Current News

by Christine McGowan, Forest Products Program Director, Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund Vermont prides itself as the Green Mountain State, with nearly 80-percent of its land mass covered in forest. Healthy and productive forests are inherent to Vermont’s culture and heritage. Yet, the industry responsible for bringing us countless valuable forest products: high quality furniture, specialty wood crafts, lumber and firewood, as well as services such as clean water, fresh air and a home for wildlife—is in decline due to a myriad of challenges. Rapidly changing commodity markets, overseas competition and an aging workforce all are contributing to an industry in transition. And yet, both the environmental and economic viability of Vermont’s forested landscape depends on a healthy forest products industry to responsibly manage, harvest, and utilize Vermont’s forests.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Conservation Voters and partners have released the 2018 Vermont Environmental Common Agenda of legislative priorities at a reception in the Cedar Creek room of the Vermont State House. The Common Agenda is collectively shaped by a range of environmental organizations across Vermont working on initiatives affecting our shared natural resources, the integrity of our communities, and the health of all Vermonters.

Vermont Business Magazine A national town hall on Medicare for all hosted by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) and digital media outlets The Young Turks, NowThis and ATTN: drew nearly 1.1 million live viewers Tuesday night, rivaling the viewership of cable news in primetime. By midday Wednesday, more than 1.6 million views had accumulated on the town hall video across platforms.

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General TJ Donovan today announced that he is joining a coalition of 21 Attorneys General in filing an amicus brief urging the US Supreme Court to uphold existing precedent that permits “fair share” provisions in public sector union contracts. The “fair share” provisions allow a union to collect a fee from all represented employees to solely cover the costs of collective-bargaining related activities. These costs are related to collective bargaining functions such as contract negotiations and processing grievances.

Public Assets Institute Since the start of the Great Recession 10 years ago, Vermont’s labor force has shrunk. The nation has endured five recessions in the last 40 years, and Vermont’s workforce recovered after four of them. But in December 2017 there were 6,500 fewer Vermonters working or actively looking for work than in December 2007.

Vermont Business Magazine The list of legislative priorities the leaders of the state's cities has is long and pretty much the same as the last few years, including opioid use assistance, clean water, and money to refurbish downtowns. The Vermont Mayors Coalition (VMC) today announced its 2018 legislative session goals and its commitment to collaborate on and advocate for these areas of common interest for their cities and towns. At a news conference in the State House Cedar Creek Room, the Coalition released its legislative policy summary for the 2018 legislative session.

Vermont Business Magazine Burlington residents will have a school budget to approve on March 6. At a special board meeting on Tuesday, January 23, the Burlington School Board passed a budget recommendation. The recommended budget will increase education spending to $15,111.81 per equalized pupil, an increase of less than one percent (0.8 percent) over the last fiscal year. While the increase per child is very small, the state’s education funding formula means that the proposed budget could raise property taxes by 7.99 percent.

by Anson Tebbetts, Secretary of Agriculture Food & Markets As you go about your day, it’s likely you pass a farm – or two or more – along the way. Hidden in hamlets and stretched out in the valleys, Vermont’s farms are part of our daily lives. And although farmers have worked the land for over a century, there may be something unexpected, yet rooted in Vermont, happening behind the scenes. Something innovative. Something progressive. Something that’s making a difference, over time, in our land, waterways, farms, and in our communities.

Vermont Business Magazine Following the Greater Burlington Industrial Corp sounding the alarm on workforce development in early Spring of 2017, the Vermont Legislature passed S135, directing the Commissioner of Labor and the Chair of the State Workforce Development Board to convene a working group on the state’s workforce development system. Through GBIC President Frank Cioffi's role as Chair of the State Workforce Development Board, GBIC took an active and leading role in this effort, dedicating hundreds of hours of staff time researching, compiling data, and collaborating with our partners in the region and throughout the state to help formulate this report. GBIC Vice President Seth Bowden served as a lead staff person, drafting and developing significant components of this report.

Vermont Business Magazine The American Lung Association’s 2018 “State of Tobacco Control” shows Vermont earned mixed grades on its tobacco policies. The Lung Association suggests the state should put another $3.8 million into fighting the problem and raise the smoking age to 21. The 16th annual report grades states and the federal government on policies proven to prevent and reduce tobacco use, and finds that Vermont was unable to move the ball on tobacco policy in 2017, and that elected officials must do more to save lives and ensure all Vermont residents benefit.

Vermont Business Magazine A new survey from Champlain College Online says that while most adults see the value in higher education to prepare them for advancement in the workplace, ongoing concerns over incurring student debt and affordability are the major barriers to returning to school to complete a certificate, associate degree or bachelor’s degree.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced a new cybersecurity training partnership between the State and the SANS Institute. GirlsGoCyberStart, a free online game of discovery, provides Vermont high school girls interested in a cybersecurity career, with a tool to learn basic cybersecurity skills and test their cyber aptitude. An introductory practice version of GirlsGoCyberStart will be available January 29–February 16 and the full-scale program will run from February 20–25.