Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today attended the Turrell Fund Day for Children in Shelburne, addressing a crowd of policy makers, advocates and funders focused on supporting children’s well-being in Vermont. He reiterated his vision for public education in Vermont as a potential shut down of state government looms over the state. The administration and the Legislature are at a stalemate primarily over funding for pubic education.

by Jack Hoffman Public Assets Institute Public education—pre-k through 12—has become a coveted source of revenue in recent years. People look at the $1.7 billion Education Fund and imagine how some efficiencies here, a little school consolidation there, could free up hundreds of millions of dollars. Now Governor Phil Scott has proposed his “Five-Year Education Revitalization, Tax Stabilization, and Investment Act.” It dangles the prospect of improving education, but the real aim appears to be a raid on the Education Fund.

Vermont Business Magazine WPTZ, the Hearst-owned NBC affiliate in Plattsburgh, New York/Burlington, Vermont, announced plans in a press release Tuesday to relocate from its current space in Colchester to a new location in South Burlington, as well as open a new bureau in Lebanon, New Hampshire. As part of this plan, WPTZ/WNNE will maintain its longstanding presence in Plattsburgh. WPTZ had also considered Williston for the new location.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets has issued a revised Medium Farm Operation (MFO) General Permit (GP), following a lengthy information gathering and revision process. The MFO GP sets standards for MFOs in the State of Vermont generating animal waste to ensure they do not have a discharge of waste to the waters of the State and operate in accordance with their Nutrient Management Plan. Unless otherwise given notice by the Agency, all farms meeting the definition of a MFO in the State of Vermont are required to operate under the coverage of this GP.

Vermont Business Magazine Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy (d-Vermont) on the Trump-Kim summit meeting: "I commend President Trump for beginning direct negotiations. But it is troubling that the President has agreed to unilaterally halt military exercises with South Korea without verifiable commitments from North Korea to denuclearize, while giving Kim the recognition he has long craved..."

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) issued the following statement Tuesday following President Trump and Kim Jong Un's meeting in Singapore: "While very light on substance, the meeting between President Trump and Kim Jong Un in Singapore represents a positive step in de-escalating tensions between our countries..."

Vermont Business Magazine Every year, Doctors’ Day celebrates the impact that physicians have on their patients and communities. For this year’s occasion, Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health Center recognized this positive impact by making financial donations on behalf of its medical staff to two community groups: Support and Services at Home (SASH) of Windsor County and the Windsor County Partners Mentoring Program.

SASH of Windsor County, sponsored by Windham and Windsor Housing Trust, supports seniors and those with special needs receiving Medicare who want to live independently. By working to coordinate the resources of social service agencies, SASH provides the necessary support network that permits people to live at home where they feel safe and most comfortable.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, Vail Resorts, Inc (NYSE: MTN), based in Broomfield, CO, announced that Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Rob Katz has exercised stock appreciation rights (SARs) that were expiring over the next two years and will be donating 100 percent of the shares and proceeds received to his family charitable foundation and donor advised charitable fund. Based on the market price on the date of exercise of $275.25 per share, the donation is equal to approximately $31 million. Vail owns the ski operations at Stowe Mountain Resort, which it bought last year, and is in the process of acquiring Okemo Mountain Resort in Ludlow.

Vermont Business Magazine Mack Molding, a leading custom plastics molder and supplier of contract manufacturing services, announced today additions to its senior staff with the appointments of Jessica Fredette as director of human resources and Joe Prandini as director of information technology. Both Fredette and Prandini have responsibilities for the Northern Division, reporting directly to President Jeff Somple.

Vermont Business Magazine The Agency of Natural Resources’ Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced today that Hemlock Ridge at Killington Owners Association, Inc, a condominium complex in Killington, was fined $19,500 for many years of failing to properly manage and maintain the public drinking water system supplying the complex.

Vermont Business Magazine On Monday, June 11, 85 Vermont Housing & Conservation Board staff, VHCB AmeriCorps members and program supporters turned out for eight community service projects in Burlington, Huntington, Essex Junction, Shelburne and Richmond. The efforts resulted in gardening, landscaping and new raised beds at affordable housing sites, painting at several locations, trail work, helping at the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf and assisting at the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps Farm. Other beneficiaries of the service projects are residents of housing managed by the Champlain Housing Trust, Cathedral Square Corporation, and the Committee on Temporary Shelter; visitors to Audubon Vermont’s Huntington headquarters; and hikers using trails managed by the Catamount Trail Association and the Green Mountain Club.

​Vermont Business Magazine The podiatry team at Gifford Health Care will provide free foot screenings by appointment during a series of five sessions throughout the summer. Open to all Gifford and non-Gifford patients.