Current News

Vermont Buisness Magazine Governor Phil Scott signed new legislation into law strengthening Vermont’s financial services industry in a variety of areas. The new law offers an onshore affiliated reinsurance alternative to insurance companies affected by the recent imposition of the Base Erosion Anti-Abuse Tax (BEAT) on reinsurance ceded to offshore affiliates. Vermont’s new law provides a solution by creating a more favorable reinsurance alternative for US companies conducting business in offshore jurisdictions that are now faced with a substantial new tax burden.

Vermont Business Magazine Wednesday, during House floor debate on a new Farm Bill, Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) slammed proposed draconian cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that will eliminate a lifeline of nutrition assistance to millions of Americans.

Vermont Business Magazine US Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) joined an effort with 10 other senators calling on EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt and other administration officials to immediately release a study reportedly being kept secret by the Trump administration which shows that perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are dangerous at far lower levels than EPA previously said was safe.

Since 2016, elevated and unsafe levels of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a type of PFAS, have been found in hundreds of private wells and one municipal water system in southwestern Vermont. The groundwater contamination is the product of past industrial manufacturing in the area.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources has conditionally awarded funds to Central Vermont Solid Waste Management District (CVSWMD) to wrap the district’s box truck with messaging around recycling and composting in support of Vermont’s Universal Recycling Law (ACT 148). The $3,250 grant, issued by the ANR’s Department of Environmental Conservation, is intended to help “educate and build public awareness of these requirements and emphasize the importance of recycling and organics diversion.”

CVSWMD will use the grant to pay for a portion of the costs to cover the district’s box truck with a street-art style graphics designed by U-32 students Jake and Josh Ehret. The truck is on the road several days of the week within CVSWMD’s 19 member towns.

Vermont Business Magazine Castleton University announced a series of updates Thursday as part of its ongoing process to align its budget with current and future enrollment trends. The plan currently being implemented is a result of a four-month-long collaborative, exhaustive, and transparent approach to an organizational restructure that has identified cost-savings opportunities and growth initiatives. The restructuring, which was announced in February in response to a 3 percent operating deficit due to a decline in its traditional first-year student enrollment, seeks to align the university’s operating budget with the enrollment realities faced by colleges and universities across the country. The process was focused on enhancing the student experience, strengthening and expanding academic offerings, and positioning the University for sustainable growth into the future.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, the Northeast Recycling Council (NERC), based in Brattleboro, has announced the award of a grant in support of efforts to become a certified electronics recycler to Sadoff E-Recycling & Data Destruction of Omaha, Nebraska. The grant, which was funded by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), will allow Sadoff to become the second recycler in Omaha to be certified to the R2 Standard, and only the third in Nebraska.

“We are excited to receive this grant as it allows us to achieve certification to the R2 standard, this achievement will allow us to grow our business in Nebraska which will result in a greater positive environmental impact for the safe and secure recycling of electronics throughout the state and region” said Markus McDonell, Quality & Management Systems Manager, Sadoff E-Recycling & Data Destruction.

by Agriculture Secretary Anson Tebbetts, ANR Secretary Julie Moore and Commerce Secretary Mike Schirling From Vermont’s inception, freedom and unity have spurred innovation. John Deere invented the tractor. Ben and Jerry created world-class ice cream. Environmental leaders like George Perkins Marsh defined conservation. The state’s rich history highlights how Vermonters and their values have led the way. Innovation continues today. Farmers are working with engineers, scientists and researchers on projects that improve the environment while improving their finances. Biodigesters transform manure to electricity. Perennial plants and grasses transform bare soils into buffers to protect rivers, and lasers help milk cows.

Green Mountain Grain & Barrel producing locally-sourced, locally-made oak barrels.

by Christine McGowan Woodworkers by hobby and Vermont National Guardsmen by training, Tony Fletcher, Josh Waterhouse and Mac Broich are finding their niche as coopers for Vermont’s craft spirits industry. Green Mountain Grain & Barrel was founded in 2016 with a simple goal: to be the sole producer of barrels for Vermont distilleries, wineries and breweries.

Vermont Business Magazine Granite Air Center, Inc in Lebanon, NH, is partnering with Norwich Solar Technologies of White River Junction, Vermont, to install a 218.1-kilowatt DC, Net-Metered Photovoltaic (PV) System on the main hangar rooftop at their facility, and is the largest solar array in the City of Lebanon to date. Completed in early May 2018, the solar array will provide Granite Air long-term energy cost reduction and stability through the integration of clean, renewable solar electricity.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Electric Co-op (VEC) held its annual meeting Saturday, May 12 at Smugglers’ Notch Resort, and members elected directors to the board, heard updates from VEC staff, checked out a vendor showcase, and marked VEC’s 80th year, among other things. Approximately 200 members attended.

Vermont Business Magazine AllEarth Renewables wishes to congratulate all of the participants in the recent Vermont Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Fair, and to announce the winners of the event’s AllEarth Renewables special awards. Held on March 24^th at Norwich University, the 59^th annual Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Fair showcased the work of Vermont public, private and homeschooled students in grades 5-12 who have won local science and math fair competitions. The students displayed projects that tackle questions and pose solutions arising from the fields of science, technology, engineering and math.AllEarth Renewables sponsored awards for the best high school project in either solar or wind renewable energy.

Vermont Business Magazine The University of Vermont announced today that it has reached a tentative collective bargaining agreement with its faculty union, United Academics. The agreement is subject to approval by the UVM Board of Trustees and ratification by the union’s membership.