Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont gasoline prices are averaging $2.73 per gallon, up 3 cents for the week and up 5 cents for the month, but are 16 cents lower than at this time last year. The US average is $2.79. Meanwhile, Burlington gas prices have fallen 1.8 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $2.71/g, according to GasBuddy's daily survey of 100 stations. Gas prices in Burlington are 3.8 cents per gallon lower than a month ago, yet stand 22.2 cents per gallon lower than a year ago.

According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest gas is in Brattleboro ($2.57) while the highest is in Brandon ($3.19). In Burlington the cheapest is priced at $2.58/g while the most expensive is $2.86/g, a difference of 28.0 cents per gallon.

The cheapest price in the entire country today stands at $2.01/g while the most expensive is $5.49/g, a difference of $3.48/g.

Vermont Business Magazine The Senate Committee on Committees has appointed Erica Hare of Berlin to serve a four-year term on the Vermont Commission on Women. Hare is a graduate of Mount Holyoke College and the Stern School of Business at New York University. A dedicated nonprofit leader, Hare spent her early career managing financial and administrative operations at several Academic Medical Centers in her native New York City.

Upon moving to Vermont, she worked at Vermont College of Fine Arts in Montpelier for 10 years as the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. In 2019 Hare joined the Institute of Professional Practice, a $75 million multistate human services agency headquartered in Berlin, as the Chief Financial Officer.

Vermont Business Magazine The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that Melissa Ashley, 42, of Plattsburgh, New York, was sentenced today for embezzlement of Social Security funds over a three-year period. United States District Judge Christina Reiss sentenced Ashley to time served, restitution in the amount of $32,066.64, and three years of supervised release.

According to court records, from at least 2010 to 2017, Ashley was the designated representative payee for receipt of Supplemental Security Income on behalf of her minor daughter.

As representative payee, Ashley was obligated to use the SSI funds for the support and care of her daughter. In January 2014, Ashley’s daughter was removed from her care and taken into the custody of the Vermont Department of Children and Families.

Vermont Business Magazine Representative Peter Welch (D-Vermont) released the following statement this morning regarding his decision to support the impeachment of President Trump. A measure to start the process toward impeachment failed Wednesday on a vote of 332 to 95, with a majority of Democrats voting against it. Welch was among those who supported moving forward; no Republicans supported the measure, which was tabled. This is the first time that Welch has voiced his support for impeachment.

Vermont Business Magazine University of Vermont President Suresh Garimella and Interim Provost and Senior Vice President Patricia Prelock have announced the appointment of Jean Harvey, professor and chair of the Department of Nutrition and Food Science and associate dean for research, as interim dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

Vermont Business Magazine According to an annual independent survey of Vermont Gas (VGS) customers, nearly all respondents (98.7%) say they would recommend the Company to their friends and family. VGS has maintained these high customer scores for more than 10 years and has implemented new products such as Renewable Natural Gas and services such as paperless billing to reduce carbon and respond to customer needs.

“More than 53,000 families and businesses rely on our teams to provide safe, clean and affordable energy solutions along with exceptional customer experience. Hearing that they appreciate our hard work is deeply gratifying,” said Don Rendall, President and CEO of VGS. “There’s no doubt that Vermont’s energy landscape is evolving and our VGS team is committed to giving our customers the tools they need to reduce their carbon footprint today, including our award-winning efficiency programs and our first-in-the-nation renewable natural gas program.” 

Vermont Research News The use of dynamite by Vermont farmers was once a common practice for increasing crop production and manipulating the landscape. Yes, farming with dynamite. Vermont dairy farms produce approximately 321.25 million gallons of milk per year, 63% of the total milk produced in New England. However, milk also poses problems in wastewater management, as it is made up of soluble particles. Summer brings more cyclists and some of them are on E-bikes. An electric bike is at least 40 times more energy efficient than the average gas-powered car and nearly 10 times more efficient than an electric car.

Vermont Business Magazine Some 18,012 individuals or organizations claimed their missing money in the fiscal year ending June 30, a new single-year record for the free service managed by the Vermont State Treasurer’s Office. The Treasurer’s Office received $12.1 million of new property in FY2019, increasing the total amount on hand to $94.5 million. The 18,012 claims processed in the fiscal year improves on the previous record of 17,665 that was set last year.

“In fiscal year 2019, a record 18,012 citizens, businesses, and nonprofits were reunited with more than $6 million worth of unclaimed financial property,” said Treasurer Pearce. “We are continuing to reach more and more Vermonters with expanded outreach programs. We believe that this is all about consumer protection – making sure that Vermonters are reunited with their rightful property.”

Vermont Business Magazine Union Bankshares, Inc (NASDAQ - UNB) today announced results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019, and declared a regular quarterly cash dividend. Consolidated net income for the three months ended June 30, 2019 was $2.5 million, or $0.56 per share, compared to $2.5 million, or $0.54 per share, for the same period in 2018 and $5.2 million, or $1.15 per share, for six months ended June 30, 2019, compared to $5.2 million, or $1.16 per share for the same period in 2018.

Second Quarter Highlights

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today detailed efforts to strengthen and expand higher education opportunities in Vermont, an important piece of the strategy to reverse the state’s aging demographic and workforce challenges. According to the 2017 State of Higher Education in Vermont report, Vermont colleges and universities attracted more than 44,000 students a year and employed more than 11,000 Vermonters in 2015. More than half of the students were from out-of-state. An analysis by the Association of Vermont Independent Colleges recently showed that Vermont’s independent colleges alone contributed more than $2 billion annually to Vermont’s economy. 

Vermont Business Magazine The most expensive hotel in the United States can be found in the western state of Montana, according to a new survey by Luxury-Hotels.com. Twin Farms in Barnard, Vermont, ranked fifth priciest in the nation and twice the cost of staying at the Waldorf Astoria in Beverly Hills. Most of the top ten were out West.

​Vermont Business Magazine Today, AARP announced the awardees for its 2019 AARP Community Challenge grant program, including two recipients right here in Vermont. A total of nearly $1.6 million will be distributed to fund 159 “quick action” projects across the country, helping communities make immediate improvements and jumpstart long-term progress to support residents of all ages. In Vermont, grants totaling more than $42,000 were awarded to the cities of Newport and Bennington for specific community development projects in those communities.