Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Copley Equity Partners, a private investment firm and single-family office, has announced that it has completed a majority investment in North Star Leasing, a provider of equipment financing solutions for businesses in a variety of industries. Daniel Feeney, North Star Leasing’s CEO and President, will continue to lead the Company. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Founded in 1979 and headquartered in Burlington, VT, North Star Leasing provides specialized lease solutions for customers across numerous industries including Automotive, Healthcare, Pet-Supply, and Restaurant. North Star works with thousands of equipment vendors, manufacturers, and resellers to help end customers finance and access mission critical pieces of equipment. In recent years, North Star has grown its asset base by a 20% annualized growth rate and nearly quadrupled its workforce.

City of Burlington A winter PARKING BAN will go into effect tonight at 10pm to help city crews maintain the safest possible road conditions. The ban will be in effect from 10PM until 7AM throughout Burlington, except the downtown zone (midnight-6AM). Free parking is available in the city-owned Marketplace Garage (47 S. Winooski: entrances on Cherry St & Bank St), College St Garage (60 College St: entrances on College St and Battery St) and Lakeview Garage (41 Cherry St: entrance on Cherry St) starting at 10pm tonight. For a map of these city-owned parking locations, please see below or go here to view ALL parking options (including privately owned): https://parkburlington.com/downtown-parking /parking-map/

Vermont Business Magazine The Boston area farm-to-table movement is getting a boost thanks to the Vermont-based company Localvore, a website that brings together restaurants, farmers, producers and retailers that support local sourcing, their community, and quality cuisine with like-minded food lovers. The matchmaking process occurs through Localvore’s marketing platform which allows its merchant customers to create deals and events - from happy hours to $1 oysters to wine pairing dinners - and promote them to an engaged audience looking for the best in local food and beverage.

Vermont Business Magazine Community Bank NA recently presented Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity with a $17,500 donation as part of a challenge grant pledged in December. The bank partnered with CVOEO to raise money for the organization’s WARMTH program by matching WARMTH donations dollar for dollar during December, up to a total of $17,500.

Statewide, donations totaled more than $100,000 to help low-income Vermont families stay warm this winter. All funds will be distributed by CVOEO for use by all five community action agencies statewide for the emergency-based WARMTH program to help to offset home heating bills. One hundred percent of all donations will be used for WARMTH client services.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont House today gave approval to H.562, a bill pertaining to parentage. In 2017, the Legislature created a study committee in response to the Vermont Supreme Court’s request to provide legislative recommendations to modernize Vermont’s parentage laws to recognize the changing nature of Vermont families. H.562 is the result of the Parentage Study Committee’s work.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today delivered testimony before the US House Ways & Means Subcommittee on Health. Joined by his Secretary of Human Services Al Gobeille, Commissioner of Health Dr. Mark Levine and Director of the Blueprint for Health Beth Tanzman, Gov. Scott outlined Vermont’s successes and continued challenges in responding to the opioid epidemic.

Vermont Business Magazine A new report reveals the results of public investment in clean water projects during 2017. The Vermont Clean Water Initiative 2017 Investment Report, released by the Secretary of Administration, shows how public funds are being applied to clean water projects and the impact these dollars are having.

Vermont Business Magazine This morning AccuWeather passed on a National Weather Service Tsunami Warning that was intended by the NWS to be a test but was miscoded by the NWS as a real warning. AccuWeather stated that it has the most sophisticated system for passing on NWS tsunami warnings based on a complete computer scan of the codes used by the NWS. While the words "TEST" were in the header, the actual codes read by computers used coding for real warning, indicating it was a real warning. The warning even appeared on some cell phones in New England. A Tsunami is a seismic sea wave, typically caused by an underwater earthquake or volcanic eruption.

Vermont Business Magazine South Burlington Chief of Police Trevor Whipple has announced his plans to retire from the Police Department in January 2019. Whipple has served as Chief for 12 years and has ushered in many modern and innovative approaches to law enforcement and public engagement.

by Tom Torti, President of the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce It was heartening to hear Governor Scott announce a new program to attract young people to live and work in Vermont during his January 23 budget address. Employers and business leaders across the state will tell you that strengthening Vermont’s economy depends upon reversing current demographic trends of an aging population and rapidly shrinking workforce. We must ensure that young families are able to afford living and working in our state. It is clear that the governor and his administration has made this issue a centerpiece of their agenda.

So how do we get young people to consider moving to Vermont and raising their families here? How do we keep the talented young Vermonters with the skills employers need from moving out of state and taking their potential elsewhere?

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources is promoting best environmental practices as an economic development tool. A typical tourist trip to Vermont might include hiking on the Long Trail, skiing at one of our many resorts, fishing for wild brook trout, visiting a farm, and sampling some of the finest cheese, yogurt, and ice cream. People come to Vermont because it represents a vibrant counterpoint to the narrative, so prevalent elsewhere, that agriculture and the environment cannot coexist. Here in Vermont, environmental and agricultural excellence can be mutually reinforcing.

Vermont Business Magazine Mother Nature is sending some snow our way and Vermont Gas wants to make sure customers play it safe. Forecasters are calling for as much as nine inches expected Wednesday, with heaviest accumulation between noon and 7 pm. Vermont Gas encourages the public to be careful when traveling and to take the proper safety precautions around the home. Vermont Gas has also cancelled its informational open house in Bristol. More information will be provided when a new date has been set.

Report suspected gas leak – above all, if you think you smell natural gas or propane, report it right away. Natural gas and propane have an odor similar to that of rotten eggs. If you suspect a gas leak, leave the area, call 911 and contact Vermont Gas at 1-800-639-8081 or your propane fuel supplier.