Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Burlington Electric Department today is warning customers about an ongoing bill payment phone scam targeting a variety of Burlington businesses and is encouraging its customers to sign up for scam alert notifications from the Attorney General’s Office. In a new wave of calls today, Burlington Electric customers, including restaurants, a funeral home, and a jewelry store, have been receiving calls threatening disconnection if payment is not made immediately.

These calls are not from Burlington Electric, and customers should hang up if they receive a call with such demands. If customers have any questions about their account status, they should call Burlington Electric at 802.865.7300.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont State Board of Education today announced the start of its search for a new Secretary of Education. This exempt position is open to all state employees and external candidates. Those interested should apply by 5 pm on April 30, 2018. The State Board will consider only candidates who meet the statutory requirements stipulated by the General Assembly.

Vermont Buisness Magazine Scott Dikeman of Rutland has joined The Bank of Bennington as a vice president in the Commercial Lending department. He will work with business customers out of the Rutland office on Woodstock Ave.

Vermont Business Magazine US Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont), US Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) and Representative Peter Welch (D-Vermont) issued the following statements Friday after President Donald Trump announced the United States launched strikes against Syrian targets.

Vermont Business Magazine MILK MONEY L3C, an equity crowdfunding portal for Vermonters, announces its seventh Invest Local Campaign: City Market. Vermonters who are Members of City Market Co-op will have the opportunity to learn more about and invest in this community-owned food cooperative via the Milk Money platform. Milk Money offers the opportunity for true “impact investing” since a dollar invested in a local business generates potential financial return as well as tangible social return on investment. By investing in a local business such as City Market, you will circulate wealth and build a stronger community that fosters new relationships between businesses and community members. The Milk Money platform serves as a meeting place for Vermonters to discover local investment opportunities such as City Market.

Vermont Business Magazine Norwich University in Northfield has received a $150,000 grant from the George I. Alden Trust to support its brand new academic building, Mack Hall. The gift builds upon a 2015 grant of $125,000 to support technology upgrades in the renovation of Kreitzberg Library. Ground was broken on the $50 million construction project in April 2017, which includes $24 million for a brand new academic building, Mack Hall; as well as renovations to Dewey, Webb and Ainsworth Halls. The construction is part of a broader campus transformation tied to Norwich’s $100 million comprehensive campaign in the lead-up to the university’s bicentennial in 2019.

Vermont Business Magazine The National Weather Service has issued a High Wind Warning for areas of Vermont on Monday. Power outages and damage caused by downed trees and tree limbs are likely in the warning area. The strongest winds will occur along the western slopes of the Green Mountains, impacting communities in Western Windham, Bennington, Rutland, Eastern Addison, Eastern Chittenden, and Eastern Franklin counties. Other areas of Vermont will also see windy conditions throughout Monday.

The National Weather Service says 30 to 40 mph winds with gusts of 60 mph are expected in the warning area. Isolated areas of Eastern Addison and Eastern Rutland counties could experience gusts as strong as 75 mph. Vermont state agencies and utilities are preparing for scattered to widespread power outages due to strong winds, saturated soils, and some ice accumulation on tree limbs.

Vermont Business Magazine Christine Hallquist, Democratic candidate for governor, issued the following statement Monday morning which takes Governor Phil Scott to task for not responding to a Vermont Republican Party email sent out at 10 am on April 11.

Leonine Public Affairs Week 14 was defined by one of the more striking moments in recent Vermont political history. Governor Phil Scott, flanked by his wife Diana, legislative leadership and lawmakers from all parties, signed three bills that create new gun safety measures. The governor chose to sign the bills on the steps of the State House, which is usually the approach with legislation that enjoys wide popular support and little opposition. S.55, S.221 and H.422, but especially S.55, stirred more controversy over the last two months than any legislation in recent memory and a large crowd gathered at the steps well before the 2:00 pmsigning. The crowd was split relatively evenly between supporters and protesters, the latter wearing blaze orange, who carried signs and surged toward the podium when the governor approached.

Vermont Business Magazine Can a new generation of apps be developed – using virtual reality, augmented reality, telepresence and other 21st century technologies – that would engage Vermont students more deeply in their learning? A “reverse-pitch” competition – to be held May 4 at 4 p.m. in the Sullivan Classroom (MedEd 200) of the Larner College of Medicine Medical Education Center at UVM – is designed to answer that question. The event is sponsored by the Burlington non-profit BTV Ignite.

by Erin Sigrist, President Vermont Retail & Grocers Association Each year, Vermont’s grocers and retailers hire hundreds of high school and college students for their first jobs. They train them to use a cash register, to show up for work on time and in clean clothes, to interact with customers in a polite and professional manner, to problem solve when a customer requests something that’s out of stock. Some of these employees stay for years, but most move on to other jobs, where their future employers get the benefit of a mature and responsible employee.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Scott Friday evening issued the following statement regarding potential release of Jack Sawyer, who had been arrested in February relating to his plans for a school shooting. He remains behind bars, but the Vermont Supreme Court ruled earlier in the week that he could not be held without bail for only intending to to commit a crime. He is still in jail and is under the new "extreme risk" law, but he potentially could be released on bail at some point.