Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Senate and the House early Friday morning passed a bipartisan budget agreement to keep the federal government open, strengthen the military and invest in priorities here at home. President Trump signed the bill upon receiving it Friday morning. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), as Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, played a key role in negotiating the package, which passed the Senate by a vote of 71 to 28, and the House by a vote of 240 to 186. Congressman Peter Welch voted in favor, while Senator Bernie Sanders voted against.

Vermont Business Magazine The City of Burlington has added a citizens, non-binding question on the Town Meeting Day ballot regarding whether Burlington voters support, or not, the basing of the F-35 at the Air Guard base at the Burlington International Airport. There was much debate about the wording of the ballot question, which eventually was left intact from the original petition. On Friday afternoon Vermont National Guard Major General Steven Cray held a press conference at the base to discuss the F-35. His opening comments and video are below, as well as the ballot resolution.

Leonine Public Affairs The 2018 legislative session is now six weeks old and it feels like it's flying by. This usually means legislators have completed a third of the session. It also means we are closing in on the “crossover deadline,” which marks the date a bill must make it out of committee in order to be considered by the other legislative chamber. There are different crossover deadlines for policy bills and “money” bills--this year the deadline for policy bills is March 2 and for money bills it is March 16.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Community Garden Network is offering garden start-up services for any business that wants to establish a workplace food garden for their employees. The Green Thumbs at Work program provides employers and employees with technical assistance and planning support to ensure the garden will be successful in its first season and for years to come.

Now in its fifth year, Green Thumbs at Work gives employers an additional way to support employee morale and healthy behaviors. Though workplace gardens, employees can have increased access to fresh produce, and more opportunities for physical activity and stress reduction. Gardening at work benefits employees across industries and sectors, including manufacturing facilities, local restaurants and stores, town offices, healthcare centers, engineering firms and others.

Vermont Business Magazine How often do you see legislators, state officials, the Lieutenant governor, farmers and community members discussing farm and food issues in a slaughterhouse? That’s what happened this past Monday morning at the Vermont Packinghouse, a meat processing facility based in North Springfield, Vermont, in a former Ben & Jerry’s ice cream plant. Not everyone would host such an event at a slaughterhouse, complete with tours and full viewing of the so-called “kill floor.”

But Arion Thiboumery is not your average slaughterhouse executive.

Vermont Packinghouse. Vermont Farm to Plate file photo.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Electric Co-op (VEC) is seeking candidates for three soon-to-be-open seats on the board of directors. VEC’s 12-member board of directors is responsible for setting policy and determining the direction of the co-op in providing safe, reliable power in the least expensive way possible and working towards shaping the grid of the future. Directors meet monthly, receive a stipend and mileage reimbursement for attending meetings, and have training opportunities to learn more about energy issues and the cooperative model. Terms are for four years.

To be eligible to run, candidates must be VEC members and must have a principal residence that is both within VEC service territory and in the district they are running to represent.

Application deadline is March 22. The voting will take place April 17 through May 11 by mail and online, and also at VEC's annual meeting on Saturday, May 12.

Vermont Business Magazine The wastewater treatment system in Milton was recently recognized by the US Environmental Protection Agency for its commitment to improving water quality. The Milton Wastewater Treatment Facility was selected by EPA for a 2017 Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant Excellence Award. The Milton facility, led by Director David Allerton, was recognized by EPA's New England Office for exceptional work in operating and maintaining the wastewater treatment plant. The facility was one of seven facilities in New England acknowledged for exemplary performance during 2017.

The EPA Regional Wastewater Awards Program recognizes personnel in the wastewater field who have provided invaluable public service managing and operating wastewater treatment facilities throughout New England. The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation was instrumental in the plant's nomination.

by Timothy McQuiston Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott is making a renewed effort to get a Vermont project selected for the massive and lucrative renewable energy contract being awarded by the state of Massachusetts. At the end of January, Massachusetts selected an Eversource project for the 1,200 megawatt power line from Quebec, through the White Mountains of New Hampshire. It eventually would connect into the Massachusetts electric grid. Last year Scott had made a similar pitch in hopes that Massachusetts would select the TDI New England project. It would bring over $200 million in benefits to the state. Scott has renewed hope after the Eversource project, already under siege from environmental groups in New Hampshire, was swiftly and overwhelmingly rejected by the New Hampshire Site Evaluation Committee on February 1.

Vermont Business Magazine The TD Charitable Foundation, the charitable giving arm of TD Bank, announced that it has provided $800,000 in grants to 36 food banks across the bank's Maine to Florida footprint to help provide meals locally to families and individuals in need. The grants focus on food stability; healthy growth and development; and access to fresh food for underserved communities. In Vermont, $30,000 of these funds will support the work of the state’s largest hunger-relief organization, the Vermont Foodbank. The Vermont Foodbank provides nutritious food and promotes health through a network of 215 food shelves and meal sites, and directly to families and individuals at schools and hospitals.

Vermont Business Magazine Representative Peter Welch (D-VT) issued the following statement late Thursday in advance of the vote very early Friday morning on the federal budget agreement. Welch voted in favor of the compromise bill, which President Trump signed later Friday morning. The federal government briefly was shutdown overnight. Vermont senators split their vote, with Senator Patrick Leahy supporting it and Senator Bernie Sanders opposing.

Vermont Business Magazine The Agency of Natural Resources announced today that Enviro Tech of VT Septic Services, LLC of Colchester was fined $58,550 for unlawfully managing septic waste for over a decade. Many Vermonters live outside areas served by municipal sewer lines, relying instead on septic systems. Commercial waste haulers provide essential services to these Vermonters by managing septic, solid, and hazardous wastes that can be difficult and impractical for individuals to manage on their own. The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) supports and regulates waste management companies to make sure they are handling and transporting waste safely. To do this, the DEC requires commercial solid waste haulers to maintain a Waste Transporter Permit and submit quarterly reports detailing the amount of septic tank waste managed.

Vermont Business Magazine Burlington businessman and philanthropist Tony Pomerleau has died, his family announced Friday morning. He was 100 years old. He grew up in Newport in hard times and made himself a millionaire. He liked to say that the only thing he knew how to do was "make money." But what he did with that money endeared him with Vermonters from across the state, especially those who needed a helping hand in order to have a better life. Tony Pomerleau's hand always seemed to be there.