Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont’s Pico Mountain announced today the Land Use Permit has been approved as part of major upgrades to its snowmaking system. Starting in the 2019-20 season guests will experience a better, more consistent and more reliable snow surface.

Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies Vermont gets pegged for a lot of things: great mountains, bucolic pastures, stunning foliage… and for a lacking economy that struggles to retain talent, forcing people to find jobs elsewhere. A report issued today by the Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies (VCET) tells a different story.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine General Funds were below target for August, while Transportation and Education Funds were above targets, reversing a trend. Personal income tax receipts for many months have been pushing the state into a surplus. But the PI failed to meet expectations by more than $2 million for the month. All three of the major taxes were off for the month. The year-to-date GF target is still ahead of schedule.

Vermont Business Magazine Weekly unemployment numbers again fell to a low level last week. Summer typically  brings very low claim levels and these are lower than usual. Initial claims for the week of September 14, 2019, totaled 240, down 31 from last week and 116 fewer than they were at this time last year. Altogether 2,144 new and continuing claims were filed, a decrease of 57 from a week ago, and 317 fewer than a year ago.

Vermont Business Magazine According to household data released today from the Vermont Department of Labor, the seasonally-adjusted statewide unemployment rate for August was 2.1 percent. This reflects no change from the revised July rate. The release of the new data on Vermont households disrupts the previous trend of eight consecutive months of rising number of employed persons and rising labor force. Employment also fell and the jobless number increased. Still, the rate remains at its historic low.

Vermont Business Magazine Bennington College’s Center for the Advancement of Public Action (CAPA) will host its annual Incarceration in America conference from October 4 - 5. The conference will include panel discussions on getting women off Rikers Island and designing a new women’s jail, with panelists from the Women's Community Justice Association, and panelists from The Osborne Association will discuss older prisoners, long-term prisoners, clemency, parole, post-release housing, and the role of children.

Vermont Business Magazine Act 83 of 2019 directed the Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets to convene a Soil Conservation Practice and Payment for Ecosystem Services Working Group. The purpose of this Working Group is to recommend financial incentives designed to encourage farmers in Vermont to implement agricultural practices that improve soil health, enhance crop resilience, increase carbon storage and stormwater storage capacity, and reduce agricultural runoff to waters.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Under a rare sun of late summer, two F-35s of the Vermont Air National Guard's 158th fighter wing came roaring out of the West at 1:20 pm to a smattering of applause, circled Burlington International Airport, simulated a couple of touch-and-goes and finally landed at their home base for the first time. They sported a VT and Guard logo on the tail and a new symbol for a new mission on the fuselage, the Yellow Scorpions. The question of how loud they are cannot yet be answered until they eventually take off, but one observer offered that they sounded "throatier" than their predecessors the F-16s, while another said they didn't seem louder, "just different."

Vermont Business Magazine In support of the Global Climate Strike on Friday, GMP employees on Friday afternoon will donate and plant 40 trees in Barre, the winner of GMP’s Climate Week Tree Giveaway contest.

Vermont Business Magazine Wheel Pad L3C was honored in Fast Company’s Innovation by Design Awards for 2019 as a finalist in the Health category and was given Honorable Mention in the Best Design North America category. Wheel Pad is a universally accessible 200 square foot modular bedroom/bathroom suite designed to connect to an existing home. Wheel Pad provides the opportunity for elders or someone newly experiencing mobility challenges to remain at home, and/or to return home following an accident.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Electric Cooperative (VEC) is now offering a $250 bill credit to members who purchase a Level II electric vehicle charger. As part of the credit, members will be asked to refrain from charging their cars from 5pm-9pm on weekdays, when demand for electricity typically peaks and electricity is generated from dirtier and more expensive sources.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott recently joined local, state, and federal partners to announce more than $2.7 million in community development grants to 10 communities throughout Vermont, including the Town of Castleton in partnership with Castleton University. Castleton University was awarded a $130,000 subgrant through the Town of Castleton to assist with the development of the Early Childhood Lab, a public childcare center that will be located on the Castleton University campus.

The Early Childhood Lab will be located in the current President's House, and funds from the grant will be used to renovate the building to turn it into a first-rate learning lab and childcare center, as well as to create an outdoor playground.