Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Mayor Miro Weinberger and City Council President Knodell released the following update on the Burlington Telecom process: "Since Tuesday we have spent hours together and with other parties exploring whether there is a way in which the fourth bidder could re-enter the BT sales process. The bidder has chosen to remain withdrawn from the process. The City greatly appreciates the interest the bidder had in Burlington and the ideas and energy they brought to the process.

Vermont Business Magazine Phoenix Books Essex will host Structural Reflexologist Geraldine Villeneuve for a talk on her new book, Put Your Best Feet Forward, on Thursday, October 19th at 7pm. Foot pain is something many Americans suffer from, and yet most ignore or have simply surrendered to it. In Put Your Best Feet Forward, experienced Structural Reflexologist Geraldine Villeneuve outlines not just the types of foot pain and their sources, but also how this pain can manifest itself throughout the body. From depression to lower back pain to common foot problems themselves, freeing our feet from the shoes that bind them can be the answer we're searching for.

Vermont Business Magazine Dr Karen Scolforo will be Castleton University’s next President. The Vermont State Colleges System (VSCS) Board of Trustees voted unanimously for her appointment Thursday afternoon. Scolforo, who most recently served as president of Central Penn College in Summerdale, Pennsylvania, rose to the top of more than 50 candidates during an extensive national search.

During its annual retreat, the Trustees roundly endorsed Scolforo’s leadership vision for the University at a time of dynamic change in higher education. Scolforo will begin her Castleton tenure in early December.

Dr. Karen Scolforo to be the next President of Castleton University

Vermont Business Magazine The Board of Directors of Special Olympics Vermont has named SueMinteras the new President and CEO.Minterwill replace Lisa DeNatale, who is retiring after six years leading the organization.Minterjoins the statewide sports organization, serving children and adults with intellectual disabilities, with twelve years of executive and legislative experience, thirteen years of coaching youth sports, and a lifetime of participating in competitive athletics. Well known for her 2016 gubernatorial campaign and leadership in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Irene,Minteris a proven visionary and bold leader.

SueMinter, Special Olympics Vermont President and CEO.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Attorney General TJ Donovan joined nine other state attorneys general and state agencies from two other statesto file an amicus briefin support of efforts by the Natural Resources Defense Council and domestic manufacturers to have the full D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals rehear a case that has national and international significance for the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ability to address climate change.

Earlier this summer, a three-judge panel of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in the case ofMexichem v. EPAthat the EPA lacked authority under the Clean Air Act to ban certain uses of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). HFCs are potent greenhouse gases and are used primarily in refrigeration and air conditioning systems.

Vermont Business Magazine Northern Reliability, Inc (NRI) today announced its plans to relocate the company's main headquarters and production facility from its founding location in Waitsfield to a larger property located in Waterbury, in order to meet the company's recent growth and business needs. NRI's plans for the 10,000-square-foot facility in Waterbury include a significant expansion of their existing production space, creation of a separate energy storage research and development area, as well as office space for existing and new employees coming onboard.

Since being awarded a contract by Xcel Energy (Public Service Company of Colorado) to design, build, and commission a first of its kind modular distributed fleet energy storage system for the Stapleton Battery Pilot Project and that project's subsequent publication in T&D World Magazine in February of 2017, interest in NRI's already growing business has accelerated dramatically.

Vermont Business Magazine A scientist at the University of Vermont and four of his undergraduate students have discovered 15 new species of “smiley-faced” spiders—and named them after, among others, David Attenborough, Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders. You won’t find them in Washington, DC, Hollywood, or Vermont—but on Caribbean islands and other southern spots you might now get a glimpse of Spintharus davidattenboroughi, S. barackobamai, S. michelleobamaae, and S. berniesandersi as well as S. davidbowiei and S. leonardodicaprioi.

Vermont Business Magazine The University of Vermont and Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences have signed an affiliation agreement to provide eligible students with an opportunity to earn a bachelor’s degree from UVM and a doctor of pharmacy degree (Pharm.D.) from ACPHS in a total of seven years. Students seeking both of these degrees typically require eight years to complete the academic requirements of the two programs.

Vermont Business Magazine Barr Hill Gin by Caledonia Spirits, based in Hardwick, has initiated its first nationwide, mission-driven campaign, Bee's Knees Week. This week-long celebration (Sept 25-Oct1) has brought together over 350 bars and restaurants across the country to raise a glass for a good cause. During Bee’s Knees Week, participants will serve their variation of the classic Bee’s Knees cocktail and donate a portion of the proceeds to five bee and pollinator focused organizations that align with Caledonia Spirits' Landcrafted mission.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) Wednesday joined Senator Tom Udall (D-NM) in introducing bicameral legislation that addresses a series of comprehensive democratic and electoral reforms to restore integrity, accountability, and transparency to our broken political system. Counterpart House legislation, also introduced Wednesday, is led by Representative David Price (D-NC). The We The People Democracy Reform Act is more expansive than past versions and includes proposals to comprehensively reform campaign finance laws, increase transparency and accountability in the political system, end extreme partisan gerrymandering, increase voter participation, and strengthen lobbying and revolving door laws.

A summary of its provisions is available here.

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General Thomas JDonovan announced Wednesday that Cody LaFountain, age 34, of Barre Town, Vermont, was sentenced to 50 months to 15 years incarceration on September 26, 2017, in Vermont Superior Court for Washington County on one felony count of Neglect of a Vulnerable Adult with Serious Bodily Injury/Death resulting, one count of Medicaid Fraud, one misdemeanor count of False Pretenses, one misdemeanor count of Neglect of a Vulnerable Adult, and one count of False Information to Law Enforcement. LaFountain had previously entered a nolo contendere plea on the felony charge of Neglect of a Vulnerable Adult with Serious Bodily Injury, and guilty pleas on the remaining counts on May 26, 2017.

Vermont Business Magazine The state of Vermont will receive a $325,600 grant to help small businesses in Vermont reach international markets. The grant is awarded through the Small Business Administration's State Trade Expansion Program, a federal-state partnership initiative intended to increase the number of small businesses exporting and the value of exports by the small businesssector.

"STEP is a valuable program, and this grant will help Vermont small businesses sell local products and services in markets all over the world," said Governor Phil Scott. “Vermont is known for its innovative entrepreneurs and quality products, and expanding exporting opportunities will allow our small businesses to further enhance that brand across the globe.”