Current News

Vermont Business Magazine A Texas company is contacting local businesses in Vermont, asking for “sponsorships” for materials to benefit South Burlington High School. However, according to a report submitted to the Attorney General by the South Burlington Police Department (SBPD), this company has no real affiliation with the school. Parkway Diner contacted South Burlington Police to report receiving a phone solicitation asking them to sponsor t-shirts for South Burlington High School. Upon further investigation, SBPD determined that this solicitation was not all it appeared to be. The company, calling itself “Sports Media Marketing,” has been the subject of news reports in Texas claiming the company is misleading local businesses into giving them money for schools that they have no formal relationship with.

by Jack Hoffman Public Assets Institute Vermonters know there’s a difference between taxes and tax rates. Especially when it comes to property taxes, a lower rate doesn’t mean lower taxes if the grand list value of a property goes up. It’s important to distinguish between taxes and rates as the administration and the Legislature seek a compromise on education funding for next year.

Vermont Business Magazine On Thursday night, the Shires Young Professionals chose Bennington’s new nightlife hotspot, Miller’s Toll Dinner Club and Lounge, to announce a reinvigorated mission and brand. In partnership with the area Chamber of Commerce, the former Bennington Young Professionals group has been working behind the scenes over the past few months to develop a new look and strategy. A new logo and website have been launched, and a new mission statement, vision, and goals were shared at the event.

Leonine Public Affairs How do you hold the line on statewide education property tax rates without using any “one-time” money, find $300 million in “savings” in the Education Fund all while paying down teacher retirement obligations by $34.5 million to save $100 million in interest payments? Lawmakers and the governor have set themselves up to solve that conundrum during the Special Session. Governor Scott called lawmakers back to Montpelier on Wednesday, May 23.

Vermont Business Magazine The Department of Vermont Health Access (DVHA) and Keene Medical Products announced today that the New Hampshire medical equipment provider will remain a full member of the Vermont Medicaid provider network. Keene will continue to fulfill all categories of service to Vermonters, erasing a late April decision by the company to withdraw from the market effective June 1.

Keene is an important source of medical equipment for the state’s health care providers and Medicaid members. Today’s announcement means that Vermont health care providers and members who use Keene products – including hospital beds, walkers, commodes, ostomy and enteral nutrition – can continue to count on those products and do not have to switch to a new equipment provider.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that the two appropriations bills approved by the Committee Thursday include a combined $22 million in Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) grant funding. The grants are part of a continuing effort, long supported by Leahy, to revitalize communities in Northern Vermont.

The $22 million is a $7 million increase for the NBRC, which awards grants in Caledonia, Essex, Franklin, Grand Isle, Lamoille and Orleans counties. The grants are often leveraged with matching grants that significantly boost their impact. Past NBRC grants have supported a wide variety of projects, from the snowmobile trail renovations to household energy efficiency grants.

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General TJ Donovan applauded lawmakers for passage of a new law that protects consumers from credit freeze fees, fraudulent acquisition of Vermonters’ data, and establishes a registry and security standards for the “data broker” industry. Vermont is the first state in the nation to successfully pass data broker legislation.

Vermont Business Magazine Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger on Thursday released a letter from US Air Force Secretary Dr Heather Wilson written in response to the Mayor’s April 9, 2018 letter. The mayor’s letter included the City Council’s March 26, 2018, resolution requesting the Secretary of the US Air Force provide an alternative mission for the Vermont Air National Guard (VTANG) at the Burlington International Airport. This resolution was approved following a public vote in March 2018.

Vermont Business Magazine The 17th annual Strolling of the Heifers Weekend, featuring a parade of flower-bedecked heifer calves led by future farmers up the historic Main Street of Brattleboro, Vermont takes place June 1, 2 and 3. Organizers promise many special surprises for the occasion. The centerpiece of the weekend is the world-famous Strolling of the Heifers Parade, which starts promptly at 10 am on Saturday, June 2. This year’s parade theme is “May the FARMS Be With You”, so expect the heifers and other marchers to be dressed in their “out of this world” best! The heifer calves lead the parade and are followed by other farm animals, tractors, bands, floats and much more.

Vermont Business Magazine Tammy Johnson has been described as fearless, passionate and driven. She’s also the daughter and granddaughter of women struck down with Alzheimer’s in their late 50’s. More than anything, Tammy Johnson wants to build awareness and, ultimately, find a cure for Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

by Timothy McQuiston Vermont Business Magazine State Treasurer Beth Pearce is taking a bottom-line view of the Legislature’s special session, which began Wednesday and will resume May 30. While Governor Phil Scott and legislative leaders wrangle over property taxes, Pearce is urging the administration and Legislature to not let state government shut down, which would happen if the budget and tax bills do not become law by July 1. She said in a May 18 letter to them that even discussion of a government shutdown could damage the state’s sparkling AAA credit rating. A downgrade to an AA rating would cost the state $7 million over the life of a typical $150 million bond, she projected, and nearly $26 million if the credit rating fell to single A. Separately affected would be other state agencies’ borrowings and local bonds and other financings which rely on the state’s “moral obligation.”

Vermont Business Magazine Anglers, lakeside homeowners, scientists, students, watershed groups, conservation commission members, business owners, and lovers of lakes are invited to attend the 14th annual Vermont Lake Seminar. This daylong seminar is a time to celebrate lakes, learn how to write and submit a successful water quality grant application, and meet leaders from around the state pursing lake restoration projects.

The seminar, organized by the Lakes and Ponds Program of the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) in conjunction with the Vermont Federation of Lakes and Ponds, will be held on Friday, June 1, 2018 at the Vermont College of Fine Arts in Montpelier from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. This year’s theme, “Partners for Healthy Lakes: Exploring Science, Data, and Tools Together,” focuses on how scientific monitoring data can be leveraged to protect and renew Vermont’s lakes.