Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Weekly unemployment claims fell again and now are approaching the extremely low 200-range. For the week of July 14, 2018, there were 304 claims, 31 fewer than than they were the previous week, and 72 fewer than they were a year ago. Altogether 3,473 new and continuing claims were filed, a decrease of 328 from a week ago, and 449 fewer than a year ago. For most weeks of 2017 and 2018 claims have been below the year before. Vermont is currently in a historically low period of unemployment.

City of Burlington Department of Public Works During last night’s intense storm event – qualifying as a greater than “10 Year Storm” over a 30 minute period - Burlington's Main Wastewater Treatment Plant performed well and all test results so far have been within permitted levels. The plant treated and fully disinfected more than 12 million gallons of stormwater and wastewater last night alone – far more than the average daily flows of 3-4 million gallons. While the plant has historically run without operators during off-hours (though, with operators on call), due to recent equipment and process challenges the plant was staffed throughout last night’s storm.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agricultural Hall of Fame is pleased to announce the 2018 inductees. Now in its 16th year, the Hall has inducted 75 Vermonters to date. To reflect the evolving face of Vermont agriculture, for the first time this year, the Hall will induct outstanding individuals in three categories: Emerging Leader, Ag Innovator, and Lifetime Achievement.

Vermont Business Magazine More than 10,600 megawatts of solar power were installed last year in the United States, and Burlington, Vermont-based solar project developer and installer Encore Renewable Energy has been recognized again by Solar Power World magazine for its growing contributions to the industry. Encore was recognized as a top 25 solar development company in the US, with a ranking of 23. Additionally, Encore achieved a rank of 123 out of 500 solar companies on the magazine's 2018 Top Solar Contractors list.

Senator Patrick Leahy Today, Congress must heed the clear warnings of our Intelligence Community and take an important step – a meaningful step -- toward defending our democracy. If we do nothing, we leave our elections vulnerable to an aggressive foreign adversary fully intent on destabilizing our country. To this Vermonter, and many of the Senators in this chamber, this is a simple choice, and a solemn responsibility.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, Department of Environmental Conservation has reported new wastewater incidents in Rutland, Burlington and St Albans following rain Wednesday. The largest was in Rutland over over 600,000 gallons. Large discharges have been reported recently in Rutland of over 9 million gallons (July 23) and in Burlington of about 3 million gallons (July 10).

NEWLY REPORTED OVERFLOWS. These overflows are pending review from DEC Wastewater staff

Vermont Business Magazine Representatives of Ben & Jerry's and farm worker rights organization Migrant Justice joined Wednesday to celebrate profound changes underway in the region's dairy industry. The implementation of the worker-driven human rights program Milk with Dignity in the ice cream company's Northeast supply chain is a story of progress and positive transformation at a time of falling milk prices and rising economic tensions.

Ben & Jerry's entered the Milk with Dignity program last October, becoming the first dairy business to do so. The company pays a premium to its participating farmers, who in turn agree to adhere to labor and housing standards in the program's worker-developed Code of Conduct. Farms commit to come into compliance with Vermont's minimum wage, offer five paid sick days and five paid vacation days a year, provide one day off per week, and meet a variety of housing, health and safety, and other labor standards.

Vermont Business Magazine The Land O'Lakes, Inc Board of Directors announced today its selection of Beth Ford as President and CEO of one of the nation's largest food and agricultural cooperatives and #216 on the Fortune 500. Ford assumes leadership of the company following the retirement of Chris Policinski. Ford will assume the role of President and CEO effective August 1. Land O'Lakes owns Vermont Creamery in Websterville, which it bought in March 2017 for an undisclosed sum. Vermont Creamery produces goat cheese and butter.

Coldwell Banker Hickok & Boardman Realty The number of properties sold in the first half of 2018, across all categories including single family, condos, multi-family, land and luxury properties, in northwest Vermont increased over the 1st half of 2017. This positive trend reflects strong buyer demand and is a welcomed sign after a moderate, but long-term decline in unit sales. The median and average sale prices continued to rise for single family, multi-family and land sales. Single-family unit sales were up 2.1% over 2017 in the first half. Newly listed properties declined by 6.7%. While inventory levels are still at near record lows, the 2nd quarter showed some moderate improvement.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Technical College announced Wednesday that their paramedicine program has received official accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). Initial full national accreditation was granted to the new Paramedicine certificate program. The CAAHEP is responsible for the specialized accreditation of paramedicine education programs. The program is the first fully accredited paramedicine program in the state.

Vermont Business Magazine Efficiency Vermont and Sense have launched a pilot program with more than 200 Vermont households to assess how an innovative smart home technology can inspire people to use less energy and make their homes more efficient. Sense offers a home energy and awareness monitor that, combined with Efficiency Vermont programs and services, can transform how customers understand their own energy use and continuously encourage them to beat their "personal best" in saving energy.

Vermont Business Magazine Dynapower, the South Burlington-based technology leader in power electronics for energy storage, has received the prestigious 2018 Electrical Energy Storage (ees) Innovation Award for its DPS-375 DC-DC converter. The innovative DPS line of DC-DC converters significantly reduces the cost to couple battery energy storage with utility-scale solar plants. Dynapower’s DPS technology increases energy production and revenue of utility-scale solar projects.