Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Alexander Nemerov, chair of the Art and Art History Department at Stanford University, who writes frequently on the importance of the humanities in contemporary life, will give the commencement address at the University of Vermont on May 20. Nemerov is a UVM alumnus who graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1985 with degrees in Art History and English. He received an honorary doctorate degree from the university at UVM's May 2017 commencement.

Vermont Business Magazine The Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals (SORP) will present the 2018 National Outdoor Recreation Conference on April 23-26, 2018, in Burlington, Vermont. The National Outdoor Recreation Conference showcases innovative approaches to outdoor recreation research, planning, and management, and organizers believe that Vermont provides an ideal location to see how investments in local conservation and outdoor recreation have contributed to a thriving economy and vibrant community. The theme of this year’s conference is “Building Resilient Communities, Environments and Economies.”

by Rick Davis Policymakers and Vermonters of all political persuasions are worried about the economic impacts of Vermont’s aging population and shrinking workforce. Our working-age population—the vital group that acts as our economic engine—keeps declining. Meanwhile, baby boomers will soon be aging out of the workforce. In order for Vermont to attract and retain the skilled workforce our economy needs to thrive, we need to make sure all Vermonters have an equal opportunity to contribute to our economy. Yet, Vermont women are continually forced to leave careers and drop out of the workforce because they cannot afford or find high-quality child care.

Vermont Business Magazine In 2018, Vermont Electric Co-op (VEC) is offering an expanded menu of financial incentives to VEC members for energy transformation technologies that help members move away from fossil fuels to electricity and advanced wood heating. This program includes bill credits for electric and plug-in hybrid cars as well as lower-carbon heating and cooling systems.

Vermont Business Magazine On January 1, 2018, Open Approach, a Burlington-based full-service IT company, acquired Rail City Information Systems (RCIS), an IT company based in St Albans, Vermont. RCIS founder and president Scott Burleson, vice president Dale Burleson, and the current RCIS technology team has transferred all existing accounts and services to Open Approach’s offices at 1 Mill Street, Burlington.

“We are beyond pleased to join forces with RCIS in 2018. We welcome Scott, Dale, and Joe to the Open Approach team, and look forward to having the ability to offer an even more comprehensive set of IT services to RCIS’s former clients and our own,” says Scott Bernoudy, CEO and principle engineer at Open Approach. “Together, we can leverage the skills and experience gained from a collective 34 years in the IT-management field to offer an even more robust set of services to businesses in Vermont and beyond.”

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.