Current News

Vermont Business MagazineIn response to the historic devastation brought about by Hurricane Harvey along the Gulf Coast, Union Mutual is proud to announce it has made a $10,000 donation to the American Red Cross, directing the funds to their Hurricane Harvey relief efforts.

“We are in the business of helping people in times of need. When a disaster of this magnitude occurs, we have to do all we can to help those who have been affected,” said Union Mutual President and CEO Michael Nobles. “It is the strength of friends helping friends and neighbors helping neighbors that will aid folks in recovering from this storm.”

The Company has also matched donations by employees to eligible charities of their choice that are providing relief efforts.

For more information on Union Mutual and its commitment to the community, please visit www.unionmutual.com/about/news.

Vermont Business Magazine People’s United Bank employees, Vicky Ross, Sr. VP of Trust and Investments, of Hinesburg, and Jo Ann Cannon, Manager of the Business Analyst Team, of Stowe, recently received the Department of Defense Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Patriot award. David Wheel and Jerry Manock, representing Vermont Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, presented the awards for the unconditional and continuous support that both Ross and Cannon have given to their employee and citizen-service member, Louis Santillo, from Burlington.

Vermont Business Magazine During the early morning hours of Friday, September 1, Troopers from the Vermont State Police Tactical Services Unit shot and killed an adult male, identified as Michael Battles, age 32 of Poultney, VT. This shooting occurred during a standoff at Battles’ residence located at 1703 Finel Hollow Road in Poultney as Troopers were attempting to apprehend Battles for Aggravated Domestic Assault that occurred earlier the previous day.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Council on Rural Development, joined by partners Efficiency Vermont and Green Mountain Power, announced Friday that Middlebury will be the second community to participate in the Climate Economy Model Communities Program. The program, named by a local planning team the Greater Middlebury Community Climate Economy Initiative, will hold a kick-off event and community dinner on Monday, September 18. This event will launch a process for residents to identify and advance priorities that strengthen the community in the face of climate change, including measures to improve economic opportunity and affordability.

Vermont Business Magazine The Green Mountain Council, Boy Scouts of America kicked off its state wide youth and parent membership recruitment effort to invite boys to join Scouting. The campaign will run primarily through the months of September and October. Any boy in kindergarten through 5th grade is invited to join a local Cub Scout pack in their community. Boys 11 to 17 years old are invited to join a Boy Scout troop. Keep an eye out for yards signs, information flyers, posters and other media promotion that will be distributed throughout the communities.

Last year, the Green Mountain Council introduced a pilot program to add kindergarten age boys to the Scouting family. The results were an outstanding success, so much so that the program will continue this year as well.

Vermont Business Magazine July 2017 marked the 40^th anniversary of Jamieson Insurance, owned and operated by Jon Jamieson of Waitsfield. The agency was founded by Jon’s father, Dick Jamieson, in 1977. The Jamieson family’s involvement with insurance goes back even farther. Jon’s grandfather, Mahlon Jamieson, wrote the first insurance policies for Sugarbush Resort when it opened in 1958. Documents exist which show that Jamiesons were selling insurance as far back as 1865. And Jon’s family came to the Mad River Valley even earlier, settling in Waitsfield in 1798.

Burlington and New Moran, Inc cease former electric plant redevelopment effort

Vermont Business Magazine Mayor Weinberger today announced that the City of Burlington and New Moran, Inc (NMI) have agreed to cease discussions regarding a redevelopment of the Moran Plant, as the two sides have been unable to reach agreement on a term sheet that would have defined the City’s granting of TIF funds and a long-term lease of the building and site to NMI.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced the appointment of Chris Mattos as Representative for the Chittenden-10 district serving the Town of Milton. Mattos will serve alongside House Minority Leader Don Turner. Mattos, a resident of Milton, was appointed to fill the seat vacated by former Representative Ron Hubert (R), who recently stepped down from his seat in the Vermont Legislature.

“Chris is a life-long Vermont and Milton resident and will represent his community well in the legislature,” Scott said.“As a graduate of UVM with a background in financial services and business planning, Chris will bring good perspective and experience to the legislature as we work together to grow the Vermont economy.”

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont has received approval from the US Department of Education for its Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) state plan, Secretary Rebecca Holcombe announced today after being notified by Betsy DeVos, secretary of the US Department of Education. States are required to outline their plans for spending federal funds, for measuring the skills students learn, and for supporting students in making academic progress. The plan must meet regulatory and statutory requirements, and provide parents and educators with quality, transparent information about how the plan will be implemented.

“Vermont’s state plan reflects the goals of Vermont’s Education Quality Standards by including measures to assess students’ readiness for post-secondary outcomes and their success in achieving those outcomes,” said Secretary Holcombe.

Vermont Business Magazine US Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) announced Thursday he will speak during Labor Day rallies in White River Junction and Middlebury on Monday. Sanders will address the importance of workers’ rights, a $15 an hour minimum wage, Medicare-for-All, single-payer health care and creating good jobs through infrastructure investments.

Vermont Business Magazine Mayor Miro Weinberger today announced the appointment of Beth Anderson as the interim Chief Administrative Officer (CAO). Anderson has served as Burlington’s Chief Innovation Officer (CIO) since May 2015. Weinberger has asked the City Council to approve the appointment at its September 18, 2017 meeting, with Anderson serving as acting CAO until that time. If confirmed, Anderson is expected to serve as interim CAO through the Fiscal Year 2019 Budget process, which will conclude by June 30, 2018. The City expects to resume its search for a permanent CAO later in the current fiscal year.

Chief Administrative Officer Bob Rusten announced in March he would be leaving the CAO position on September 1.