Current News

Vermont Business Magazine General Fund tax revenues fell below expectations for February and are now behind targets for the fiscal year. The vital personal income tax, after a strong January, was off by -11.25 percent, or -$3.02 million. A whopping increase in the corporate tax was undermined by a poor month in the insurance premium tax. February marks the eighth month of Fiscal Year 2019.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott’s and Governor Chris Sununu’s administrations have released the responses Vermont and New Hampshire received to their joint request for information (RFI) on administering and insuring the Twin State Voluntary Leave Plan, a bi-state voluntary paid family and medical leave program. The Legislature is currently working on a mandatory family leave plan. Last year, Governor Scott vetoed a mandatory plan supported by a payroll tax. Since then he and Sununu have developed a voluntary plan backed by the weight of about 18,500 twin state government employees and paid for with premiums.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Attorney General TJ Donovan announced today that his office has resolved Vermont’s lawsuit against more than two dozen of the nation’s largest refiners of gasoline. The State’s case, filed in June of 2014, alleged that these refiners caused widespread pollution of Vermont’s groundwater with the gasoline additive [Anchor] methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE). As a part of the settlement between the state and the gas companies, the state will receive a payment of $3.8 million. In return, the state has dismissed its remaining claims against the gasoline companies.

Vermont Business Magazine Often touted as the single-most important day in a medical student’s medical school career, Match Day is the day when graduating medical students learn where they’ll spend the next three to seven years for specialty training. On Friday, March 15, 2019 beginning at noon EDT, fourth-year students at the University of Vermont’s (UVM) Larner College of Medicine and soon-to-be-doctors across the US and world will learn the location of their US residency program.

Vermont Business Magazine Wells Fargo today announced the company donated $225,000 to local nonprofits, schools and community organizations in 2018 to help the communities and people of Vermont in need. Wells Fargo’s philanthropic contributions build on a long history of collaboration with local nonprofits and community leaders to make a positive impact by addressing urgent community issues such as affordable housing, out-of-school time education for middle school students and job training for young adults. When combined with the $50,000 donated by the company’s Vermont team members, nonprofits in the state received a total of $275,000 from Wells Fargo and its team members in 2018.

The Mentor Connector received $15,000 last year.

Vermont Business Magazine RE/MAX All Seasons Realty, located in Newport and Lyndonville, VT.  Several Associates recognized for their sales achievements in 2018 at an Appreciation & Award Luncheon on February 27, 2019 at the Cow Palace, in Derby, VT.
 

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott and the Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economic Collaborative (VOREC) today announced that the Town of Randolph and the City of Newport are the first two recipients of the VOREC Community grants to help grow their local economies by promoting outdoor recreation. The program, which was proposed by the Governor based on VOREC recommendations and passed by the Legislature in 2018, awards grants of $10,000 to $100,000 to help Vermont communities fully leverage their local outdoor recreation assets to become “outdoor recreation friendly.”

Vermont Business Magazine Today, the Vermont Senate passed a bill (S.37) that helps Vermonters who have been harmed by toxic chemical contamination and face increased medical expenses, reduced property value, and other harms as a result of chemical contamination.  Last year, the Senate passed a similar bill and part of the bill was passed by the House but then vetoed by Governor Phil Scott.

Current law is tipped significantly to favor corporations who can attempt to avoid responsibility for paying for the harm they cause by arguing that they met certain permit or industry standards that should shield them from liability. As a result, innocent victims and Vermont taxpayers can be left to pay the costs of harm caused by toxic pollution. 

Vermont Business Magazine Representative Peter Welch (D-Vermont) and Rep Mike Simpson (R-Idaho) today re-introduced bipartisan legislation in the House that requires the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to take enforcement action against manufacturers labeling non-dairy products as dairy. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) cosponsored the Senate version of the bill introduced today by Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc) and Sen James Risch (R-Idaho).

Vermont Business Magazine If your household income is less than $54,000 annually, then you probably qualify to have your taxes done for free through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)Program at Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity (CVOEO). Check the CVOEO Website at www.cvoeo.org to confirm eligibility, and to learn what to bring to your tax appointment. Then all one has to do is call 211 and choose Option 5 to make an appointment. 

You can also get your Renter Rebate completed with Travis Poulin on Tuesdays or Saturdays, by contacting him for an appointment at 862-2771 ext. 736 or email [email protected].

Vermont Business Magazine Tech support scams are back on the rise. Vermont Attorney General TJ Donovan is alerting Vermonters about a tech support scam as part of a nationwide crackdown on fraudsters who try to trick consumers into buying fake tech support and repair services. The tech support scam is the third most common scam reported to the AG’s Consumer Assistance Program (CAP). The scam uses fake pop-up ads purporting to be Microsoft, or another legitimate company, to lure consumers to send money for virus protection or other tech support. This scam may also be done by phone.

Vermont Business Magazine The Burlington Business Association has announced the 2019 BBA Award Winners. These awards honor innovative business practices, individual contributions, and architectural achievements. Award winners will be honored 41st BBA Annual Dinner on April 4, 2019, at the Hilton Burlington. Citizen Cider is the 2019 Business of the Year; Business Person of the Year is Larry Williams; Architectural Excellence Award is the University of Vermont Alumni House.