Current News

Vermont Business Magazine City Market in Burlington has donated the proceeds from its 20^thAnnual Tree Sale to the Committee on Temporary Shelter, also known as COTS. This year it presented COTS with a check totaling $10,500. The annual Tree Sale to benefit COTS has brought in a total of over $136,000. This year, City Market once again sold fresh balsams from Moffatt’s Tree Farm in Craftsbury. The Co-op sold 660 trees from Wednesday, November 29 through Friday, December 8. City Market staff, Co-op Members, and community volunteers assisted customers with trees throughout the sale.

Vermont Business MagazineFreshTracks Capital has made a new investment in a rapidly growing Vermont distillery, Caledonia Spirits, maker of Barr Hill Gin, Tom Cat Gin, and Barr Hill Vodka.This is the fifth Vermont company that FreshTracks has invested in during 2017. Terms were not disclosed. The Vermont-based distillery has received numerous national and international awards and accolades, including “Gin of the Year” at the Hong Kong International Wine and Spirits Competition, “Double Gold” at the New York International Spirits Competition, and “Best in Class” at the American Distilling Institute’s Judging of Craft Spirits.

Vermont Business Magazine The Burlington Police Officers’ Association (BPOA) today endorsed Mayor Miro Weinberger in support of his upcoming reelection effort on Town Meeting Day,March 6, 2018. Weinberger faces independents Carina Driscoll, the daughter of Jane Sanders and stepdaughter or Senator Bernie Sanders, and Infinite Culcleasure. Driscoll has already received the endorsement of the Burlington Progressive Party. Weinberger already has been elected to two, three-year terms.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont State Treasurer Beth Pearce is part of a coalition of state and local public finance officials who have petitioned the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to halt repeal of the Clean Power Plan, an EPA regulation developed to reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions.“Environmental and social stewardship is critically important for Vermont’s continued economic prosperity,” said Treasurer Pearce. “We call on the EPA to maintain policies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve the health of our planet, and ensure the long-term profitability of our investments.”

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Housing & Conservation Board, Vermont Land Trust and theIntervale Center received a three-year, $546,000 grant from the USDA’sBeginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program to help Vermont’s nextgeneration of agricultural entrepreneurs access land and grow viablebusinesses.VHCB’s Viability Program is a nationally-recognized provider ofcomprehensive, one-on-one business and transfer planning services forestablished farm, food and forestry sector businesses. The Vermont LandTrust’s Farmland Access Program connects farmers with affordable farmland,helping 62 new and beginning farmers make the transition to farm ownershipsince 2009.The Intervale Center provides one-on-one business planning andtechnical assistance to about 80 farms throughout Vermont each year as wellas specialized assistance in the areas of land access.

Vermont Business Magazine America's strength depends on workforce-ready, law abiding men and women who are able to defend our nation. Unfortunately, a new report shows the majority of America's young adults fail to meet at least one of these indicators. More than three-fourths of the states (37 states) earned a grade of C or worsebased on the percentage of young adults who miss the mark. Vermont was one of only three states to make an "A."

Nationwide:

Vermont Business Magazine State officials reported that nearly 23,000 Vermonters had confirmed a 2018 health plan and qualified for financial help to make the plan more affordable. Total enrollment in qualified health plans, which typically includes 46,000 small business employees and 11,000 individuals who don’t qualify for financial help, is expected to surpass 80,000. While enrollment will be similar to past years, this year’s earlier deadline means fewer members will experience gaps in coverage. In past years, nearly 2,000 members missed out on January coverage.

Senator Patrick LeahyLittle more than a month ago, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was unveiled in the Senate. Just a few short weeks later, we are on the verge of passing a colossal bill, publicly available for just four days, that makes sweeping changes to every aspect of our economy. We are moving so fast that the American people would be forgiven for thinking we were addressing a national emergency. And yet, fires are still blazing in California, power in Puerto Rico is still not fully restored, and victims around the Gulf of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria are still struggling to pick up the pieces and rebuild. There are indeed national emergencies we should be addressing, but instead of doing so, Republicans in Congress are focused first on passing tax cuts for corporations and billionaires – tax cuts that will add an estimated $1.5 trillion to the deficit.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Veterans Outreach Team worked in conjunction with the Ocean State Job Lot Charitable Foundation and Massachusetts Military Support Foundation. Locally, the Vermont Veterans Outreach Team worked with several organizationsto organize and distribute winter jackets to include; VA Homeless Teams, WestCanal Street Transitional Housing, Veteran's Place, Bradford House, Open DoorMission, Dodge House, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion.

The distribution of winter jackets will occur over the next several weeks andas the need arises.

by Timothy McQuiston Vermont Business Magazine Granite State Power Link (GSPL) and the Northeastern Vermont Development Association (NVDA) today announced a partnership and benefits package to support economic growth and opportunities to the Northeast Kingdom. The proposal to transmit power to Massachusetts faces fierce competition, however, from at least one other project in New Hampshire and another in Vermont. That other Vermont project is favored by Governor Phil Scott.

Vermont Business Magazine A statewide teacher health plan first proposed last spring and which ultimately led to a budget veto has now received the blessing of a statewide commission that was formed as a compromise resolution last summer. In April, Governor Phil Scott presented a proposal for a statewide health benefit for school employees designed to save taxpayers up to $26 million a year while investing nearly $50 million to keep school employees out-of-pocket healthcare costs level. The governor said his proposal would have also introduced equity and sustainability in healthcare coverage for school employees across all districts, and simplified negotiations for school board members.

Vermont Business Magazine The Northeast Kingdom Fund at the Vermont Community Foundation made $63,668 in grants to 21 organizations in Orleans, Essex, and Caledonia Counties this year. The Fund was established in 2011 by the Community Foundation and local partners as a permanent philanthropic resource to support the people and communities in the region. This year’s grantmaking was supported in part by donors from across Vermont. The support of these donors demonstrates the importance of philanthropic collaboration and partnership in advancing the good work in communities in the Northeast Kingdom.