Current News

Comprehensive Plan Includes Up to $2,500 in Incentives for New Electric Vehicles, Plug-In Hybrids, Pre-owned Electric Vehicles, and Enhanced Rebate for Low-and Moderate-Income Customers with Free Home Charger  

Vermont Business Magazine Green Mountain Power is launching a new way for Vermonters to cut carbon and fight climate change by driving electric.  All GMP customers buying or leasing a new all-electric vehicle can now get a $1,500 rebate, new plug in hybrid customers can get $1,000, and customers getting pre-owned EVs can get a $750 rebate. Low and moderate income GMP customers can qualify for an extra $1,000 on all-electric vehicles for up to $2,500 in rebates. These are among the largest electric vehicle rebates offered to customers by any utility in the country. The GMP savings can be used in addition to dealer discounts already being offered plus up to $7,500 in federal tax credits.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Interfaith Power and Light (www.vtipl.org) has announced that through the Katy Gerke Memorial Program, five (5) Vermont churches received matching grants that helped them to implement energy efficiency projects during 2018; and, year-to-date in 2019, three (3) additional matching grants have been awarded.  These grants have helped churches to obtain professional energy audits, install insulation, energy efficient HVAC equipment, energy efficient lighting and weatherization that will reduce their operating costs and greenhouse gas emissions.  

The churches awarded matching grants in 2018, and year-to-date in 2019 are:

•  United Church of Dorset and East Rupert

•  East Arlington Federated Church

•  St. John Vianney Church, South Burlington

•  Shelburne United Methodist Church

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Chamber of Commerce will honor all the Hospitality Award Winners at the 36th Annual Vermont Tourism Summit on April 4th, 2019 at the Doubletree by Hilton, Burlington. Chef of the Year is Chef-Owner Sarah Natvig of The Black Krim Tavern in Randolph. Restaurateur of the Year is Brian and Karen Zecchinelli of the Wayside Restaurant, Bakery & Creamery in Montpelier. Innkeeper of the Year is Peter MacLaren of the West Hill House B&B in Warren. And the Tourism Partner of the Year is Paula Maynard of Hildene, The Lincoln Family Home.

“These awards celebrate our hospitality and tourism industry’s vast contributions to the economy and acknowledge these award winners as stand-out achievers within Vermont,” said Ronda Berns, Vice President of Tourism for the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, who will be presenting the awards. “These are the individuals who exemplify the Vermont brand,” she added. 

Vermont Business Magazine PC Construction, an employee-owned company headquartered in South Burlington, Vermont, has been awarded $88,511 in Department of Economic Development, Vermont Training Program grant monies. Funding will be used to supplement PC Construction’s overall training initiatives, which target technical, business, management and leadership skills for the company’s employee-owners. Specific areas of training include construction contracting, financial management, and leadership competency development. 

Burlington Telecom finally transferred to Schurz Communications

Vermont Business Magazine Over the last two days, the City of Burlington closed on the transfer of Burlington Telecom to Schurz Communications, marking the final step in the resolution of the city’s years-long financial crisis. The closing was announced Wednesday afternoon by Mayor Miro Weinberger. The closing follows the City Council’s 2014 unanimous decision to transfer Burlington Telecom to Blue Water LLC as part of the settlement agreement with Citibank; the Vermont Public Utility Commission’s February 19, 2019, order to grant certificates of public good and approve the sale; and Monday’s City Council 11-1 vote to authorize the final transaction between Blue Water LLC and Champlain Broadband, which is the local affiliate of Schurz Communications. Schurz is based in South Bend, Indiana. Despite the ownership change, it will still go by Burlington Telecom.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Senate today gave preliminary approval of a measure that would for the first time regulate so-called third-party administrators, the firms that handle Vermonters’ health reimbursement arrangements, health spending accounts and flexible spending accounts. The measure, supported by Vermont-NEA as well as the administration of Gov. Phil Scott, emerged a year after thousands of educators’ medical claims and spending accounts were mishandled in the wake of new health insurance plans that went into effect on January 1, 2018. 

Many of those educators are still sifting through the chaos wrought by the failure of third-party administrators to properly process claims and reimbursements. Many educators and their families avoided medical procedures, left prescriptions unfilled, and were refused care because of unpaid bills. Some were also threatened with collection agencies because of the unpaid bills.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Attorney General Donovan and attorneys general from Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Wisconsin today joined the coalition challenging President Trump’s declaration of a national emergency and his attempt to divert funding appropriated by Congress for other purposes. With these additional states, the coalition challenging the declaration includes 20 attorneys general. The coalition alleges that the Trump Administration’s emergency declaration and diversion of funds is unconstitutional and otherwise unlawful. The group seeks to block the Trump Administration’s emergency declaration, the unauthorized construction of the border wall, and any illegal diversion of Congressionallyappropriated funds.

by Doug Hoffer, Vermont Auditor of Accounts State government is a large and complicated enterprise. People understand the basic mission (i.e., public safety, health & well-being, infrastructure, etc.), but, for most, the inner workings are largely obscure. Some Vermonters try to learn about state government by seeking the documents that describe the mission, funding, and performance of state agencies. These documents include: budgets, performance reports, strategic plans, and information about contracts with vendors, among others.

by Patricia Moulton, President of Vermont Technical College Vermont’s clean and “green” reputation is alive and well. Yes, Vermont is the Green Mountain State, but it is also a leader in clean energy initiatives that boosts the other “green”- our economy. The current statewide pledge of 90 percent renewable energy by 2050 is an important initiative to keep Vermont green and bring home the gr$$n to its economy!

Vermont Business Magazine Students from Essex High School demonstrated their mastery of financial concepts by beating out eight other teams to win the 2019 Vermont Treasury Cup Challenge, a daylong financial education tournament hosted by Vermont State Treasurer Beth Pearce. High schoolers from across Vermont traveled to the State House on March 8^th to test their knowledge of personal finance, economics, and consumer affairs. Second place was won by students from South Burlington High School organized by teacher Jim Shields. Third place went to Missisquoi Valley Union High School students led by educator Jacob Hartman.

Vermont Business Magazine The Northeast Kingdom Young Professionals Network (NEK YPN), a committee of the Northeast Kingdom Chamber of Commerce, is pleased to present opportunities to engage and collaborate around the region in the month of March. NEK YPN will represent its work as a part of the new Women LEAD initiative on Monday, March 25, from 6 to 8 p.m., at the Eastside Restaurant and Pub, 47 Landing St., Newport. The event is a free fundraiser and mixer, designed to share upcoming leadership opportunities for females in the Northeast Kingdom.

Vermont Business Magazine Vice President Mike Pence addressed credit union leaders Tuesday morning at the Credit Union National Association’s Governmental Affairs Conference in Washington, DC. Included in his remarks he acknowledged the accomplishments of Vermont's Sara DeLance, from the Heritage Family Credit Union in Rutland, who was in attendance. DeLance rose from a part-time cashier to senior vice president and last year was named a Vermont Rising Star.

In his remarks, Pence said, "The men and women who run America’s credit unions — each one of you and all those you represent — you really do incredible work every day.  There’s really too many stories to tell today, but let me mention a few.