Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Attorney General TJDonovan announced today that a Vermont judge has given final approval to the State of Vermont’s $4.2 million settlement with Volkswagen Auto Group. The settlement,originally announced in late Spring, needed to be approved by a Vermont court after the case was sent back to Vermont from a multi-district litigation in California. The settlement’s approval resolves the environmental portions of a case filed by Vermont relating to Volkswagen’s sale and lease of diesel automobiles that were fitted with illegal “defeat devices” used to conceal the release of harmful pollutants in excess of Vermont’s vehicle emission standards.

Vermont Business MagazineInnophos Holdings, Inc(NASDAQ: IPHS) announced today that it has acquired NutraGenesis, a Brattleboro, Vermont-based marketer of proprietary, branded and science-backed nutraceutical ingredients.Innophos is based in Crannberry, NJ. It's been in an acquisition mode and acquiredNovel Ingredients for a total purchase price of$125 million in August.Novel is aNew Jersey-based provider of dietary supplement ingredient solutions. According to itsWeb site, NutraGenesisoffers a diverse portfolio of patented, branded nutraceutical ingredients for dietary supplements. NutraGenesis will remain in Brattleboro.

Vermont Business Magazine Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) and Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Monday lead Senate Democrats in calling on the Trump administration to put forward a comprehensive package to provide relief from the onslaught of natural disasters in recent months. The administration has committed to releasing such a package in the coming weeks.

In a letter to Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney, Senate Democrats outlined what must be included in a comprehensive package that would allow adequate investment in technology, conservation and infrastructure that will mitigate further damage in future disasters and make our communities more resilient.

The text of the letter is available HERE

Vermont Business MagazineThe Vermont Attorney General’s Office filed amotionFriday to compel the Energy and Environmental Legal Institute (EELI) to respect a Vermont Judge’s order not to depose two assistant attorneys general. EELI has demanded the depositions of both employees even though Judge Mary Miles Teachout recently refused to allow EELI to depose them in another case. Judge Teachout rejected EELI’s first request because the employees were not parties to the lawsuit. EELI makes a similar argument to depose these two employees, therefore Judge Teachout’s previous ruling should be applied in this case.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets (VAAFM) announces grants totaling $254,117 for seven projects to benefit Vermont producers of fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices, maple, wine grapes, and value-added products and to increase consumer access to locally produced food. These grants, funded through the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service's Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP), were awarded to five agricultural organizations to undertake a range of research, technology development, education, marketing, and program-building projects. The grants will leverage over $161,000 in additional matching funds in support of Vermont specialty crop production.

by Joyce Marcel Vermont Business Magazine The Beast is Back. With deep-pocket private ownership, killer snowmaking ability, fast trails, the longest ski season in the East, a die-hard group of fans, a ever-increasing summer season — and most of all, the wild success of the Women’s Downhill World Cup last year, which has brought Killington a new, two-year World Cup contract — the mountain resort has proudly resumed its once-discarded mantel as the “Beast of the East.” And quite a complex beast it is.

Vermont Business Magazine The Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit health care ratings organization, today released new Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades. The Safety Grade assigns letter grades of A, B, C, D and F to hospitals nationwide based on their performance in preventing medical errors, infections and other harms. Rutland Regional Medical Center was one of 832 awarded an “A” for its commitment to keeping patients safe and meeting the highest safety standards in the US Rutland Regional is the only hospital in Vermont to receive an “A” rating for this fall. Since 2013, Rutland Regional has the distinction of earning at least one “A” rating each year for Patient Safety.

Vermont Business MagazineThe Vermont Center for Independent Living recognized a Burlington cafe on October13 for its commitment to accessibility. Speeder & Earl’s co-owner Jessica Workman received the Rosemary JMiller Dining for All Award.The award is named for VCIL’s longtime receptionist, who retired in 2011 after over 30 years on the job. Miller, who was born with cerebral palsy, has been and continues to be a steadfast advocate for disability rights.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Agriculture Food & Markets is pleased to announce the availability of a third year of funding for Trade Show Assistance Grants. Trade Show Assistance Grants financially assist eligible Vermont agriculture and forestry businesses in connecting with new markets and buyers at out-of-state trade shows. As of November 1^st, the application period for the FY2018 Trade Show Assistance Grants is now open and funding will be allocated on a first come first serve basis until funds are depleted. Funding for this program has been made available by the Working Lands Enterprise Board and all grantees will be expected to contribute a 1:1 match. This year’s grants will be available to out-of-state trade show exhibitors and requests will be granted for $1,000-$2,500.

Vermont Business Magazine Lamoille Home Health & Hospice (LHH&H) today announced that it has been named a Top Agency of the 2017 HomeCare Elite, recognition of the top-performing home health agencies in the United States. For 12 years, HomeCare Elite has annually identified the top 25 percent of agencies and highlighted the top 100 and top 500 agencies overall. The ranking is developed by ABILITY Network, a leading information technology company helping providers and payers simplify the administrative and clinical complexities of healthcare; and sponsored by DecisionHealth, publisher of Home Health Line and the Complete Home Health ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Coding Manual.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Congressman Peter Welch (D-Vt.), who advocated for the early release of federal home heating aid funds as Vermont’s winter approaches, today announced that the Department of Health and Human Services has released $16.9 million in heating assistance for Vermont.

Leahy, Sanders and Welch have long championed funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which helps struggling Vermonters heat their homes.

In a joint statement, Leahy, Sanders and Welch said: “With temperatures dropping in Vermont, the immediate release of this money is welcome news. Energy assistance is a critical lifeline for countless Vermonters, and we must redouble our efforts to protect this vital safety net program, which is under attack by the Trump Administration.”

by Timothy McQuiston Vermont Business Magazine Burlington City Councilor Karen Paul (D-Ward 6) emailed Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger and fellow councilors Thursday afternoon that she has quit her job at McSoley McCoy & Co and plans to vote on the BT sale on Monday. In her email, Paul wrote, "As I stated Monday evening when I recused myself, after eight years of working to address Burlington Telecom’s challenges, from its darkest days to where we now find ourselves, after this long journey for the city, BT and its customers and employees, I never imagined that I would find myself in a position where I would not be able to cast a vote on this most important decision." Paul continues, "I have worked to identify ways to resolve the conflict and have determined that there is only one way I can resolve the conflict.