Current News

Vermont Business MagazineGovernor Phil Scott today announced appointments to his Cybersecurity Advisory Team, which he established viaExecutive Order 18-17in October.The Executive Order charges the Cybersecurity Advisory Team with developing a strategic plan for protecting the state’s information and systems, evaluating statewide cybersecurity readiness, developing best practices for policies and procedures, and building partnerships with local universities and colleges to better leverage cybersecurity resources.

Vermont Business Magazine Summer's car shopping peak may be in the rearview mirror, but the autumn chill isn't leaving dealers out in the cold. That is the main finding from the November Dealer DataView index, by Burlington-based Dealer.com, which captures year-to-date data throughOctober 31, 2017. The index showed that after a relatively light post-summer dip, total traffic to dealership websites is once again on the rise, growing by 3 percent in October from September. Vehicle detail page (VDP) views, a strong indicator of sales intent, also rose by 2 percent last month.

Vermont Business MagazineThe Canadian owner of Vermont's Highland Sugarworks in Websterville continues to acquire competitors in the raucous maple syrup industry.LBMaple Treat Corporation of Granby, QC, has acquiredDecacer, a major bottler and distributor of branded and private label maple syrup and maple sugar based in Degelis, QC, for CD$40 million, subject to post-closing adjustments, from the Levasseur Family. LBMT's parent corporation,Rogers Sugar Inc (TSX:RSI)drew on its existing $275 million revolving credit facility to finance the Transaction.

Vermont Business MagazineTheEnergy Action Networktoday shared with theVermont Climate Action Commissionand Vermont legislative leaders nearly 50 energy and climate policy ideas. Over the past two months, EAN invited its members to submit “policy pitches” following Governor Scott’s creation of the Vermont Climate Action Commission, which is tasked with proposing at least three substantive actions on climate by the end of the year. Network members across Vermont responded with 48 pitches received from over 40 different businesses, organizations, and individuals.

Vermont Business MagazineThe Board of Directors of the Vermont Energy Co-op, a member-owned fuel services and energy efficiency cooperative located in Colchester, Vermont has named Brian Gray as the Co-op's new General Manager.

Gray comes to the Energy Co-op with 30 years experience serving the local utility community, most recently as Energy Services Manager with Vermont Gas Systems where he was responsible for customer growth, marketing and energy efficiency programs.

"The General Manager of the Co-op wears many hats,"says Richard Faesy, Board Chairman."Brian's depth of experience in fuel supply negotiation, building strategic partnerships, key account maintenance, employee enrichment, lean process evaluations, and value stream mapping is a great fit for the job."

Vermont Business Magazine The Public Safety Broadband Network Commission will recommend to Governor Phil Scott that Vermont opt-in to the federal FirstNet plan to deliver a wireless broadband network to the state’s public safety community. Today’s recommendation culminates a more than year-long evaluation effort by the Governor-appointed commission to evaluate the best option for the build-out of the Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network in Vermont.

by Mike SmithThis is not in dispute: Jody Herring is a murderer.She pleaded guilty to shooting to death three of her relatives and a social worker. Last week a judge sentenced Herring to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

But at the sentencing hearing her lawyer, David Sleigh, asked the court to look at Herring not solely as a murderer, but also as a victim. Sleigh showed — through a parade of witnesses — that Herring was trapped in a family with a history of physical, mental and sexual abuse; that as a child she endured seizures after the untimely death of her father; that she became homeless for a time while in her preteens; and that she was abused by men throughout her life.

Sleigh also contended that if the mental health system hadn’t failed Herring, then there’s a possibility this tragedy could have been avoided.

Vermont Business Magazine Phase 2 is in the waning days of the 2017 construction season and the whole team is working hard to pave the remaining 1 ¼ miles from North Beach to Shore Road. Meanwhile, the push is on to complete as many intersections as possible before winter shutdown. As long as Mother Nature stamps an OK, our contractor plans to move in paving equipment today (Friday, November 17) and begin laying the base course of asphalt. The bike path's asphalt will consist of two layers, a lower layer called the base course (made with larger stone or aggregate to provide a strong and stable base) and on top of that the wear course (made with finer stones and aggregate to provide a smooth riding finish). At this point, our contractor, paving subcontractor and resident engineers are all predicting that we will be able to get the base course in this year, but the wear course may have to wait until the spring.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont's Congressional Delegation recently secured $18.9 million dollars in federal funding for the Low-Income Heating Assistance Program. These funds will help 20,000 Vermont households keep warm this winter. Low-income households across Vermont can expect to receive an average of $879 to assist with winter heating costs.

On Monday, Congressman Peter Welch will participate in a ride along with a heating fuel truck and deliver fuel to the Stone Family in Rutland. This will highlight federal funding for the Low Income Energy Home Assistance Program (LIHEAP), the Split the Ticket Fund, and Vermont’s new Fuel Oil Tank Regulations.

Vermont Business Magazine US Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) held a student town meeting Friday with the entire student body of Burlington High School and the Burlington Technical Center to discuss the opioid crisis in Vermont and throughout the United States. “I need your help. Not only for Vermont, but for the entire country,” Sanders told the students. “It is critically important that we have an honest and open discussion about this crisis that claimed the lives of 112 Vermonters last year, and affected thousands more. If we do not have the courage to talk about this issue. We are never, ever going to solve it.”

Vermont Business Magazine OneCare Vermont, a Vermont Accountable Care Organization, announced today a major investment in an innovative pilot program to improve the quality of mental health and substance use treatment services for residents of two Burlington area housing communities specializing in the coordination of care and services for older adults and those with special needs.

Working in collaboration with the Howard Center and SASH® (Supports and Services at Home) at Cathedral Square, the program will deliver an improved health care experience to residents of two affordable housing sites by locating a Howard Center clinician there full time.

Vermont Business MagazineThe University of Vermont and its faculty union, United Academics, remain at impasse following negotiations facilitated by a mediator. Under established Vermont law procedures, the next step in the process involves an independent fact-finder, who will review evidence from both parties and offer a recommended resolution. The parties may accept the recommendations of the fact-finder or negotiate further in an effort to reach a contract settlement. Failure to agree on a new contract after fact-finding could result in the Vermont Labor Relations Board resolving the issues.