Current News

Vermont Business Magazine People’s United Community Foundation, the philanthropic arm of People’s United Bank, Monday announced that it awarded $134,629 in Vermont during its first grant cycle of 2018. Funding was allocated to 18 nonprofit organizations in support of activities that ranged from basic needs services and affordable housing initiatives, to education and workforce development programs.

Vermont Business Magazine The University of Vermont Health Network – Central Vermont Medical Center (CVMC), in partnership with Efficiency Vermont, Liebert Engineering, Inc. and Control Technologies Inc., will unveil an interactive energy kiosk that graphically displays CVMC’s energy usage and costs in a real-time dashboard. The kiosk will also help staff, homeowners, tenants and businesses discover ways to reduce energy consumption and costs at home and at work.

The free public event, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Wednesday, April 25, takes place in CVMC’s main lobby at 130 Fisher Road. Free Efficiency Vermont refrigerator thermometers will be available to all attendees.

Vermont Business Magazine The Community Health Centers of Burlington (CHCB) have announced their Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) Program has reached a milestone of serving over 400 patients in need of addiction recovery care, nearly tripling their numbers since 2013. As a non-profit primary care organization, CHCB delivers the largest office-based opiate treatment program in Chittenden County. The MAT Program, which is offered free of charge for patients, incorporates buprenorphine (Suboxone) together with education, counseling and other support needed to manage opiate addiction for a lifetime. Medication Assisted Treatment for opiate addiction is an ongoing process, much like treatment for any other chronic illness.

by John McClaughry The Vermont General Assembly is in its final weeks of trying to assemble a school finance “reform” bill. Their product so far has become an ever-shifting grab bag of proposals that even veteran legislators must be struggling to follow from day to day. The longer this goes on, the more it reminds us of the memorable closing words of Gov. Scott’s explanation of why he signed the gun control bill on April 10: “We choose action, over inaction. Doing something, over doing nothing.”

Admittedly, “doing nothing” about school finances for 2019 will lead to some unwelcome consequences, mainly thanks to unwise actions of the 2017 session. But “doing something” doesn’t assure any better outcome, unless the doers start thinking creatively about the problem.

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General TJ Donovan announced today that Vermont has received $58.9 million from tobacco companies; $29 million of the total amount is the result of a recent settlement with tobacco companies. This $29M is on top of the annual payment Vermont receives each April from these companies related to the 1998 “Master Settlement Agreement” (MSA). Between the recent settlement and annual MSA payment, Vermont received the $58.9 million last Thursday. In March, the Attorney General’s Office projected that Vermont would receive approximately $28 million from the recent settlement.

The Vermont Legislature will determine how the settlement funds will be spent. Legislative leaders and the Governor have pledged their intention to use half of the settlement funds to fight opiate addiction in Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine Twenty entrepreneurs throughout Vermont have been selected to participate in a free executive-level training course that started April 20 at Vermont Technical College in Williston. Emerging Leaders is a Small Business Administration training program for entrepreneurs wanting to expand their small businesses. During the seven-month course the 20 students will work with their instructor and a network of industry experts to create a three-year strategic growth action plan.

Vermont Business Magazine On Monday, April 16 the Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA) Board of Commissioners committed federal Housing Tax Credits and Vermont Affordable Housing Credits to construct and renovate apartments for low-income Vermonters over the next several years. The $3.5 million in 10-year federal capped credits, $319,000 in 10-year federal uncapped “bond” credits and $173,000 in 5-year state credits will support the development of 251 apartments in eight communities across the state. VHFA permanent and construction financing totaling $19 million was also approved for five of the projects.

Vermont Business Magazine On April 20, 2018, the Montpelier Development Corporation announced the hiring of Laura Gebhart as the Corporation's Executive Director. Gebhart will be re-locating to Montpelier from Lancaster County, PA, where she has been serving as an Economic Development Manager. Gebhart will start work in Montpelier on May 7th.

Vermont Buisness Magazine An event to honor Bill Doyle, a Johnson State College political science professor since 1958 who will retire at the end of the semester, will be May 7 on campus. Doyle also was a longtime Republican state senator for the Washington District. The tribute to Doyle, at 3:30 pm at Stearns Dining Hall, is free for the public. Doors will open at 3 p.m. Members of the public must register to attend by May 1 at jsc.edu/SenatorDoyle and may share recollections and photos of Doyle at that link.

Historical photo courtesy JSC.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets (VAAFM) is releasing a second revised draft of the Medium Farm Operations General Permit (MFO GP). The Agency is initiating a second public comment period, which begins on April 23, 2018 and will conclude on May 4, 2018. 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 (NMP). 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 General Permit (GP). All MFOs must follow the Required Agricultural Practices in addition to requirements outlined in the MFO GP.

Vermont Business Magazine Norwich University has announced the names of 78 individuals who will be memorialized on the Bicentennial Stairs as part of Norwich’s 200^th anniversary. As part of Norwich’s Bicentennial, stairs will be constructed between the southeast corner of the Upper Parade Ground and the Sullivan Museum and History Center. The 78 names selected for this monument include Norwich’s leaders, distinguished alumni and others from military and civilian careers and those who represent ‘firsts’ at the university.

Leonine Public Affairs House and Senate committees scrambled to finalize work on policy bills this week as the Senate Appropriations, Transportation and Institutions committees moved closer to wrapping up the state spending bills. With the gun safety debate in the rearview mirror many expected the level of intensity to diminish in the statehouse. This was not the case when Governor Phil Scott vetoed S.103, a chemical regulation bill, setting up the first override standoff of 2018. The Senate moved quickly and was able to override the veto with a Democratic super-majority. This sets up a vote in the House, where they do not appear to have the votes to override Governor Scott’s veto. The vote in the House is scheduled for this Wednesday.