Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Grassroots Solar, Inc of Dorset was recently named one of the recipients of the 2018 “Brilliance Awards” by Sonnen Batterie, the global leader in intelligent residential energy storage based in Germany. These new awards are bestowed upon thought leaders and innovators who, in partnership with Sonnen, have demonstrated a tireless commitment to creating a cleaner and more reliable energy future for all through innovation, collaboration and customer education.

In giving the award, Sonnen stated, “As an active advocate for energy storage, Grassroots Solar is creating a clean energy future through extensive homeowner education. This includes advocating with local and state representatives as well as their innovation with projects in Puerto Rico to increase awareness about energy resilience for people devastated by climate disasters.”

Vermont Business Magazine Commonwealth Dairy today received $57,207 in Vermont Training Program (VTP) grants from the Agency of Commerce & Community Development’s (ACCD) Department of Economic Development to up-skill 147 of its employees. The workforce development grants will support production skills training for current workers, increasing the capacity of Commonwealth’s Brattleboro facility while maintaining quality production of the company’s high-quality Greek yogurt. The training will strengthen employees’ knowledge and ability, helping Commonwealth thrive in the highly-competitive Greek yogurt industry.

Vermont Business Magazine On October 25^th the Lamoille Economic Development Corporation celebrated its 50^th anniversary at is annual luncheon meeting held in the Community Center at Green Mountain Technology and Career Center. In addition to a spectacular lunch catered by Black Diamond BBQ in Morrisville there were several highlights that kept the audience of 104 engaged.

by US Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) Unable to credibly defend his corporate tax giveaways or Republicans’ unending zeal to strip healthcare and coverage of pre-existing conditions from millions of Americans, President Trump, one week ahead of an election that could place a check on his presidency, is returning to a familiar playbook: deploying demagoguery to distract and divide us. This time by using a caravan of vulnerable migrants and asylum seekers a thousand miles from our border as scapegoats to foment irrational fears and rally his most ardent believers.

Vermont Business Magazine The union representing over half the staff at the Brattleboro Retreat have ratified a one-year contract. The summer had been a bitter one between management and workers following a sweeping schedule change for employees. Union members at times engaged in "informational pickets" at the private psychiatric hospital, but did not go on strike. While addressing those scheduling concerns, the new contract includes a $15 an hour minimum wage and sets a new pay scale for direct care staff.

The existing three-year contract expires today. The Brattleboro Retreat Local 5086 became part of United Nurses & Allied Professionals in 1999. The union represents about 550 nurses and mental health workers at the 870-employee facility.

The following is a joint statement from the Brattleboro Retreat and the United Nurses & Allied Professionals Local 5086:

Vermont Business Magazine On Tuesday Vermont Secretary of State Jim Condos held a press conference to discuss Vermont’s new Accessible Voting System at the Secretary of State’s office, located at 128 State Street in Montpelier. Condos was joined by Disability Rights Vermont (DRVT) Supervising Attorney AJ Ruben, Vermont Center for Independent Living (VCIL) Executive Director Sarah Launderville and Barre City Clerk Carol Dawes. The included a demonstration of the Accessible Voting System by Kumeye Castillo.

Vermont Business Magazine Entergy Corporation (NYSE: ETR) reported third quarter 2018 earnings today. Entergy, owner of the shuttered Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant in Vernon, reported earnings of $536 million, or $2.92 per share, on an as-reported basis and earnings of $693 million, or $3.77 per share, on an operational basis. This compared to third quarter 2017 earnings of $398 million, or $2.21 per share, on an as-reported basis and earnings of $424 million, or $2.35 per share on an operational basis.

“We are on track to meet our strategic, operational and financial objectives, and our accomplishments this year include major milestones in our transition to a pure-play utility,” said Entergy Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Leo Denault. “With strong results to date, we are affirming our core business UP&O adjusted guidance for the year, and we are raising our consolidated operational guidance.”

by Diane Abruzzini and Cairn Cross The valuation process can be murky for both entrepreneurs and investors. Private company stock is typically a “Level III” asset under ASC Topic 820 and its value “cannot be determined by using observable inputs of measures such as market prices or models.” Fair value is estimated rather than observed through readily observable market prices.

Vermont Business Magazine The Small Business Administration Vermont District Office is accepting nominations for its 2019 small business awards. Previous Vermont winners include Ben and Jerry’s, Switchback Brewing Company and Mamava, the 2018 Small Business Person of the Year winner. Since 1963, the SBA has recognized the outstanding achievements of America’s small businesses for their contributions to their local communities, and to the nation’s economy.

Vermont Business Magazine The University of Vermont College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences is pleased to announce the upcoming George D. Aiken Lecture, free and open to the public, and taking place November 1^st at 5pm at the UVM Ira Allen Chapel. This year’s lecture features Tan Le: innovator, inventor, entrepreneur, and Founder and CEO of Emotiv, a leader in wireless EEG brain monitoring technology.

Tan will recount her childhood fleeing from war-torn Communist Vietnam to her life as an immigrant in Australia, and how those circumstances have shaped her both personally and professionally as a successful female CEO of her neuroengineering company.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont State Treasurer Beth Pearce and a group of city and state treasurers and comptrollers last week sent a letter to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in opposition to a federal proposal to weaken light truck and car emission standards "that protect our environment from damaging greenhouse gas emissions and pollutants." Treasurer Pearce said that any attempt to roll back the standards could impose costs on consumers and negatively impact the US automotive industry.

Vermont Business Magazine This Saturday November 3, more than 200 people throughout Vermont and Northern New York will try to top each other, and competitors around the world, playing Dungeons & Dragons, Mario Brothers and many other video games for 24 hours straight. Players have been hard at work raising money from friends, relatives and community members to sponsor their efforts in the annual “Extra Life” event, with the proceeds supporting programs and services at the University of Vermont Children’s Hospital.