Current News

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Personal income tax revenues, Vermont's most vital revenue source, continues to exceed targets. General Fund tax revenues collected for the month of September totaled $137.88 million, or $11.95 million above the monthly consensus revenue target, according to Secretary of Administration Susanne Young. The Corporate tax was half-again above its target in helping to drive GF revenues. While the Rooms & Meals tax, which largely tracks tourism activity, finished slightly below targets. Through the last few years, including times when the personal income tax has struggled, the R&M has remained consistently buoyant.

Vermont Business Magazine Speaking in Vergennes this morning, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Christine Hallquist presented her plan to grow Vermont’s rural economy and revitalize communities across the state. Hallquist, in a statement, said, “Vermont, like rural areas across the country, is struggling. We see young people moving away to pursue economic opportunity elsewhere and our aging population struggles to access services and stay in their homes. It’s clear to me that we have control of our future - with the right investments in infrastructure, business, and people, we can reverse these demographic trends and grow Vermont’s economy, making our state a place that attracts people, talent, and investment.”

Vermont Business Magazine Social Sentinel, the market leader in providing safety and security insights from social media and public data sources, is heading to the Vermont Tech Jam annual career fair on Friday, October 19. The company will set up camp - literally - in the Champlain Valley Expo with its unmistakable Social Sentinel Sprinter van surrounded by a team ready to share the company mission, shared experiences and new opportunities available to join the team.

by Cairn Cross & Diane Abruzzini US Companies in multiple industries seek private capital to kindle a startup or fuel growth. Most entrepreneurs are aware of venture capital and angel investors as target sources of funds. Pop culture shows such as Shark Tank and Dragon’s Den, as well as press-earning “unicorn” valuations, have earned ‘Venture Capital’ a spot in layman’s language. Far less understood is the work of investment bankers – particularly those raising capital in the private market.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont’s Killington Resort has begun snowmaking in advance of the 2018 Audi FIS Ski World Cup on November 23-25, 2018. Killington Resort was the first Eastern American ski mountain to open its season to the general public in 2017 and last to close in 2018, in part because of the resort’s advanced snowmaking and grooming prowess. Killington Resort is the largest ski and snowboard resort in Eastern North America and part of the POWDR resort group.

Vermont Business Magazine Mayor Weinberger today awarded $100,000 in grants to help entrepreneurs start and grow more businesses in Burlington. Fully funded by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, the Mayor’s Prize for Entrepreneurship was first launched in October 2017 as a way to increase support for innovation and entrepreneurship in Burlington.

Vermont Business Magazine Barre City’s Deputy Fire Chief Joseph Aldsworth grew concerned as he kept finding increasing numbers of discarded needles around the community — in parks, playgrounds, and public restrooms. To Aldsworth, “syringes were the new soda cans when it came to litter.” The deputy chief took his concerns to community organizations and businesses including Central Vermont Medical Center, and reached out to Vermont Cares and the Department of Health local office in Barre. From this came the Greater Barre Safe Sharps Disposal Alliance, Vermont’s first major community-wide effort to create multiple options for safe sharps disposal and to raise public awareness about these options free of stigma.

Vermont Business Magazine North Country Hospital will soon have a new CEO. The Newport hospital announced in September that its Board of Trustees had appointed Brian Nall as the next Chief Executive Officer. He is expected to arrive and begin his duties in Vermont no later than November 1. Nall currently serves as President & CEO at HSHS Holy Family Hospital in Greenville, Illinois.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Patrick Leahy on Monday announced that a $525,000 federal grant will be awarded to the Howard Center’s Safe Recovery Program, so that those in immediate need of Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder will have access to buprenorphine on the same day they request it. Leahy was joined for the announcement by Bob Bick, Howard Center’s Chief Executive Officer; Vermont Attorney General TJ Donovan; Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger and Safe Recovery Program Coordinator Grace Keller.

Vermont Business Magazine The Governor’s Committee on the Employment of People with Disabilities (GCEPD) presented Gifford Health Care inRandolph with a 2018 Spirit of the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) Award during a ceremony Thursday afternoon, Octber 11, at Gifford Medical Center. Accepting the award on behalf of Gifford were Human Resources Recruiter Angela Allard, Environmental Services Manager Ruthie Adams and Chef William “Bill” Koucky. The three Gifford employees were recognized for their outstanding support of individuals with disabilities.

“Gifford Health Care is a true supporter and great partner assisting Vermonters of all abilities to become employed,” said Nat Piper of Creative Workforce Solutions, an initiative of the State of Vermont Agency of Human Services, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, during the award ceremony.

Vermont State Police On Sunday October 14, 2018, at about 11:28 am, the Vermont State Police St. Johnsbury barracks responded to a report of a dead body at 1549 Victory Road in the town of Concord. The body was discovered by a property owner, who spotted the body along the wooded edge of his driveway. The Vermont State Police are identifying the victim as Michael Pimental, 37, of Waterford. Police are attempting to locate a blue 2005 Ford F150 extended cab with Vermont plates 296A851. According to news reports, the deceased was being investigated in a heroin case.

Vermont Business Magazine The College Board's 2018 Trends in Higher Education reports released today—Trends in Student Aid and Trends in College Pricing—show a continuation of moderate growth in college prices and grant aid and declines in undergraduate student borrowing. For in-state students at public colleges, Vermont ($16,610) has the highest tuition in the nation; New Hampshire ($16,460) ranks second.