Current News

Vermont Business Magazine by John McClaughry Republicans in Congress have decided that with their embarrassing failure to “reform and replace” Obamacare, they absolutely must produce one popular legislative achievement to present to voters a year from now. Tax reform is an imperative. There’s not much else coming down the legislative pipeline.

The one tax law change that almost everyone agrees on is reducing the corporate tax rate for repatriating $2.6 trillion in overseas profits that American multinational corporations have stashed away in foreign accounts, to avoid having to pay the present 35% tax for bringing it home (and investing it here.) At one time or another, even Democratic leaders Sen. Chuck Schumer and Rep. Nancy Pelosi have proposed some reduction of the repatriation tax barrier as well as the corporate tax rate on domestic profits.

Vermont Business Magazine New England states received a total of $631,000 from the US Environmental Protection Agency this year to fund activities designed to protect students, teachers and other people in school buildings from the health threats of asbestos. Five New England state agencies received between $100,000 and $166,000, depending on the amount of work they committed to do, including fully carrying out the federal compliance monitoring program. Funds are used to ensure schools take the steps to manage asbestos in accordance with the federal Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act.

Vermont Business Magazine Gray Television, Inc(NYSE: GTN and GTN.A)today announced record-setting results of operations for the third quarter and year-to-date periods endedSeptember 30, 2017, including record revenue and net income. The Atlanta-based parent company of many local CBS televisionaffiliates acquired WCAX-TV from the Martin family for $29 million in June 2017. Gray also announced it had renewed all its CBS contracts through 2021.

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.