renewable Energy Vermont Conference and Expo welcomes an impressive lineup of speakers for REV2019, themed REV It Up: Empowering Energy Transformation. REV2019, northern New England’s premier event exploring clean energy innovation and climate solutions convenes on Thursday, October 10th and Friday, October 11th at the DoubleTree Hotel and Conference Center in South Burlington, VT. The event hosts more than 500 attendees and features 25 expert panel sessions on renewable electricity, heating, and transportation, sharing the latest technologies, policy updates, finance tools, and community climate action and resilience leadership.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today attended a ribbon cutting ceremony for the grand opening of MITI Manufacturing Company’s new facility in the Fairbanks Scales building in Saint Johnsbury. MITI (a division of Montreal-based firm, Sekurcorp) manufactures parking enforcement devices and portable decontamination showers.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Labor (VDOL) announced today the adoption and implementation of new Employment Security Board Rules (Rules) that establish the Unemployment Insurance Division’s appeals process pertaining to misclassification findings, debarment decisions, and penalties. The new rules go into effect October 1, 2019; however, the Department will not begin to issue penalties or debarment decisions until November 1, 2019.

Additionally, the Department of Labor is announcing the creation of a short-term, no-risk review that will allow employers to request a review of their wage reporting practices without penalty. This program will be in effect between October 1, 2019 and March 31, 2020.  Employers interested in taking advantage of this program may contact the Department at https://labor.vermont.gov/unemployment-insurance.

Vermont Business Magazine Leading specialty food producer Stonewall Kitchen, based in York, ME, announced that it has completed its previously-announced acquisition of the Barre-based Vermont Village brand of Organic Apple Sauces and Apple Cider Vinegar products. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced the allocation of $2.8 million in state tax credits for 24 projects statewide, supporting over $40 million in downtown and village center and rehabilitation projects. In 2019, tax credits will offset the costs of major investments to support projects in 14 Vermont communities.

Vermont Business Magazine ASGARD Partners & Co, a private equity firm based in New York, and Merit Capital Partners, a private equity firm based in Chicago, have partnered to acquire the eyewear business of Vermont-based Revision Military Limited, the world leader in protective eyewear solutions for military and tactical use. The transaction includes the sale of the protective eyewear product line, the world-renowned Revision name and branding, the Essex, Vermont, 53,000-square-foot manufacturing operation, and team of 130 employees. Under the guidance of ASGARD, the newly separated Revision eyewear business will continue day-to-day operations with its key management and existing manufacturing team. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Vermont Business Magazine October is employee ownership month. Employee-owned Vermont businesses will join forces for a second year in a row to raise funds for The Vermont Food Bank, which helps provide nutritious food to Vermonters in need. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Peck Company Holdings, Inc (NasdaqCM:PECK), a leading commercial solar engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) company based in South Burlington, announced Tuesday that it has engaged two complementary financing strategies to support its planned growth.

Peck has entered into agreements with NBT Bank, N.A. with branches in Vermont (NasdaqGS:NBTB), which will provide a short-term working capital line of credit and construction loans while also re-financing long-term debt on company-owned solar arrays.

Peck has also entered into a common stock purchase agreement and registration rights agreement with Lincoln Park Capital Fund, LLC, a Chicago-based institutional investor, pursuant to which the company has the right, in its sole discretion, to sell to LPC up to $15 million worth of shares over a 24-month period.

Vermont Business Magazine Today the State of Vermont received a decision from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in response to the state’s September 4, 2018 administrative appeal. The decision upholds the July 3, 2018, Notice of Termination.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Education Child Nutrition Programs announced today its policy for free or reduced-price meals for children served under the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), the School Breakfast Program (SBP), the NSLP Afterschool Snack Service, and the Child and Adult Care Food Program. The income guidelines are effective from July 1, 2019, through June 30, 2020. The following household size and income guidelines will be used to determine eligibility:

Free Meals Income Eligibility Guidelines