Current News

by Julie Moore Stormwater runoff is a serious water quality problem in Vermont that demands action. There is a fine balance between moving forward with urgency and unnecessarily compromising on cost-effective solutions. We must use the best available science and technology to ensure we select the most efficient path to clean water. I think Vermonters want us, and expect us, to invest their money wisely.

Vermont Business Magazine Northwestern Medical Center recently installed and activated a collection receptacle to be used by the community as a secure place to properly dispose of over-the-counter and prescription medications and some controlled substances like OxyContin, Percocet and others. The kiosk will be located in the main hospital lobby and features a one-way drop mechanism with a locking door. The kiosk is securely fastened to a permanent structure and will be managed by hospital staff, including NMC’s security team.

People who lawfully possess medications may use the receptacle to dispose of them safely at any time. Many people may have expired or unused medications in their medicine cabinets and seek a way to keep them out of reach of children and others.

Vermont Business Magazine At a press conference today, Attorney General TJ Donovan announced significant progress in expanding access to Diversion and Pretrial Services statewide and highlighted criminal justice reform as a top legislative priority for the Attorney General’s Office. A year ago, Donovan created a new division in the Attorney General’s office specifically to address criminal justice reform.

Vermont Business Magazine Representatives of the Vermont Farm to Plate Network and staff at the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund presented the 2017 Farm to Plate Annual Report to the Vermont Legislature House and Senate Agriculture Committees today, identifying a critical need to improve Vermont’s workforce development system in order to continue to grow the local food economy.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont is poised to become the ninth state to make marijuana legal for adults and the first to do so through its legislature. The bill, H511, received final approval on Wednesday from the Vermont Senate and will now make its way to the desk of Governor Phil Scott, who vetoed a similar bill in 2017. In December, Governor Phil Scott indicated that he would sign H 511 as amended into law. The Vermont House passed the bill last Thursday.

Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) Just last week we began the Second Session of the 115th Congress. It is 2018 and we should be talking about what we can accomplish for the American people in the New Year. Instead, we face a long list of unfinished business from 2017, and a very short window in which to get it done. We are four months into Fiscal Year 2018, and we still do not have a budget deal. Our agencies are operating under last year’s funding levels with little flexibility to adjust for the problems of today. We still have not reauthorized the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), putting the health care of 9 million children at risk. And nearly 800,000 DREAMers live under a cloud of uncertainty and fear of deportation. This is unacceptable.

Vermont Business Magazine US Small Business Administration Administrator Linda McMahon today announced the appointment of six SBA Regional Administrators. SBA has 10 regions covering the United States and US territories. These offices, which are managed by politically appointed administrators, play a part in supervising the 68 district offices and promoting the President's and SBA Administrator's policies, messages and priorities throughout the region. The New England region will be led by Wendell G Davis. Darcy Carter continues to lead the SBA Vermont office.

Vermont Business Magazine Gardener’s Supply Company, the employee-owned purveyor of great garden gear, has completed the purchase of its first garden center in New Hampshire. The acquisition was first announced in September. Longacres’ Nursery Center in Lebanon, has been the preeminent garden center in the Upper Valley for more than 40 years. The acquisition marks the beginning of what’s planned to be a significant expansion for the Burlington, VT-based company. Currently closed for renovations, the new Longacres is scheduled to reopen January 22, 2018.

Vermont Business Magazine Skiers and snowboarders will once again be able to snack, sip and ski their way through Vermont’s favorite local food and drink vendors this year with the return of Ski Vermont’s Specialty Food Days Tour. This slope side tour will kick off on January 26th at Jay Peak Resort visiting fifteen resorts over the course of ten weeks.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Labor’s Employer Services and Program Integrity Units within the Unemployment Insurance Division experienced technical difficulties last week involving public phone lines. Those technical issues have been resolved, and all phone lines have been repaired and are functioning. The Program Integrity Unit can be contacted by calling 802.828.4333, and the Employer Services Unit can be contacted by calling 802.828.4344.

The Employer Services Unit handles all business inquiries regarding Unemployment Insurance tax contributions and liability determinations and the Program Integrity Unit handles unemployment claims auditing, including the collection of overpayments and unpaid contributions.

Source: DOL 1.10.2018

Vermont Business Magazine 2017 proved to be another highly successful year for Vermont’s captive insurance industry. The Vermont Department of Financial Regulation reports 24 new captive licenses, bringing Vermont’s total to 1,112, with 566 active captive insurance companies. The new captives were made up of 11 pure captives, 5 sponsored captives, 3 Risk Retention Groups (RRGs), 3 special purpose financial insurers, 1 branch captive and 1 industrial insured captive. New and notable captives include Life Time Fitness, Inc., AAA Northeast, Barclays Group US, Inc, and Bright Horizons Family Solutions. This does not even include the recent decision by the UVM Health Network to bring its captive to Vermont from the Bahamas in 2018.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont House today conducted sexual harassment training. The training was conducted by members of Legislative Council in order to ensure that all members, staff, and state house guests are afforded a positive work culture free from harassment.