Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Two-thirds of US corporate decision-makers have not locked in favorable rates to mitigate their interest rate and foreign exchange exposure, a decision that can cost their firms millions of dollars, according to a survey released November 21 by Citizens Bank. Citizens has branches across Vermont. Despite this reality, the survey found that business leaders expect rates to continue to rise and the value of the dollar to fluctuate due to tariffs and other macroeconomic factors.

Vermont Business Magazine Suicide Six Ski Area at the Woodstock Inn & Resort has invested $400,000 to upgrade its snowmaking infrastructure for the 2018/2019 season with the installation of 10 new TechnoAlpin snow producers. For the first time snow production on “The Face,” the mountain’s signature trail, and the ski and snowboard learning center, will be fully automated. The snow guns replaced by the new technology have been reallocated to other areas of the mountain to phase out aged snow guns and ultimately create higher quality snow and shorter production times across the ski area’s 24 trails and slopes.

​Vermont Business Magazine Heady Vermont has launched Unhidden: A Curious Cannabis Podcast. As the global wave of cannabis legalization gains momentum, and transforms the lives of enthusiasts, explorers, healers, and entrepreneurs - not to mention veterans, pets, and CBD-loving Grandmothers - host Kathryn Blume will explore the search for success, health, pleasure, and justice in an increasingly green - and slightly sticky - world.

by Robert Zulkoski, Social Entrepreneur Although our lives might appear more complicated and convoluted than the lifestyles of fifty years ago, dirt farmer wisdom takes us back to our roots and brings us down to earth, gently guiding us toward a simpler, more satisfying life…the Vermont of our past which we stubbornly cling to as a comfort, which we can maintain even while we successfully adapt to the new digital age.

Vermont Business Magazine The Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission (CCRPC) will aid the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) in cleaning up state waters through the incorporation of potential projects into DEC’s Watershed Projects Database. This Database is a key component of the DEC’s Tactical Basin Plans that address water quality issues throughout the State. These plans prioritize water quality problems, consider alternatives, and recommend solutions and funding sources. The Database keeps track of potential projects to address these problems as well as assess project readiness. For example, some projects are only at the scoping level and would need further definition while others have been fully designed with both construction plans and cost estimates prepared.

Vermont Business Magazine In his newest collection, In the Wild, recently released by Button Street Press, the acclaimed New Yorker cartoonist illustrates country life, exurbanites and the ironies of living in the boonies. His cartoons have Vermonters looking at city folk, and city folk looking at Vermonters. Koren’s humor, his humanoid, fuzzy, puzzled and brave creatures will delight the reader, country dweller or not. In this latest collection of cartoons on country life, drawn from his porch in Vermont, nothing is sacred: vegetarians, parenting, animals, gourmands, country stores…all are examined with the unique perspective and creativity of this brilliant observer (and artist) of “the wild.”

Vermont Business Magazine The League of American Bicyclists has honored the University of Vermont with a Gold-level Bicycle Friendly University award in recognition of the institution’s achievements in promoting and enabling safe, accessible bicycling on campus. The program, which now includes 193 BFU colleges and universities, is part of the League’s larger program and mission to create a Bicycle Friendly America for everyone.

Vermont Business Magazine As the holiday shopping season begins, the City of Burlington and its partners are excited to announce a series of promotions for free parking in downtown Burlington. As part of an ongoing commitment to support the commercial dynamism of Burlington’s downtown, the City, Church Street Marketplace (CSM), and the Burlington Business Association (BBA) have arranged the following promotions beginning on Black Friday (November 23) and lasting until Christmas:

Vermont Business Magazine Mount Mansfield Maple Products announced today that their Coffee-Infused Organic Maple Syrup is included in this year’s Oprah’s Favorite Things holiday gift list, featured in the December issue of O, The Oprah Magazine and on OprahMag.com. Available alone, or packaged in a beautiful, Vermont-made custom wooden crate, the Coffee-Infused Organic Maple Syrup can be purchased from Mount Mansfield Maple’s production facility in Winooski, at www.Mansfieldmaple.com, as well as in the Oprah’s Favorite Things storefront on Amazon at amazon.com/oprah or on the Amazon App anytime, anywhere.

Senator Patrick Leahy It is outrageous that House Republicans and the Trump Administration are continuing to hold up the Farm Bill negotiations over harmful and extreme forestry provisions. Secretaries Perdue and Zinke shockingly are trying to co-opt the terrible tragedies in California to push for the Trump Administration’s crass, cynical and unaccountable logging of the public’s national forests.

Vermont Business Magazine The Attorney General’s Office and the Vermont Department of Human Resources have settled a dispute with the state’s pharmacy benefits manager for $503,500. The State’s pharmacy benefits manager, Express Scripts, oversees management of prescription benefits for the State’s employees and retirees. The state will receive the settlement amount in increased guaranteed prescription rebates payable in 2019 for prescriptions purchased in 2018. The settlement resolves a dispute about charges paid by the state several years ago under a now-expired contract.

“I am pleased that we were able to deliver real value to the State while resolving our disagreement. Health care is more expensive every year and Vermont taxpayers and State employees need to know that State government is looking out for them.” Attorney General Donovan said.

Vermont Business Magazine The Life Insurance Policy Locator, launched by the Department of Financial Regulation (DFR) through the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), has matched consumers with policies totaling $98,255 in the past 12 months, November 4, 2017 – October 31, 2018. The NAIC launched the free national locator service in November 2016 to make it easier to connect consumers with lost life insurance policies or annuities. In Vermont, 34 beneficiaries have been matched with $112,125 since November 2016.

“It is of the upmost importance for insurance companies to honor the commitments made to Vermonters and their beneficiaries,” said DFR Commissioner Michael Pieciak.

“This tool helps consumers easily navigate among each and every life insurance company licensed to do business in Vermont and connect them with any lost or unknown policies and any associated payments they are rightfully owed.”