Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott issued the following statement today, recognizing Vail Resorts – operator of 11 mountain resorts and three ski areas, including Stowe in Vermont – for its comprehensive sustainability commitment, dubbed the "Epic Promise for a Zero Footprint."

by Governor Phil Scott On my first day in office, I issued anexecutive orderdefining the top goals of my Administration: Growing the economy, making Vermont more affordable, and protecting the most vulnerable. We are laser-focused on these priorities and they guide us in everything we do. That’s why we’ve concentrated on government modernization and efficiency, rethinking and revitalizing our approach to economic development, transitioning to a cradle-to-career education system that is the best in the nation, strengthening our response to the opioid epidemic, and making sure state spending isn’t growing faster than wages or the economy.

Senator Patrick Leahy This was a lockstep vote for Trumpcare, produced through a secretive and shoddy process. These decisions mean health or illness and life or death to countless Americans. And let’s be clear: Republican senators have no idea what they voted for with this motion to proceed. Millions upon millions of Americans’ health is at stake. This cynical vote is intended to lead to a final Trumpcare plan to kick millions of Americans off their insurance.

Vermont Business MagazineA charitable organization supporting Vermont firefighters will receive $20,000 through a settlement negotiated by Attorney General T.J. Donovan; the organization will be named by the Vermont Community Foundation. The settlement stems from alawsuit the State filed last yearagainst FireCo, a paid fundraiser based in Madison, Tennessee. The lawsuit alleged violations of Vermont’s charitable solicitations law, including FireCo’s failure to clearly and concisely disclose to potential donors where they can find information about the percentage of their donation that the paid fundraiser retains. The complaint also alleged misrepresentation and failure to file statements closing a fundraising campaign.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, Governor Phil Scott, Attorney General TJ Donovan, and Bennington County legislative members announced a settlement with Saint-Gobain. As part of the settlement, Saint-Gobain will fund water line extension for approximately 200 homes in a portion of Bennington and North Bennington. Construction of municipal water line extensions in both communities will begin this fall, aiming to make significant progress before winter. The estimated costs of the water line project are approximately $20 million. In addition, Saint-Gobain has committed to completing an expedited investigation in the remainder of the impacted area, which will inform a resolution for that area.

Vermont Business Magazine Mosquitoes collected in Weathersfield, Brattleboro and Hardwick have tested positive for West Nile virus. These are the first detections of the mosquito-borne virus this year. There have been no positive test results for Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEE) this surveillance season.The infected mosquitoes were collected by the Vermont Agency of Agriculture Food and Markets as part of the State's arbovirus surveillance program. The testing is performed by the Department of Health Laboratory.

West Nile virus is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito. Over the years, the virus has been found in every county in the state. Eight cases of West Nile virus in Vermont residents have been reported since 2011, though no human case of illness from West Nile virus or EEE virus has been confirmed so far this year.

Vermont Business MagazineDeveloped in association with the University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine, UVM and Cabot Creamery have collaborated to launch a fully online, eight-week End of Life Doula Professional Certificate Program, starting September 2017. As Cabot Creamery Co-op approaches their 100^th anniversary, member farm families have recognized a gap in end of life care and support for the aging population, particularly for those in rural communities who wish to remain in their homes through the dying process. The UVM and Cabot partnership addresses this gap with the development of the online End of Life Doula Certificate Program.

Vermont Business Magazine Most wired hospitals use technology to partner with patients on their health, and this is the second consecutive year that North Country Hospital in Newport has been named a “Most Wired” hospital. In 2016, the hospital received the accolade in the “Small and Rural” category as a frontrunner among smaller community hospitals. This year North Country received the commendation of “Most Wired - Most Improved” and its efforts were compared with that of hospitals of all sizes across the country.

Vermont Business MagazineAfter the collapse of the latest effort in the U.S. Senate to repeal and replace existing federal health care policy, leaders of The University of Vermont Health Network are calling on Congress to maintain critical funding that provides access to affordable insurance coverage for tens of thousands of vulnerable residents in Vermont andNorthern New York.

“Lawmakers in Washington have a new chance to create a bipartisan proposal that genuinely improves the health care system for everyone,” said John Brumsted, MD, president and CEO of the UVM Health Network. “We urge them to recognize that deep cuts to Medicaid – which have been a central component of recent proposals – would move us in the wrong direction and hurt children, seniors and those with disabilities.”

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Labor has partnered with NSA Industries, LLC in St. Johnsbury in an effort to fill the company’s available positions with skilled, available talent. On Wednesday, July 26, 2017, NSA will open its doors from 4 pm – 7 pm for an onsite recruitment event for the general public. NSA’s facility is located at 210 Pierce Road, St Johnsbury.

Founded in 1982, NSA specializes in machining, sheet metal fabrication, engineering and logistics. The company currently employs over 200 individuals and is looking to hire machine operators, assemblers, testers/inspectors and welders, as well as a variety of other positions.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced Bennington’s NSK Steering Systems America Inc has received a $208,753 Vermont Training Program Grant from the Vermont Department of Economic Development to create a Manufacturing Center of Excellence that will broaden the capabilities of current and future employees. The Bennington site will utilize this training grant to increase its capabilities and further the development of its workforce. Upgrading employee knowledge supports the continued production of quality products using more technically advanced manufacturing processes and equipment.

Vermont Business Magazine An already gloomy tax revenue situation for the current fiscal year was further downgraded by the Emergency Board Friday afternoon. Economists Jeff Carr and Tom Kavet presented their revenue forecasts for FY2018 (which began July 1) and for FY2019. Last January they had downgraded revenue projections by $24.7 million, but on Friday the new estimate was down $28.8 million.

Governor Scott and legislative leaders have already come up with a plan to meet a shortfall in corporate revenues due to refunds of $16.3 million, but will need to find the other $12.5 million in August when decisions on budget cuts will be made.

Carr, of Economic & Police Resources of Williston, represents the administration and Kavet, of Kavet, Rockler & Associates of Williamstown, represents the Legislature. They develop a consensus revenue report twice a year and present it publicly to the Emergency Board in January and July.