Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has confirmed that insects collected from ash trees in South Hero, VT are larvae of the emerald ash borer (EAB). This location is about fifty miles from the closest confirmed EAB infestation in Vermont. This invasive insect was first discovered in Vermont in February, and has also been confirmed in Orange, Washington, Caledonia, and Bennington counties.

State and federal agencies are planning a delineation survey based on tree symptoms to determine the extent of the newly detected EAB infestation. Landowners and other residents of South Hero and surrounding towns are urged to look for signs and symptoms of the insect and report suspicious findings on vtinvasives.org. Detailed information about the pest and what to look for may be found at the same website.

Vermont Business Magazine Two Vermont organizations have received $1.2 million in federal funds from the US Treasury Department’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund. The award was announced Tuesday by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont), Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) and Representative Peter Welch (D-Vermont). The CDFI Fund awarded $184 million in grants and loans to 264 community credit unions and loan funds across the country that provide affordable financial products and services in economically distressed areas.

Two Vermont programs received funds through these awards:

· NeighborWorks of Western Vermont received $500,000
· Vermont Community Loan Fund Inc. in Montpelier received $700,000

Vermont Business Magazine Chittenden County housing leaders, joined by Congressman Peter Welch, Vermont Speaker Mitzi Johnson and Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger, announced today that one of two housing production goals was being met for the county, indicating mixed results for the second year in a row. The Building Homes Together campaign, supported by over 100 local and state leaders, stayed on pace to create 3,500 new homes over five years but is falling short of a target of 700 new permanently affordable homes by the end of 2020.

“Every Vermonter should have the peace of mind that comes with a safe and affordable home. The Building Homes Together campaign has brought us a few steps closer to that goal. Today, we celebrate its success and recommit to the work ahead of us,” Congressman Peter Welch told the assembled crowd.

Vermont Business Magazine This afternoon, President Trump signed into law legislation co-authored by Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) that eliminates so-called “gag rules” imposed on pharmacists that prevent them from steering their customers to the lowest cost option when filling a prescription. Currently, contractual requirements imposed on pharmacists by pharmacy benefit managers forbid them from informing customers that their cost would be lower if they paid out of pocket rather than using their insurance plan. Pharmacists violating these rules have been subjected to significant penalties.

“In a time of skyrocketing prescription drug prices, it defies common sense that pharmacists are prohibited from helping customers save money on their medications,” said Welch. “This new law empowers pharmacists to steer customers to the lowest cost option when filling a prescription.”

Vermont Business Magazine The Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission (TRORC) has been awarded a $40,000 grant from the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, as part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency pass-through funds for Water Quality Management Planning. Funding will allow TRORC and other Regional Planning Commissions to conduct data collection of river corridor or stormwater master plans; conduct outreach and work with municipalities on possible support for reclassification of surface waters, wetlands, and Outstanding Resource Waters; and support water quality monitoring activities.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) and Representative Peter Welch (D-Vermont) announced Wednesday that Congress passed legislation that opens the door for Vermont to receive federal funds to repair three aging flood control dams. The America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 includes an amendment authored by Sanders in the Senate and Welch in the House that authorizes safety improvements at certain state-owned flood control dams constructed by the federal government before 1940. In Vermont, three dams – the Waterbury, East Barre and Wrightsville dams – are eligible to receive funding under this provision.

Waterbury Reservoir. VBM photo.

Company Expands Leadership Team with Rick Gibbs as it Brings Valuable Safety and Security Insights to the Education Industry

Vermont Business Magazine Social Sentinel of Burlington on Monday announced that Rick Gibbs has joined the company as president, effective October 1. Gibbs, the former CEO and co-founder of Dealer.com, has been an active adviser for, and an investor in, Social Sentinel since 2016, and member of the Board of Directors since late 2017. He brings to the executive team considerable expertise and success in software development and scaling companies at a time when Social Sentinel is poised for significant growth and expansion.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Chamber of Commerce announced Wednesday the selection of Leo O’Brien Jr and Daniel J O’Brien, founders of O’Brien Brothers, as the 2018 Citizens of the Year. Leo and Daniel will be celebrated at an awards dinner on Thursday, December 6 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel (formerly known as the Sheraton) in South Burlington.

Vermont Business Magazine During his Orleans County Capitol for a Day tour this week, Governor Phil Scott announced a new grant program available to help Vermont communities use outdoor recreation opportunities to grow their local economies. The Vermont Outdoor Recreation Communities pilot grant program, proposed by the Scott Administration and passed by the Legislature in Act 194, will award grants ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 to one or more Vermont localities to support development of “outdoor recreation friendly” communities.

The program was a recommendation from the Governor’s Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economic Collaborative (VOREC), which is working toward four primary goals:

Vermont Business Magazine On Tuesday Secretary of State Jim Condos joined Senators Chris Pearson and Michael Sirotkin, Representative Linda Myers, Deputy Secretary of Commerce & Community Development Ted Brady, and local business leaders at Stonecutter Spirits Highball Social in Burlington to discuss ongoing efforts to increase access and ease of use for business owners, entrepreneurs, and citizens who need to interact with Vermont government agencies.

Vermont Business Magazine Representatives Bob Goodlatte (R-Virginia), Peter Welch (D-Vermont), and Steve Womack (R-Arkansas) released the following statement on President Trump’s proposal to lift a federal ban on summer sales of gasoline containing 15 percent ethanol. The limit now is 10 percent. Welch, among others, had been an early supporter of ethanol until the repercussions of using corn for fuel became evident.

“Efforts to prop up the ethanol industry have been a well-intentioned flop, and today’s announcement from the current administration will profoundly impact consumers. By proposing to allow the sale of high-level ethanol blends during summer months, the administration has chosen to support a one-sided solution that further helps ethanol producers while punishing hardworking Americans.

Vermont Business Magazine Northern Vermont University-Johnson has received a five-year grant from the US Department of Education to boost student retention, broadening campus initiatives implemented in previous years that improved retention of first-year students. The $1.8 million Title III Strengthening Institutions grant, which began Oct. 1, will support measures to enhance student success through retention and graduation. The grant will enable NVU-Johnson to bolster academic and career advising, increase opportunities for undergraduate research and internships, and modify large, introductory courses that most first- and second-year students take in various disciplines. The grant creates integrated academic support for students and continues NVU-Johnson’s strong first-year experience with support for years 2-4.