Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The following is an open letter to Governor Phil Scott and the Vermont Legislature from outdoor recreation organizations regarding a change in charitable giving status found in the tax bill H911, which the governor received from the Legislature on Tuesday.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont’s congressional delegation – Senator Patrick Leahy (D), Senator Bernie Sanders (I) and Representative Peter Welch (D) – Wednesday announced the allocation of more than $2.5 million in federal grants to six Vermont housing authorities to preserve, improve and develop public housing across Vermont. The grants were awarded under the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Capital Fund Program.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), former chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, issued the following statement ahead of a vote in the Senate on the VA Mission Act.

Vermont Business Magazine In 2018, we the people of the United States are deeply divided: by race, gender, socio-economic status and political affiliation. That’s true even here in Vermont, where by some accounts the legislative session was one of the most divisive in recent memory and not truly over yet. What better time to focus on the democratic values that unite us? Developed by Seven Days and Kids VT, with support from the Vermont Community Foundation, it's launching today in advance of the holiday weekend, when many state historic sites for the season.

When: Wednesday, May 23, 11:30 a.m.

Where: Cedar Creek Room, Vermont Statehouse, Montpelier

Vermont Business Magazine Speaker of the House Mitzi Johnson and several advocacy organizations reacted to Governor Phil Scott's vetoes of several pieces of legislation Tuesday afternoon. Some, like Johnson's revealed disappointment, while others were supportive. All were strongly worded. Below are responses sent to Vermont Business Magazine soon after the governor announced his actions, which included his signing some bills into law and letting others become law without his signature.

Vermont Business Magazine The US Environmental Protection Agency is hosting an informational Public Meeting tonight at 7:30 pm in South Strafford to discuss ongoing clean up and construction activities at the Elizabeth Mine Superfund Site expected to occur in 2018 and 2019.

Vermont Business Magazine The Washington, DC-based LGBTQ Victory Fund has awarded trans candidate Christine Hallquist awarded “Game Changer” status in her race for Vermont governor as a Democrat. The LGBTQ Victory Fund is the only national organization dedicated to electing LGBTQ leaders to public office. On Tuesday it endorsed 24 more LGBTQ candidates, raising to 133 the total number of candidates endorsed this cycle. Two newly endorsed candidates and three previously endorsed candidates were awarded Spotlight status, a designation given to state or local candidates in history-making races. Hallquist was awarded Game Changer status in her groundbreaking race for Vermont governor. She would be the first trans major party candidate for governor of any state if she were to win the Democratic nomination. Spotlight and Game Changer candidates receive additional support and services from Victory Fund to ensure they win on Election Day.*

Vermont Business Magazine Two Chevrolet dealership groups, North Country Chevy Dealers and Upstate NY Chevy Dealers, have taken the lead to be champions for their local school children in sponsoring $81,000 worth of empathy building and prevention programs. Thanks to their partnership with Puppets in Education, a program of non-profit Vermont Family Network in Williston, Vermont, twenty eight schools located in Chevy Dealer districts of New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont received a full day of free presentations for students in grades K-8.

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.