Current News

Vermont Business MagazineThe Personal Income Tax should renewed strength last month and is now ahead of fiscal year expectations. The Personal Income tax is the most important General Fund revenue source and has struggled the last two years despite downward projections. General Fund revenues collected for the month totaled $102.82 million, $1.11 million above the consensus revenue target adopted by the Emergency Board on July 21, 2017 according to Secretary of Administration Susanne Young. Personal Income Tax experienced a +$3.26 million up while the Corporate Tax experienced a -$2.13 million shortfall. All other components of the General Fund were only slightly ahead, or behind, target.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, Vermont Attorney General TJ Donovan, in partnership with the Department of Public Safety issued an alert through the Emergency Alert system – part of the Attorney General’s new Scam Alert initiative to directly contact over 15,000 Vermonters with information about how to protect their credit and other personal information. Donovan acted swiftly to reports of a massive data breach that could expose hundreds of thousands of Vermonters to identity theft or other criminal activity. The giant credit reporting agency, Equifax, suffered a major data security breach on July 29, 2017. Over 240,000 Vermonters may be affected and vulnerable to identity theft. Up to 143 million Americans may be affected.

Vermont Business Magazine Last evening, the House of Representatives approved a bipartisan amendment authored by Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT) that restores $4.4 million in fiscal year 2018 federal funding for the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP).The amendment, cosponsored by Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), rejects the recommendations of President Trump and the House Appropriations Committee to eliminate funding for the program.

“Lake Champlain is the environmental crown jewel of our region,” said Rep. Welch.“It is central to our cultural heritage and natural history, and an invaluable recreational and economic resource.My amendment will ensure that the Lake Champlain Basin Program continues its vital mission to protect and preserve this great lake for generations to come.”

Vermont Business Magazine Studies show that increasing a sense of students' well-being leads to improved learning and success in careers and life. To that end, Champlain College and the International Positive Education Network (IPEN) are teaming up to accelerate positive education in schools around the world from early childhood on up to higher education and beyond.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott on Thursday appointed Ed Read as representative for the Washington-7 district serving the towns of Fayston, Duxbury, Moretown, Waitsfield and Warren. Read, an Independent, will serve the two-seat district along with Representative Maxine Grad (D). Read, a resident of Fayston, was appointed to fill the seat vacated by former Representative Adam Greshin (I), who was recently appointed by the governor to serve as Commissioner of Finance and Management.

Ed and Trish Read Mad River Property Management and Garden Center.

Vermont Business MagazineUSCitizenship and Immigration Services Northeast Regional Director Lori Pietropaoli will present 67 citizenship candidates to the Honorable William K. Sessions III, U.S. District Court Judge District of Vermont this Monday at a Vermont State House ceremony being held in honor ofSept. 11. The Honorable Judge Sessions III will preside over this special venue ceremony and will deliver theOath of Allegianceto America’s newest citizens.

by Paul Cillo Public Assets Institute As students across Vermont start the 2017-18 school year it’s worth reflecting on what happened 20 years ago. In 1997 the Vermont Supreme Court’s Brigham decision forced policymakers to develop a more equitable funding system. That system, established by Act 60, created a statewide school tax and gave students from all over the state more equal access to resources and opportunity. Below, we address some basic questions about Act 60.

Vermont Business Magazine Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) secured more than $6 million in funding to support fisheries, water quality, and flooding issues in Lake Champlain and Lake Memphremagog, a $2.3 million increase over last year, in the State, Foreign Operations And Related Programs appropriations bill approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee Thursday.

Vermont Business MagazineNational Life, which is hiring for positions throughout the company, will participate in a job fair next week dedicated to veterans. National Life employees who are military veterans will be part of the company’s contingent at theSeptember11Community and Military Veteran Job Fair sponsored by the Vermont Department of Labor. The job fair will run from9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.and will be held at the Sheraton Hotel Conference Center in South Burlington.

National Life has a long tradition of hiring military veterans and maintains a military advisory team that helps with hiring and integration of new employees from the armed services.

National Life recognizes values that our armed forces instill in its members: loyalty, integrity, diligence, and selflessness. Our company actively follows these same values and expects them in all employees. Together we share a common goal in preserving our community.

by Timothy McQuiston Vermont Business Magazine The developers of the largest solar array in Vermont expect the project to begin selling electricity by the end of September. The project is being developed by Boston-based Greenwood Energy. According to its partner in the solar project, Brightfields Development LLC of Wellesley, MA, construction commenced in May on the 4.99 megawattsolar projectat theElizabeth Mine Superfund Site, which sits mostly in Strafford.

Vermont Business Magazine The Citizens for a Greater Bennington (CFGB), in partnership with Preservation Trust of Vermont (PTV) and the Vermont Natural Resources Council (VNRC), are pleased to announce a $100,000 grant to support the Putnam Block Redevelopment Project. The CFGB Grant will be made through the Southwestern Vermont Hospital Foundation, and will leverage an additional $100,000 contribution from the Bank of Bennington.

Vermont Business MagazineGovernor Phil Scott today issuedExecutive Order 15-17, establishing the Governor’s Marijuana Advisory Commission, charged withrecommending a comprehensive approach to addressing health, safety, regulatory and infrastructure needs when considering legalized marijuana use. The commission and its three subcommittees will evaluate the experience of other states, credible research and available data to inform recommendations to the governor.