Current News

by Timothy McQuiston Vermont Business Magazine Governor Scott has informed the Legislature of actions taken on bills delivered to him by lawmakers last week. Below is a list of bills that were signed, vetoed or allowed to go into law without signature on May 21 and May 22. Among the notable vetoes include bills related to paid family leave, increasing the minimum wage, recreation liability, and the toxic substance liability. All these bills, the governor maintains, undermine the state's economy by either increasing the cost of doing business or contribute to over-regulation, which will eventually increase the cost of doing business. The result of all, he said, will make Vermont a less viable place to do business, increase costs and cost jobs.

Vermont Business Magazine Advertisements for Palmer Insurance and Casella Waste Management took home the Best in Show Awards May 22 at the annual Commercial of the Year Awards presentation at the Vermont Association of Broadcasters Convention in Montpelier. The commercial for Palmer Insurance, titled “Life Unexpected,” won the Best in Show prize for radio. It was written by Amanda Relyea and produced by Mary Cenci for WCPV-FM in Colchester.

The television Best in Show entry, titled “Always There,” was written by Robert Casella and produced by Elizabeth Casella and Mark Okrant of WestView Digital, which is based in Pittsford.

WPTZ-TV took home four awards including First Place in the Television Public Service Announcement category for a spot for Burlington’s Festival of Fools event.

WVNY-TV won the First Place award for commercials for an advertisement for Switchback Brewing Company titled “Employee Owned.”

Vermont Business Magazine United Way of Northwest Vermont—a local organization mobilizing our community to improve people’s lives in Chittenden, Grand Isle and Franklin counties—announces the results of its 2018 – 2021 community investment process. On May 15, United Way’s board of directors unanimously approved the allocation of $1.5 million to support a new portfolio of local programs that address five community-defined priorities: advancing employment, reducing substance abuse, meeting basic needs (housing, food, transportation and health care), supporting families and promoting mental health. These priorities were determined through an extensive outreach and community engagement process that began in the fall of 2015.

The previous program funding cycle ended in the spring of 2017, and previous grantees were extended one additional year of funding through the new selection process.

Vermont Business Magazine The Lamoille Housing Partnership (LHP) gathered residents, project development partners, funding partners, as well as local and state government officials on May 18th for a belated celebration of the completion of LHP’s affordable housing project in Hardwick, Evergreen Manor. LHP purchased Evergreen Manor in 1991, and over time, park conditions deteriorated due to older homes being taken away or abandoned, as well as older residents leaving. To rehabilitate the blighted neighborhood, in 2014 LHP participated in a pilot program that was originally launched in response to the devastation of Hurricane Irene. The program was initiated by Efficiency Vermont, Vermont Housing & Conservation Board, and the High Meadows Fund with the goal of replacing traditional mobile homes with high efficiency zero energy modular homes.

Vermont Business Magazine SunCommon of Waterbury is expanding into the greater Hudson Valley region through a merger with Hudson Solar of Rhinebeck, NY. The firms said they are joining together to bring even more residential, commercial and community solar to the region. Terms were not released.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont child care providers will be able to open their doors to hundreds more Vermont children thanks to $455,500 in grants and coaching from Vermont Birth to Five (VB5), a statewide initiative of the Permanent Fund for Vermont’s Children working to expand the capacity and quality of Vermont child care programs.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Agency of Commerce Secretary Michael Schirling announced Tuesday that the State of Vermont will convene financial experts, community and economic development professionals, and representatives of the 25 newly, federally-designated Opportunity Zones on Tuesday, June 12th in Montpelier to maximize the impact of the new development tool.

by Bill Schubart I grew up reading Vermont Life in the '50s and continued reading it until shortly after the turn of the century. It always had a prominent place in our home, moving quarterly from the coffee table to the bathroom magazine rack – where its continued perusal was assured – and finally to a shelf in the den. Back then, Vermont Life was collectible not disposable.

Eventually I lost interest as the magazine shifted away from the substantive features and images that define us toward lifestyle and marketing.

My only real business savvy in life has been marketing, and I’ve always believed that the best marketing conveys substance rather than fluff. Consumers have largely become inured to marketing yet still crave substance conveyed through story, image, history, culture, and intellectual interest.

Vermont Business Magazine Recently, Jon and Pam Baker of Roswell, GA, celebrated a moment they were not sure would ever come. Their sons, Gavin and Jake Baker took their first dose of Orkambi, a drug recently approved by the FDA to help control their cystic fibrosis. At this “First Dose Party,” the Bakers were surrounded by hundreds of family and friends that helped make this special drug possible. On Saturday, March 17, 2018, their army of dedicated supporters from Vermont teamed up with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF) for the 4th Annual ShamRockin’ for a Cure VT event at The Abbey Restaurant in Sheldon. The evening helped them surpass their goal in their fundraising efforts to fight CF.

Vermont Business Magazine The eighth annual Slow Living Summit will take place in Brattleboro on May 31 and June 1, 2018. Presented by the Strolling of the Heifers Windham Grows, this year’s Summit asks – “How can you create and grow a resilient food business that affects your community in a positive way?” With a focus on growing conscious food and agriculture businesses, the Summit aims to give current and aspiring entrepreneurs the tools, resources, and mentorship needed to evolve businesses, create positive change in the community, and revolutionize the future of food.
Orly Munzing, Executive Director of Strolling of the Heifers commented, “Developing conscious businesses that give back to the community is one of the foundations of what we call ‘Slow Living’.”

Vermont Business Magazine Green Mountain Creamery is returning again this year as the top-tier sponsor of Brattleboro’s Strolling of the Heifers, a weekend-long event and year-round movement to promote entrepreneurship and innovation at farm and food businesses. By teaming up with the Vermont Foodbank at the event, Green Mountain Creamery is using the celebration as an opportunity to share ideas about making an impact locally.

As Strolling of the Heifers aims to provide consumers with an understanding of the importance of eating local food, Green Mountain Creamery works to support regional farms and Vermont communities through its dairy sourcing. To supplement this idea, Green Mountain Creamery partners with the Vermont Foodbank to donate about 125,680 pounds of its dairy products throughout each year.

Vermont Business Magazine The Board of Directors of the Humane Society of Chittenden County (HSCC) announced today the appointment of Joyce Cameron as president & CEO. Cameron comes to HSCC after nearly two years with the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum where she most recently served as Co-Executive Director. In addition, she has formerly held leadership positions at the Greater Burlington YMCA and the Kelly Brush Foundation.

“I am thrilled to be joining the dynamic and dedicated team at HSCC. I am looking forward to helping to advance the mission of this 117 year old non-profit that is the leading regional and educational center for compassionate care of companion animals and their families.” – Joyce Cameron