Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The firm responsible for causing thousands of Vermont educators’ medical bills to be unpaid was fraudulent when it pitched its services to the state’s school districts, according to a lawsuit filed today by the state’s largest union. In its filing on behalf of the Burlington Education Association and others in Vermont Superior Court, Vermont-NEA accused Williston-based Future Planning Associates of consumer fraud and breach of contract. The suit seeks unspecified damages.

The NEA said in press release that the failure of Future Planning to properly process claims and reimbursements has wreaked havoc on thousands of educators, some of whom 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 The Vermont Democratic Party has reached an agreement with their staff union, an affiliate of the United Steelworkers (USW) Local 4. The three-year contract includes a 3% COLA, 100% employer paid healthcare and a vehicle to join the Green Mountain Secure retirement plan. “The USW applauds the Vermont Democratic Party for its leadership by example in recognizing its campaign staff’s desire to organize and bargain collectively as members of our union through card check recognition,” said John Shinn, Director of USW District 4. “Clearly, and especially when it comes to respecting that all work has dignity, our organizations share important values and beliefs.”

Vermont Business Magazine Lamoille Housing Partnership (LHP) announces the appointment of two new members to its Board of Trustees. Joining LHP’s Board of Trustees is Brian Story of Johnson, and Graham Mink of Stowe. “We are always on the lookout for caring, thoughtful individuals to help LHP continue moving forward to meet our mission,” said Lamoille Housing Partnership Executive Director, Jim Lovinsky. “Brian and Graham bring a wealth of municipal and private development expertise and experience to our board, along with their interest and energy. Welcome!”

Brian Story has been Johnson’s Town Administrator since 2016; prior to this he had a career in teaching, as well as an extensive resume of involvement in public service. “I was eager to join the LHP board because I want to help address the challenges that families face when they do not have quality affordable housing,” said Story.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets has released two Request for Proposals (RFPs). VAAFM is making available up to $90,000 of funding from these two programs to assist eligible Vermont farmers and food businesses to make upgrades to their operations and improve the sustainability of their businesses. The application period for both grant programs will be open from Monday, January 7, 2019 until Thursday, January 31, 2019 at noon. Awards will range from $2,000 to $5,000.

“These important dollars are targeted at making food safer while making farming more affordable. There is a major federal change underway in the produce safety world and the Agency wants Vermont farmers to be equipped and prepared for that change. These grants will help our farmers,“ says Secretary Anson Tebbetts.

Vermont Produce Safety Improvement Grants

Vermont Business Magazine As part of Governor Phil Scott’s “Capitol for a Day” initiative last week, he toured a wildlife underpass project along Route 15 in Wolcott on lands owned by the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department. The project promotes safe movement of wildlife under the road and is being completed through a partnership with VTrans, Vermont Fish & Wildlife, The Nature Conservancy and the town of Wolcott.

The Wolcott Wild Branch Project will include a wildlife shelf under the Route 15 bridge that encourages wildlife to pass safely under the bridge, in addition to tree plantings on the surrounding lands along the bridge that will allow wildlife to safely approach the underpass. The project also includes the removal of a nearby bridge owned by the town of Wolcott. The bridge abutment sits in the water acting as a barrier to both water and wildlife and had causes dangerous ice jams in the winter.

Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department announces the release of the colorful 2019 Fish & Wildlife Calendar. The calendar is filled with stunning photos of Vermont wildlife, including moose, bald eagle, longnose gar, white-tailed deer, and yellow warbler. It includes photos by many well-known Vermont photographers including Roger Irwin, Jim Block, and Kurt Budliger.

Vermont Business Magazine This afternoon, Representative Peter Welch (D-Vermont) spoke on the House floor in support of a five-year compromise farm bill hammered out by House and Senate negotiators over the last several weeks. Welch touted the overall benefits of the bill for Vermont, including provisions that benefit the dairy, maple, organic and hemp industries. He also applauded the jettisoning of draconian cuts to nutrition programs for children and low income Vermonters.

The agreement was overwhelmingly approved by the House 369-47 and by the Senate yesterday on a vote of 87-13. President Trump is expected to sign the $867 billion measure.

Vermont Business Magazine Vail Resorts, Inc (NYSE: MTN) today announced that the company plans to invest approximately $175 million to $180 million in the guest experience in time for the 2019-20 winter ski and snowboard season across its network of 18 resorts, including at Okemo in Vermont. This latest investment is in addition to approximately $150 million invested for this season, bringing the company's industry-leading resort investment total to more than $1.2 billion over the last decade.

by Janet McLaughlin Recent coverage of the Child Care and Prekindergarten Capacity Baseline Report by the Vermont Legislative Joint Fiscal Office has largely misread the findings of that study. We do have a child care crisis in Vermont—the shortage of early educators and lack of spaces affect nearly every aspect of life in our state. It is a situation that will only get worse if we fail to address it.

Vermont Business Magazine Champlain College Online, a leader in career-focused adult higher education, on Tuesday reported that Fall 2018 enrollment in its bachelor’s degree programs grew 19 percent over the previous year, following the not-for-profit college’s decision this past spring to reduce its online undergraduate tuition by 50 percent. “The response to our undergraduate tuition reduction has been overwhelmingly positive, and it is reflected in our enrollment numbers,” said Donald J. Laackman, president of Champlain College. “Our bold decision to reduce tuition was driven by our desire to help eliminate one of the top barriers many working adults face in returning to school—cost. It is encouraging to know that we are successfully creating pathways for more adults to accomplish their career and life goals through online education.”

Vermont Business Magazine Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc (NYSE: BHLB) ("Berkshire") and SI Financial Group, Inc (NASDAQ: SIFI) announced Tuesday that they have signed a definitive merger agreement under which Berkshire will acquire SIFI and its subsidiary, Savings Institute Bank and Trust Company, in an all-stock transaction valued at $180 million based on Berkshire's stock price as of the close of business on December 10, 2018. Berkshire Hills is the parent of Berkshire Bank with branches in southeastern Vermont.

Berkshire's total assets will increase to $13.6 billion including the $1.6 billion in acquired SIFI assets. SIFI reported $1.3 billion in loans and $1.3 billion in deposits as of September 30, 2018. This merger agreement increases Berkshire's market presence with 18 branches in Eastern CT and 5 branches in Rhode Island, adding to Berkshire's existing 9 Connecticut branches.

Vermont Business Magazine TD Bank increased its US Small Business Administration (SBA) lending portfolio in 2018 to take the position as top lender in eight states and in Washington, DC, up from seven states in 2017. In addition, TD Bank ranked second nationwide for number of 7(a) loan units approved during the SBA's fiscal year. TD Bank ranks second in Vermont in SBA financing.