Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Energy Action Network (EAN) today released a major new report summarizing what Vermont can learn from the “Cap and Invest” approach that has been successfully used by Quebec, California, and nine northeastern states to reduce climate pollution while helping to grow local economies. A “Cap and Invest” system has been in use since 2009 in Vermont, along with eight other northeastern states participating in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), to reduce pollution from the electric sector. Unlike some other states and provinces, however, Vermont has not yet applied the “Cap and Invest” framework to fossil fuel pollution outside of the electric sector.

by Representative Heidi E Scheuermann (R-Stowe) As we near the end of the 2019 Legislative Session, it is a good time to take stock of some of what we have done thus far. First, I am exceptionally disappointed in the decision by Judge Mello to dismiss all of the Stowe/Elmore-Morristown School Districts claims in our appeal of the State Board of Education decision to merge our two districts.
 

Vermont Business Magazine Lucky babies born May 29 in Vermont will receive $100 deposit into a Vermont 529 college savings account opened by the Vermont Student Assistance Corp. Plus, one lucky Vermonter – baby or not – will be chosen to receive $529 in a college savings account in an online month-long drawing. To enter, visit vsac.org or vheip.org between May 1 and May 31.

Vermont Business Magazine Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) today announced the 10 states with the fastest-growing small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) selling in Amazon’s stores. Vermont ranked 8th fastest. The report examined year-over-year sales growth of businesses selling in Amazon’s stores across all 50 states and found that SMBs in Mississippi are growing the fastest, with businesses in Nebraska, Maine, Texas, and Indiana rounding out the top five. Third-party gross physical merchandise sales – primarily comprised of SMBs selling in Amazon stores – surpassed $160 billion in 2018 and make up more than half of the units sold in Amazon’s stores.

Vermont State Police On April 30, 2019 at approximately 1:00 pm a 911 call came in from the Administrative offices of Bennington College reporting a fire in the building. The staff was alerted to the fire by a contractor that was performing work on the outside of the building. At that time the North Bennington Fire Department was alerted and responded to the scene. Due to the amount of smoke and fire upon arrival additional assistance was requested and members of the following departments responded: Bennington FD, Shaftsbury FD, Bennington Rural FD, Hoosick Falls NY FD and North Hoosick Falls NY FD. Due to their efforts along with Bennington College Security everyone was safely evacuated and they were able to prevent extensive damage or spread of the fire. No injuries were reported.

Vermont Business Magazine Green Mountain Power (GMP) is launching a revolutionary energy delivery system to provide customers increased resiliency during outages, while also adding convenience and helping them cut carbon. The Resilient Home program uses a patent-pending approach to energy delivery, so customers can use a battery system for reliability and to measure their energy usage. Customers can say goodbye to relying on a traditional meter to measure power use, and say hello to the comfort and convenience that home battery backup power brings.

Vermont Business Magazine The American Lung Association today applauded and thanked Senators Virginia Lyons and Deborah Ingram and the Vermont Legislature for passing legislation (S.86) to raise the age of sale of all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, from 18 to 21. The House passed it last week 124-14. It would take effect September 1, 2019.

Vermont Business Magazine Norwich University’s Design Build Collaborative along with partners Downstreet Housing & Community Development and Washington County Mental Health Services announced today the near completion of LIFT, an affordable, energy-efficient tiny house designed and built by Norwich University students and faculty as a prototype for residents in need.

Leadership from all three organizations gathered on Friday, April 26, at Norwich University to announce the initiative and to showcase LIFT (rendering pictured), the first house completed under this project.

The partnership:

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Attorney General TJ Donovan announced today that an Oregon court has enjoined the federal government from implementing a new Title X funding regulation. Vermont joined the lawsuit to protect the basic healthcare needs of 10,000 Vermonters. Title X is the only national federal grant program that is dedicated solely to providing comprehensive family planning and preventative health care, such as cancer screenings. In Vermont, the only recipient of Title X funds are 10 Planned Parenthood health care centers located around the state.

Vermont Business Magazine The ninth annual Slow Living Summit will take place in Brattleboro on Thursday, June 6 and Friday, June 7. Presented by Strolling of the Heifers and Windham Grows, the Summit’s focus is “The Future of Women in Food Entrepreneurship” and its goal is to bring together diverse entrepreneurs in the farm and food industries, providing them with tools, resources, and mentorship they need to grow socially responsible businesses.

Vermont Business Magazine Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC) Foundation has renamed its annual Vision Award for Distinguished Community Service for Sean Casey, a member of the SVHC Board of Trustees, who passed away suddenly last month. “Sean’s passing came as a tremendous shock to all of us and to the community,” said SVHC’s President and CEO Thomas A Dee, FACHE. “We miss his intellect, his sense of humor, and his generosity of spirit. In fact, Sean is exactly the type of person that we acknowledge for distinguished community service.” 

Tommy Harmon, the chair of the Board of Trustees added, “When one of our board members recommended we change the name of the award to reflect Sean’s legacy, everyone agreed. We will all take pride in calling it the Sean L Casey Distinguished Community Service Award.”