Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Citizens Bank announced today that Citizens Commercial Banking led a new credit facility for SunCommon, Vermont’s largest provider of residential, community and commercial solar systems. The funds will fuel growth after SunCommon’s acquisition of Rhinebeck, NY-based solar provider Hudson Solar. Citizens is the sole lender. Terms of the credit facility were not released.

Vermont Business Magazine The TD Charitable Foundation, the charitable giving arm of TD Bank recently donated a total of $10,000 to the Committee on Temporary Shelter (COTS) as part of the foundation’s commitment to giving back to the community. COTS is the largest provider in Vermont of shelter and services for people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. It serves more than 2,400 people annually, from birth to age 65+, primarily low- and extremely-low income households who reside in Chittenden County.

Vermont Business Magazine On Thursday, June 21, the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board awarded $6,594,615 for housing developments that will help to build or rehabilitate 59 affordable homes and conserve 1,050 acres of farmland and 146 acres of recreational and forest land.

Vermont Business Magazine Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) issued the following statement Wednesday after US Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy announced his retirement. Justice Kennedy today advised his colleagues that he is submitting to the president a formal notification of his decision, effective July 31, to retire.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) announced today that Vermont will receive five new Social Security staffers at the agency’s three field offices in Burlington, Montpelier and Rutland. Since 2010, Vermont has lost almost a quarter of its Social Security field office staff because of national cuts to Social Security’s operating budget. Sanders noted that Vermont had the highest rate of Social Security field staff losses in all of New England, resulting in longer wait times for claims, appeals and even routine inquiries. “Not only was this enormously frustrating for many Vermonters, but the longer wait times sometimes causes significant financial hardship,” Sanders said.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Economic Development Authority (VEDA) recently approved $10.9 million in loans to help support commercial, agricultural, small business and energy projects throughout Vermont. Among those financed are Black Bay Ventures X, Colchester; Burlington Harbor Marina, Burlington; Hotel Sportiva Stowe; Red Clover Ale Company, Brandon; Ackermann Dairy, LLC, Hardwick; Maple Ridge Meats, LLC, Benson; Mansfield Heliflight International, LLC, Milton; Eurowest Solar, LLC, Essex Junction; and Randolph GLC Solar, LLC, Randolph.

"Vermont's travel and tourism infrastructure will be enhanced with the addition of new and substantially-renovated lodging accommodations, and construction of a new downtown Burlington harbor marina," said Jo Bradley, VEDA's Chief Executive Officer. "In addition, loans will help dairy and other farms diversify, small businesses will expand, and energy generation projects will be developed."

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) issued the following statement Wednesday after the US Supreme Court ruled that public sector unions cannot charge representation fees to non-members.

Vermont Business Magazine Marijuana will become legal for adults in Vermont on Sunday, making it the ninth state to lift its prohibition on adult marijuana use (in addition to DC) and the first to do so via the legislative process. H5111 was approved by the Legislature and signed into law by Governor Phil Scott in January. It eliminates the state’s civil penalty for possession of up to one ounce of marijuana and removes penalties for cultivation of up to two mature marijuana plants and four immature plants by adults 21 and older.

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General TJ Donovan today announced that Vermont has joined a multistate lawsuit challenging the Trump Administration’s policy of forced family separation at the US southern border. A total of 17 states and the District of Columbia joined the lawsuit. The basis of the lawsuit is that the policy violates due process and equal protection, along with the Administrative Procedures Act and asylum laws. The lawsuit was filed today in the US District Court for the Western District of Washington.

“This policy is not only unconstitutional, it’s simply wrong,” Attorney General Donovan said. “Our country has always been a beacon of hope and safety. And our constitution entitles all people to equal protection under the law.”

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) issued the following statement Tuesday after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld President Donald Trump’s travel ban on several mostly-Muslim nations.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, the US Environmental Protection Agency wrapped up the second day of the first ever per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) Community Engagement event in Exeter, NH. Today’s session brought together key stakeholders and state partners to discuss and gather input to help inform EPA’s plan for managing PFAS, which is set to be released by the end of the year.

“EPA is taking concrete steps to address PFAS and the input we heard over the past two days will help us develop a plan for managing PFAS,” said EPA New England Regional Administrator Alexandra Dunn. “Today’s community engagement event was critical for hearing directly from communities who are on the ground dealing with these issues.”

Vermont Business Magazine Winter cold might be the furthest thing from Vermonter’s minds right now, however, now is the time to start thinking about how to heat next winter. They can also save money with wood heat. The savings available to Vermonters come from a number of places. First, a rural economic development bill sponsored by Senator Starr and recently signed into law by Governor Scott eliminates the sales tax on modern automated wood heating systems. In addition to the sales tax exemption, there are a number of new incentives and many utilities-specific incentives. Efficiency Vermont offers a $3,000 flat rate incentive for new advanced wood boilers. Additionally, the Clean Energy Development Fund (CEDF) offers $3,000 flat-rate incentive for a total of $6,000 off a new renewable wood heating system.