Current News

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Labor announced today that the seasonally-adjusted statewide unemployment rate for October was 2.8 percent. This reflects a decrease of one-tenth of one percentage point from the revised September rate. However, the lowered unemployment rate is largely due to a decline in the Labor Force, which shrunk by 1,127 workers. The number of Employed also fell, by 861. The only bright spot was a decrease in the number of unemployed by 266.

Vermont Business Magazine Weekly unemployment claims last week fell but are at a higher level than they've been for several months. For the week of November 10, 2018, there were 510 claims, 62 fewer than they were the previous week, and 29 fewer than they were a year ago. Altogether 3,014 new and continuing claims were filed, an increase of 243 from a week ago, but 215 fewer than a year ago. For most weeks of 2017 and 2018 claims have been lower than the year before. The last spike in claims came in late June (799 claims) during the end-of-school transition. Vermont, like the nation as a whole, is locked into a historically low period of unemployment.

by Katie Powers CCV Students at CCV-Winooski are getting a taste of the maker movement—which might sound trendy and abstract, but it’s actually pretty basic: it’s literally about making things. And these students are loving it for a pretty basic reason: they get to work with their hands, turning their ideas into reality.

Vermont Business Magazine A combination of world-class snowmaking and strong early-season snowfall will allow both Stowe and Okemo Mountain Resort to open earlier than in most prior years, on Friday, November 16. Vermont is expected to get upwards of a foot of new snow Thursday night. Stowe will offer top-to-bottom skiing and riding with over 2,000 vertical feet of continuous terrain off of the Four Runner Quad chairlift on Mount Mansfield, Vermont’s highest peak. Open trails on Mount Mansfield will consist of intermediate to advanced terrain, with beginner lifts and trails scheduled to open on Spruce Peak by Thanksgiving. The Four Runner Quad will open at 8 a.m. this Friday, Nov. 16, and for all weekdays throughout the season, and 7:30 am on weekends and holidays.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont’s Killington Resort, the largest ski and snowboard resort in Eastern North America, has received a positive snow control announcement from FIS (Internal Ski Federation), the governing body of the Audi FIS Ski World Cup. This is no mere formality. Two years ago races were canceled in Colorado and Lake Louise, Canada, because of poor snow conditions about the same time Vermont celebrated the return of championship racing at Killington. The early date for these races does mean that weather conditions have to be conducive for making snow, which they easily have been this year in southern Vermont. Both Killington and Mount Snow (a record early start) have already opened for the season.

Vermont Business Magazine To protect worker safety and improve the value of Vermont’s recyclables, the Agency of Natural Resources has launched a campaign to reduce recycling contamination. The Agency worked with Chittenden Solid Waste District and Casella Waste Systems to identify the top four contaminants at their recycling facilities and created advertisements to let people know these items don’t belong in blue recycling bins: plastic bags, batteries and electronics, food-contaminated recyclables, and scrap metal.

Vermont Business Magazine The cold weather is upon us and Vermont Gas is offering easy ‘do-it-yourself’ (DIY) safety and efficiency tips to ensure customers are safe and comfortable in their homes all winter long.

Vermont Business Magazine The US Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday advanced the nomination of retired Essex Police Chief Brad LaRose to be Vermont’s next US Marshal. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) and Governor Phil Scott (R) had jointly recommended LaRose to President Trump in January to fill the vacancy, and the President nominated him in June.

Vermont Business Magazine At a gathering to celebrate Goddard College’s new $2.5 million woodchip district heating plant, the Biomass Energy Research Center (BERC) and Renewable Energy Vermont (REV) released a report Wednesday called Expanded Use of Wood Heating in Vermont. With Vermont’s Comprehensive Energy Plan to meet 90 percent of the state’s energy needs through renewables, the organizations said in a statement that advancing wood heating is a critical part of meeting our climate commitments. The report offers a roadmap to reach 35 percent of Vermont’s heating demands with wood heating by 2030.

REV's Ansley Bloomer, left, and Goddard College President Dr Bernard Bull at the ribbon cutting for the new woodchip heating plant. REV photo.

Vermont Business Magazine On Thursday, November 8, 2018, the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets (VAAFM) filed the adopted rule amendment to the Required Agricultural Practices (RAPs) with the Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules (LCAR) and the Secretary of State (SOS). The amendment includes requirements for reducing nutrient contributions to waters of the State from subsurface tile drainage on agricultural fields. The new rule will become effective November 23, 2018.

Vermont Business Magazine In honor of Native American Heritage month and in the spirit of Thanksgiving, Vermont Evaporator Company is challenging the Vermont maple industry to join it in making a difference for native New Englanders by donating a portion of November sales. Vermont Evaporator Company has identified its chosen beneficiary as the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe of Massachusetts.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont State Police Bomb Squad safely disposed of commercial explosives including dynamite found in a private residence in Wallingford on Wednesday, November 14, 2018, according to a VSP press release. On Thursday, November 1, VSP-Rutland was contacted by an employee from an auction company regarding a suspected explosives magazine found at a property in Wallingford that was being prepared for sale. Information obtained by the auction company suggested explosives still were stored within the magazine. A trooper from the Rutland field station responded to the scene and verified the presence of the magazine. The magazine was determined to be secured. The former property owner was found to have previously held a Vermont explosives license. A bomb technician responded to the scene to complete further assessment on Friday, November 2. At that time, the contents of the magazine could not be verified.