Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Twenty Vermont small business owners concluded a seven-month executive education course October 12 at Vermont Technical College in Williston. Emerging Leaders is a free program sponsored by the Small Business Administration. The program includes approximately 100 hours of classroom time, connects small business owners with a network of industry experts and peers, and supports the creation of a three-year strategic growth action plan.

Vermont Business Magazine The Burlington Electric Department has contributed $20,000 to the WARMTH Support Program of the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity (CVOEO) to help Burlingtonians and Vermonters with heating emergencies this winter. During last year’s 2017-18 heating season, WARMTH served 337 Burlington households with 528 assists, or direct payments to Burlington Electric to keep the heat on, totaling $48,557.

Vermont Business Magazine Dr Julie Lowell has joined Public Assets Institute’s staff as a Policy Analyst. Lowell comes to Public Assets after working at Vermont Works for Women for four years, as both a program evaluator and a direct service provider. She has worked directly with survivors of domestic violence, families experiencing homelessness, and women exiting correctional settings, informing her advocacy at the state level to positively impact policy for individuals living in poverty.

“We’re delighted to welcome Julie to Public Assets. Her academic research and direct social-service work in Vermont make her a great addition to our staff,” Public Assets president and founder Paul Cillo said Monday.

Julie Lowell, PhD, Public Assets Institute

by Jake Brown When we flick on a light, or snap on the TV, chances are pretty slim that we think about the vast and sprawling connections – of power plants, people, machines and wires – that make up the electric grid. But as we celebrate national Co-op Month in October, we at the Vermont Electric Cooperative are taking note that VEC members are all linked to each other, not just by wires, but also by co-op values.

VEC’s core mission is to provide safe, affordable reliable electricity to our members. But importantly, we (you) are also a community-focused, non-profit entity that belongs to the communities we serve. VEC was built, and is led, by our members.

Specifically:

We are run by you, our members. VEC is governed by a 12-member, elected board of directors all of whom are members of the co-op themselves. The board sets the general direction for the co-op and is accountable to the community.

Vermont Business Magazine Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont (BCBSVT) is pleased to announce its competitively-priced, highest-ranking Medicare Part D prescription drug plan options for 2019. CMS’s five-star rating measures how well plans perform in the areas of quality of care, access to care, and customer service. BCBSVT also noted in a statement that it wants Vermonters to know that the annual Medicare Part D open enrollment period has started -- which runs from October 15 to December 7, 2018, with enrollment effective on January 1, 2019. This is the time when people eligible for Part D may sign up, switch plans or insurance carriers. Medicare prescription drug coverage (Part D) is available to anyone who receives Medicare Part A and/or is enrolled in Part B. Part D adds drug coverage to original Medicare and helps to lower prescription drug costs and protect from higher costs in the future.

Vermont Business Magazine An Ohio company has agreed to come into compliance with state and federal hazardous waste laws and to pay a penalty of $77,093 to settle claims by the US Environmental Protection Agency that it violated state and federal hazardous waste laws at its facility in North Clarendon.

Ellison Holdings, the owner of the Vermont facility, and Ellison Surface Technologies, the operator of the Rutland County facility, agreed to correct all violations of the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and state hazardous waste management laws and to stay in compliance with both laws.

“Protecting New Englanders from hazardous chemicals is a top priority at EPA,” said EPA Regional Administrator Alexandra Dunn in a press release. “It’s important to make sure our regulated community is in compliance with laws that keep facilities safe for workers and the community, which is why the settlement with Ellison Holdings is so important.”

Vermont Business Magazine In preparation for open enrollment, state officials have launched the 2019 version of an online tool that helps Vermonters weigh insurance options and choose the health plan that best fits their needs and budget. Recent changes mean that Vermonters buying plans individually could get $1,200 more in subsidies; meanwhile, the cost of popular Silver plans has gone way up, but unsubsidized businesses and individuals might qualify for “reflective silver” plans to hold costs down.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott and members of his Cabinet will be in Windham County on Tuesday, October 23 for a series of meetings and events throughout the county. The visit is part of the Administration’s Capitol for a Day initiative. "Capitol for a Day" has brought the governor and dozens from his Cabinet and Extended Cabinet to Rutland, Caledonia, Windsor, Franklin, Bennington, Addison, Chittenden and Orleans counties. According to the governor, it intends to give local constituents, municipal governments and other partners the opportunity to connect directly with State leadership and staff. The Administration aims to visit every county as part of the initiative.

Follow along on social media using the #VTCapitol4aDay hashtag.

WHEN: Tuesday, October 23

8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

(Details below)

WHERE: Various locations throughout Windham County

by J. Churchill Hindes, Chair, Board of Trustees, Vermont State Colleges System The State of Vermont has a rare opportunity this year to demonstrate its support for public higher education in this state without raising taxes or shifting money from other priorities. Read on. First, a little background:

According to the most recent State Higher Education Executive Officers Report, Vermont invests less per public higher education student than anywhere in the country.

That directly leads to Vermont having the highest public tuition rates in the country. Furthermore, it burdens Vermont families with the highest share of total public college costs nationwide.

by Philip Smith While economists closely follow the national unemployment statistics reported monthly by the U.S. Department of Labor, this does not always accurately reflect the challenges faced by manufacturing companies looking for skilled talent in today’s workforce. In my conversations with owners of manufacturing companies here in Vermont, the lack of skilled talent is one of their top concerns. There are a combination of factors at play nationally, including the need for newer skills created by the digitized manufacturing landscape as well as the shift from a baby boomer economy to younger generations. In their third manufacturing skills gap report, Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute¹ estimated 2.7 million baby boomers will retire by 2025, which will cause an enormous labor shortage to fill.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott Saturday attend the christening of the USS Vermont in Groton, Connecticut, addressing a crowd of approximately 4,000 members of the U.S. Navy, government officials, General Dynamics Electric Boat employees, and the crew and family members of the USS Vermont.