Current News

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).

Vermont Business Magazine The New England power system is expected to have the resources needed to meet consumer demand for electricity this winter, according to ISO New England, the operator of the region’s power system. However, power system operations could become challenging if demand is higher than projected, if the region loses a large generator, electricity imports are affected, or when natural gas pipeline constraints limit the fuel available to natural-gas-fired power plants. In those instances, the ISO could be required to implement special operating procedures to maintain reliability. total capacity is expected to be 10,000 megawatts greater than the historic peak demand set in 2004.

Vermont Business Magazine Gaz Métro, the parent company of Green Mountain Power and Vermont Gas Systems, on Wednesdayrevealedits new identity, Énergir. Gaz Métro said in a statement that it’s a natural step for the company, which has diversified in the last decade. Québec’s primary natural gas distributor is now significantly invested in new and renewable energies, both locally and in the United States, where over half of its assets are located. Gaz Metro acquiredMaryland-based Standard Solar last March.

Gaz Metro Evolution

A decade ago, almost all its operations were related to natural gas. Today, nearly 45 percent of assets are in electricity production and distribution, and non-gas energy services. Much of that is through GMP, which owns or operates hydro, wind, and solar electric facilities. Énergir also recently acquired

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont’s Killington Resort, the largest ski and snowboard resort in Eastern North America and part of the POWDR adventure lifestyle company, reports record-breaking crowds at the World Cup with more than 34,000 spectators over the weekend, while Germany’s Viktoria Robensberg won gold in giant slalom and Mikaela Shriffin won gold in slalom and silver in giant slalom.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced the appointment of Kelly MacLaury Pajala, of Londonderry, as Representative for the Windham-Bennington-Windsor District, serving the towns of Jamaica, Londonderry, Stratton, Weston and Winhall. Pajala, an Independent, will fill the vacancy left when Rep. Oliver Olsen (I-Londonderry) stepped down this month. Since 2012, she’s served as town clerk for the Town of Londonderry and for the three years prior to that, was the assistant town clerk in Weston. Pajala also owned her own business, Dancing Hands Creations.

Vermont Business Magazine John Ewing died last Sunday following a battle with bone marrow cancer. He was 85. The longtime resident of Burlington was a lawyer by training and was general counsel for Bank of Vermont (now KeyBank Vermont) before being named president in 1993. He then was appointed by Governor Dean as chairman of the Environmental Board in 1995 and served until 1998. He founded Smart Growth Vermont before it merged into the Vermont Natural Resources Council. Among many accolades as a lawyer, banker and environmentalist, he's a winner of the Arthur Gibb Award and helped found the ECHO Center in Burlington. Below are tributes from friends and colleagues as requested by VBM. His obit, which first ran in the Burlington Free Press, is at the end.

Scott Carpenter, SVP, Regional Manager, Wealth Management and Private Banking, People’s United Bank