Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The University of Vermont ranks among the Northeast’s “Best Colleges for LGBTQ Students,” according to a new ranking from Campus Pride. Campus Pride, in partnership with BestColleges.com, ranked “the most LGBTQ-friendly college in each state,” placing UVM first among Vermont schools. The Campus Pride Index is the premier national benchmarking tool that self-assesses LGBTQ-friendly policies, programs and practices.

Vermont Business Magazine Casella Waste Systems, Inc (NASDAQ: CWST), a regional vertically integrated solid waste, recycling and resource management services company based in Rutland, announced today that it has signed an Asset Purchase Agreement to purchase select solid waste assets in Albany, NY, and Cheshire, MA, from certain subsidiaries of Republic Services, Inc. The target assets to be acquired generate approximately $30 million of annualized revenues. 

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced the appointment of Xusana Davis as the state’s first executive director of racial equity. Davis will work with state government agencies and departments to identify and address systemic racial disparities and support the state’s efforts to expand and bring diversity to Vermont’s overall population.  

“Xusana’s leadership and experience are a perfect fit for this position, and she will be a valuable addition to our team,” said Governor Scott. “In this role, she will be critical to our work to ensure state government is demonstrating a full commitment to equal opportunity and treatment for all Vermonters, our visitors and our employees. This is an important step forward in our efforts to improve state government and strengthen our communities, both socially and economically, through real equality that values diversity.”

Case Resulted in Historic Vermont Supreme Court Ruling in January

Vermont Business Magazine ACLU of Vermont client Gregory Zullo has settled his racial profiling lawsuit against the State of Vermont. Under the terms of the settlement agreement, the State acknowledged that the 2014 stop and seizure of Mr. Zullo were unreasonable and will pay Mr. Zullo $50,000 plus mediation costs to resolve the case.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott on Wednesday signed H533, a workforce development bill that formally establishes the goal that 70 percent of working age Vermonters will hold a “credential of value” such as an apprenticeship, certificate, or degree, by 2025. Today less than 50 percent of Vermont workers have completed a credential beyond a high school diploma. In order to achieve the goal, approximately 68,000 more Vermont residents will need to possess a postsecondary credential by 2025.

“The prosperity of Vermont’s people and its communities is directly tied to the extent to which every person in Vermont can access, afford, and attain education and training after high school,” said Tom Cheney, director of Advance Vermont. “This goal sets an ambitious target to spur action both in and out of government.”

Vermont Business Magazine All three key indicators showed positive results as the state's jobless rate again fell to a new historic low. The Vermont Department of Labor released data on the Vermont economy for the time period covering May 2019. According to household data, the seasonally-adjusted statewide unemployment rate for May was 2.1 percent. This reflects a decrease of one-tenth of one percentage point from the revised April rate. The current seasonally-adjusted estimate of the number of unemployed Vermonters (7,328) as well as the statewide seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate are both once again new lows since the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics online historical series started in 1976.

Vermont Business Magazine People’s United Community Foundation, the philanthropic arm of People’s United Bank, NA, today announced that it awarded $52,000 to Vermont non-profits during its most recent grant cycle. Funding was allocated to 11 non-profit organizations in support of activities that ranged from basic needs services and affordable housing initiatives, to education and workforce development programs. Some of the grant recipients included:

• Committee on Temporary Shelter, Burlington
• Groundworks Collaborative, Brattleboro
• Martha’s Kitchen, St. Albans
• The Mentor Connector, Rutland

The People’s United Community Foundation also contributed 19 percent of its funding to local United Way organizations across its footprint through the People’s United Bank employee match campaign. Recipients included United Way of Northwest Vermont, United Way of Rutland County and United Way of Windham County.

Vermont Business Magazine The Trump administration’s Title X gag rule took effect Thursday in every state but Maryland, after a ruling by a panel of the US Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit. Just Wednesday, the House of Representatives passed a spending package that would block the gag rule from being implemented, Planned Parenthood said in a statement, because it’s dangerous, it’s unethical, and it’s illegal –– and now the Senate must act.

Planned Parenthood is the only Title X provider in Vermont. Trump’s gag rule makes it illegal for health care providers in the Title X program to refer patients for abortion, and also blocks access to care at Planned Parenthood by imposing cost-prohibitive and unnecessary “physical separation” requirements. Planned Parenthood has a limited emergency fund that will allow affiliates to continue care for patients in the short term, while seeking further emergency relief from the 9th Circuit.

Vermont Business Magazine Bardo: A Night In The Life took home a New England Emmy award this weekend for audio work by Dave Rice, Audio Engineer; Josh Sicard, Sound Technician; and Joe Egan, Audio Mixer. Bardo is a collaboration between Vermont PBS and Higher Ground to transport viewers from live performances to the life of the performer. The series combines behind-the-scenes conversations between host Ryan Miller of the band Guster and an exciting array of artists, with live HD concert footage filmed by Vermont PBS at Higher Ground.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Teddy Bear Company has announced big plans to celebrate 38 years in Bear business: A birthday bash of epic "paw-portions." On Saturday, June 29^th from 11am – 2pm, the sprawling Vermont Teddy Bear campus in Shelburne will be host to this FREE event, open to Bear lovers of all ages, shapes and sizes. The birthday celebration will feature diverse activities and food options the whole family can enjoy, while the factory's daily tours and retail shop will be operating and open to all visitors.

Free Family Activities

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced actions on the final group of bills passed by the Legislature. Bills delivered with a message or statement are noted and linked below. They included S18, the consumer justice bill. Scott said he did not object to the essence of the bill but believes it may well be pre-empted by federal law and thus not provide the assurances consumers in Vermont might assume with its passage. But he let it become law without his signature in any case.

On June 19, Governor Scott signed bills into law of the following titles: