Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Earlier this year the Northeast Recycling Council (NERC), based in Brattleboro, inaugurated a new recognition program – the Environmental Sustainability Leadership Awards. Lynn Rubinstein, NERC Executive Director explained that, “This is an exciting new initiative that we are delighted to launch in conjunction with our 30th anniversary.”

by Jeffrey RWakefield, UVM There was no golden dome on the top of the Davis Center, but the fourth floor of the UVM’s student center bore more than a passing resemblance to the Vermont State House on Monday morning. Nearly 50 state legislators took up residencefor UVM’s fifth annual Legislative Summit.After addressing education, climate change, the Vermont economy and healthcare policy in past years, the summit’s topic this year was “Water: How Will We Ensure That It Is Clean and Plentiful.” The summit was divided into three sub-areas: groundwater contamination, causes and consequences of algal bloom and Lake Champlain as sentinel.

Vermont Business MagazineFood law and policy experts this week launched a nationalHealthy Food Policy Project(HFPP) that identifies and elevates local laws and policies that promote access to healthy food and contribute to strong local economies, improved environmental quality, and health equity. The project, which focuses on socially disadvantaged and marginalized groups, is available athealthyfoodpolicyproject.org.

Audubon Vermont Things are starting to return to normal at Audubon. We're seen some snow, our trails are open, and we're entering the season of Turkeys.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD) invites communities interested in charting a path to a more prosperous and self-sufficient future to participate in the 2018 Climate Economy Model Communities Program. A collaboration of VCRD, Efficiency Vermont, Vermont’s utilities and other partners, the Program works with two communities annually to help build and implement locally developed plans that increase economic opportunity, affordability, and resilience in the face of climate change. The Program kicked off in 2017 with Pownal and Middlebury being the first two communities to join the effort.

Vermont Business Magazine The Act 73 Working Group released its recommendations today for long-term water quality funding to meet the state’s clean water goals. Significant long-term investment is needed to restore and sustain the high quality of Vermont’s waterways. While existing resources available from state, municipal and private sectors will meet theirportion of the required clean water investment in the immediate future, these resourcesare stressed and unlikely to be adequate after FY 2021.

With an eye toward developing long-term water quality solutions, the Vermont Legislature passed Act 73 in June. The Act 73 Working Group formed to develop a report that would include recommendations for an equitable and effective long-term clean water funding strategy. The Working Group examined solutions to address the primary goal of Vermont’s clean water initiative, which is not simply to raise and spend money, rather it is to reach water quality standards.

Vermont Business MagazineIn response to growing customer demand in its European medical device and drug delivery business, Bethel, Vermont-based GW Plastics announced this week a merger with product development and 3D printing firm NeraTek Limited of Sligo, Ireland. NeraTek will be merged into Avenue Mould Solutions, which GW acquired in July. NeraTek provides product development, 3D printing, additive manufacturing, and prototyping design services for leading medical device and pharmaceutical companies.

Vermont Business Magazine This afternoon, Representative Peter Welch (D-Vermont) spoke against the Trump-Ryan tax proposal being debated by the House of Representatives.A final vote on the bill is expected tomorrow by early afternoon. “If you asked 435 members of Congress if they want to raise taxes on students, the answer from 435 members would be ‘no.’ This bill was written by and for the donor class. Let’s defeat this bill and stand up for the middle class.”

Vermont Business MagazineUSCitizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will present 35 citizenship candidates to the Honorable Colleen ABrown, Chief Bankruptcy Judge for the USDistrict Court for the District of Vermont, at a ceremony to be held at Christ the King School in Rutland Wednesday.The Honorable Judge Brown will preside over this special venue ceremony and will deliver theOath of Allegianceto America’s newest citizens.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced the appointment of a bipartisan duo of former legislators to strengthen and coordinate his Administration’s initiatives to expand the size of Vermont’s workforce. Senator Dustin Degree (R-Franklin) will serve as special assistant to the Governor and executive director of workforce expansion. Former Representative Sarah Buxton (D-Windsor-Orange 1) will assume the new role of director of workforce policy and performance within the Vermont Department of Labor (VDOL).

Vermont Business Magazine Today, joined by Governor Phil Scott and Montpelier Mayor John Hollar, the Bashara Family announced plans to build a new 89-room hotel on their existing 3-acre property in downtown Montpelier. The hotel, a new, four-level parking structure, and a revitalization of the existing Capitol Plaza lot, is expected to bring over $17 million in new investment to Montpelier. The project will create 50-60 construction jobs during the year-long construction phase, and the Bashara Family estimates they will create 30-50 new jobs at the hotel.

“This project is an exciting step forward for our city as we work with other business leaders and our elected officials to revitalize and create a more vibrant downtown,” said Fred Bashara. “When complete, the new hotel and renovations to our existing Capitol Plaza, will be a new and modern gathering place for visitors to Montpelier.”

Vermont Business Magazine Southwestern Vermont Health Care’s (SVHC) Centers for Living and Rehabilitation (CLR), askilled nursing and rehabilitation facility in Bennington, recently earned Vermont regulators’ highest commendation, deficiency free. Last month, five surveyors from the Vermont Department of Disabilities, Aging, and Independent Living arrived unannounced for their yearly survey. They reviewed the facility for 3 days to check that the nursing home is meeting each of more than 300 standards covering every aspect of care, including administration, cleanliness, nursing care, activity programming, protection of resident rights, and food service.