Current News

by Julie Moore, Secretary of the Agency of Natural Resources In the year I’ve spent at ANR, one of my favorite moments came at a meeting of the Endangered Species Committee, an advisory group made up of academics, working professionals and scientists who volunteer their time to help inform the Agency’s actions. One of the Species Advisory Group chairs was describing his research to look for emerald ash borers - an exotic beetle that has been decimating ash trees in many states across the country but, thankfully, has not yet been spotted here in Vermont.

As he explained, colleagues had identified a species of wasps that seemed to feed solely on emerald beetles, and that, because they like hard-packed sand for their nesting sites, these wasps are often found in baseball infields.

Vermont Business Magazine Northwestern Medical Center’s new multi-specialty Medical Office Building in St Albans. The $32 million project is the third and final phase of the facility’s comprehensive master plan, designed to facilitate optimal treatment delivery to 45,000 patients treated annually by Northwestern Medical Center and Northwestern Occupational Health. E4H Environments for Health Architecture, an architecture firm exclusively focused on healthcare, designed the new facility.

Vermont Business MagazineLamoille Economic Development, a nonprofit committed to strengthening the county’s economy, has been selected as a beneficiary of the Hannaford Cause Bag program for the month of December. The Hannaford Cause Bag program launched in October 2015 and is designed to support local nonprofits through the sale of the reusable Hannaford Helps bag.

LEDC was selected by Hannaford store leadership as the December beneficiary of the program at the Morrisville Hannaford store. For every Hannaford Helps reusable bag with the “good karma” message purchased at the Morrisville Hannaford during December, LEDC will receive a $1 donation.

“We appreciated being chosen for this award, as it will help us to spread the word about our commitment to growing business partnerships in Lamoille County”, said LEDC Executive Director, John Mandeville.”

by Andrew BrewerIt is with a heavy heart that I reach out to you to let you know that after almost 18 years of ownership, I am making the difficult decision that it is nearly time to close the doors of Onion River Sports and the Shoe Horn. This decision does not come lightly, not least of all because it means the end of employment for an incredible group of talented, loyal, and hard-working staff that have come to feel like family. It also means the end of a business venture started by my dear friends and mentors Jack Nash and Warren Kitzmiller, whose legacy I had hoped to strengthen and pass on to the next generation. Alas, it is not to be. The financial situation of the business is such that my only option at this point may well be closure.

by Timothy McQuiston Vermont Business Magazine On Monday, Betty Miller, a resident at the Wake Robin retirement facility in Shelbume, admitted to health care providers about manufacturing Ricin, a highly toxic powder produced from the seeds of the castor oil plant, and placing it on food and/or in beverages ingested by other Wake Robin residents. Miller also indicated that she intended to injure herself and wanted to test the Ricin on other residents.According to initial police and Wake Robin officials, no one was taken sick or inured in the alleged incidents, including Miller. However, the Associated Press reported Friday that Vermont Health Department officials said one person likely had been sickened by Ricin and had recovered.

Vermont Business Magazine Following four years of advocacy by Representative Peter Welch (D-VT), the US International Trade Commission (ITC) today provided long overdue relief to a key employer in the Northeast Kingdom. Columbia Forest Products, which maintains a manufacturing facility in Newport, Vermont, has been struggling to compete with illegal Chinese imports. In a unanimous ruling, the ITC voted 4-0 to impose significant tariffs on dumped and subsidized imports of Chinese hardwood plywood.

“Today’s decision is great news for the employees of Columbia Forest Products,” said Welch. “The company and its employees have been reeling from subsidized and illegal competition from China. This important decision will level the playing field for the company, preserve jobs, and ensure its continued contributions to the regional economy.”

Vermont Business Magazine This December, Community Bank NAis partnering with Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity (CVOEO) to raise money for the organization’s WARMTH program and help low-income Vermont families stay warm this winter. The bank will match WARMTH donations dollar for dollar during December, up to a total of $17,500. All funds raised 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.

“As Vermonters, our staff understands the perils a Vermont winter brings,” Community Bank N.A. Regional Manager Anita Bourgeois said. “That’s why we understand the importance of supporting our neighbors in need. I encourage everyone to make a donation this December and help ensure that everyone in our community has the ability to heat their homes.”

Vermont business Magazine The 5th annualJingle Bell Express presented by Keurig Green Mountainhas come and gone this past November 25th and 26th. The two-days of festive, round-trip train rides from Burlington to Charlotte, hosted nearly2000 guestsand raised$95,000all forRonald McDonald House Charities of Burlington. The annual event is a wonderful way for children and families to kick off the holiday season while supporting Ronald McDonald House Charities of Burlington! Upon arrival at Main Street Landing, children were met with holiday characters, goodies and singing!

Senator Patrick LeahyDuring Thanksgiving last week, families across the country came together to give thanks for the blessings of the past year. One group in particular – corporate CEOs – had a special reason to be thankful: the Republican tax bill we are considering today. Rather than engaging in a bipartisan process to develop and enact meaningful tax reform that will benefit working Americans and small businesses, Republicans in Congress have spent the last few weeks crafting tax cut legislation that will overwhelmingly favor large corporations and ultra-wealthy Americans. Just in time for the holiday season, this bill delivers everything on the Republican donor class’s wish list while providing the vast majority of working Americans with little more than a lump of coal.

Vermont Business Magazine Burke Mountain opens for skiing and riding this weekend and the forecast is looking oh so good; 1-3 inches is expected to fall overnight adding to the anticipation of getting first turns of the season. The Mid Burke express lift spins from 9am-4pm tomorrow for our pass holders, then Saturday, 12/2 and Sunday, 12/3 for everyone. Get here early as the first 40 people in line Friday, Saturday, and Sunday get a piece of Burke Schwag.

Vermont Business MagazineThe state is expecting the statewide school property tax rate to increase over 7 percent next year, which amounts to $235 on a $250,000 home. This equates to a9.4 cent average increase in education property tax rates, which is being driven by an anticipated 3.52 percent increase ($47.5 million) in education spending statewide. The much smaller municipal property tax rate is set by the local cities and towns in March.

Commissioner of Taxes Kaj Samsom on Thursday released his annual education tax rate letter, which forecasts the education tax yields for resident homeowners and the nonresidential tax rate for the upcoming fiscal year (FY) 2019, using statutorily required calculations. The Agency of Education, Department of Taxes, Department of Finance and Management, and Joint Fiscal Office collaborate to establish the yields and rate as part of the statutory obligation.

Vermont Business MagazineThe Vermont Watershed Grants Program is now accepting applications for projects that protect, restore and enhance the state's lakes, streams, rivers and ponds, including Vermonters' ability to understand and enjoy these treasures. Applications are due no later than Monday, January 15, 2018. Program grants are available to municipalities, local and regional government agencies, sporting clubs, non-profit organizations, and water-related citizen groups. The range of past projects is just as diverse, and has included invasive species education, shoreline vegetation restoration, and the removal of old dams and replacement of culverts to improve fish movement.

For the 2018, $85,000 is available to fund three categories of projects. The three categories and the maximum amount for each project type are: education and outreach ($5,000), planning, assessment, inventory, monitoring ($3,500) and on-the-ground implementation ($10,000).