Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Burlington Town Center (BTC) and a group of Burlington residents who have been opposing the BTC redevelopment project jointly announced today that a settlement has been reached that will enable the redevelopment project to proceed while addressing many of the concerns that had been raised. Don Sinex, on behalf of the owner and developer BTC Mall Associates LLC and Devonwood Investors LLC, and residents Barbara McGrew, Michael Long, Lynn Martin, and Steve Goodkind (individually and on behalf of a group of other residents), all represented by Attorney John Franco, have entered into a Settlement Agreement that resolves all outstanding claims against the BTC redevelopment project. The Settlement Agreement is subject to, among other things, approval of a stipulated Final Judgment by the Environmental Court.

Key terms of the agreement include:

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Farm & Forest Viability Program, a program of the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board, awarded a total of $407,834 in Dairy Improvement Grants to 11 dairy farmers, in Addison, Chittenden, Franklin, Essex, Grand Isle, and Orleans counties, for on-farm infrastructure projects. These funds are matched by over $1.2 million of additional investments in order to complete their projects.

Eric Paris, owner of Tamarlane Farm in Lyndonville, was awarded $20,000 to build a covered feeding area on a cement pad for his cows during the non-grazing season to keep them healthier and reduce loss of feed to adverse conditions. “Our project is badly needed on our farm,” says Paris. “The new infrastructure will benefit our land, our cows, our economic well-being and our family in a multitude of ways.”

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Patrick Leahy spoke with Secretary of State Condos on Wednesday to convey his support for the secretary's action not to give a federal commission Vermont voter information. In response to a letter sent by Election Integrity Commission Co-Chair Kris Kobach requesting sensitive voter data, Condos cited personal security concerns in withholding the data, as Kobach requested Social Security numbers, dates of birth and driver’s license numbers, which Condos said are all "off limits." Condos also called the commission a "witch hunt" and is seeking further opinion from the Vermont attorney general's office.

Leahy’s statement follows:

“President Trump's commission is a sham based on false pretenses. It could not be clearer that the true goal is further voter suppression.

Vermont Business Magazine received an unprecedented three national awards for Editorial Excellence in 2016 from the Alliance of Area Business Publications at its annual Summer Conference in Dallas June 24. These are the highest awards available to VBM and regional business news publications in the US. Reporter Joyce Marcel won Gold in the “Best personality profile” category for her piece on Rutland Mayor Chris Louras. Louras championed bringing refugees to Rutland. He subsequently lost his re-election bid.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont maintained its "C" grade for manufacturing, says a report from Ball State University. While Vermont retained its overall grade in manufacturing, in the subcategories it earned grades in human capital of "B," benefits costs "F," tax climate "D,” diversification "C," and expected fiscal liability gap "C." The state grades improved in logistics ("F" to "D-") and productivity and innovation ("C-" to "C"). The state decreased its grade in global position ("C+" to "C").

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General TJ Donovan announced today that the Attorney General’s Office will host a public forum on the cost of health care in Vermont on July 11th in Burlington. The forum will provide information on how the cost of health care is determined in Vermont and the process for the public to give comments to the Green Mountain Care Board. The Attorney General will be joined at the forum by Judy Henkin, General Counsel of the Green Mountain Care Board, and Amy Cooper, Executive Director of Health First.

“The cost of health care is a consumer protection issue. Consumers have questions. We are trying to give Vermont consumers access to information and the opportunity to ask questions on this topic,” said Donovan.

The forum is scheduled for July 11th at 5:30 pm in the Contois Auditorium at Burlington City Hall. For questions about the forum please contact Natalie Silver at the Attorney General’s Office at 802 595 8679.

Vermont Business MagazineThe Northeast did relatively poorly in a new report on the best states in which to start a business. Vermont, however, finished 20th "best" overall, which was second best in the Northeast (Massachusetts 18). In this study by WalletHub, Vermont did poorly on growth in number of small businesses (47) and length of work week (45) and best in amount of spending on incentives (3).

Vermont Business Magazine Charlie Moore, a railroad executive with more than 40 years of experience in the railroad industry, has been named president of AllEarth Rail, LLC. This is the next step for the firm that has acquired self-propelled passenger rail cars from Texas in order bring commuter rail back to Vermont. The commuter line is still in the planning stages, but the concept is to provide commuter rail in the northwestern part of the state initially. A demonstration of the service could happen before the end of this year.

Vermont Business Magazine The Stowe Area Association (SAA) has named RepresentativeHeidi Scheuermann, Vermont State Representative (R-Stowe) and owner of AllegroProperties, as Stowe Business Person of the Year at its Annual Meeting andDinner member event held at Stowe Bowl on June 28.The Stowe Business Person of the Year recognizes an SAA member in goodstanding who is involved in the community, with town projects or sits on atown board; an ambassador of Stowe; and involved in the tourism industry.Scheuermann exemplifies each of these characteristics and was unanimouslyselected by the Stowe Business Person of the Year Nomination Committee.

Vermont Business Magazine Hubbardton Battlefield will come alive with the sights and sounds of the American Revolution on July 8 and 9, 2017. This celebration marks the 240th anniversary of the July 7 battle, the most significant Revolutionary War battle fought on what would become Vermont soil. With nearly 400 reenactors from all over the Northeast, this is the largest Revolutionary War living history weekend in northern New England. Reenactors portray the American, British, and German forces who fought here and participated in the American Revolution's important Northern Campaign. Narrated military tactics on the slope of Monument Hill will be held weather-permitting on Saturday at 2 p.m., and Sunday morning at 8 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. The weekend's highlight is the Sunday morning battle formation starting at 7:30 a.m. Muskets will sound in the distance, just before the soldiers emerge over Monument Hill.

Vermont Business Magazine The Green Mountain Care Board has released the time and place for meetings in July. The GMCB regulates hospitals and insurance plans. All Board meeting presentations are available on the GMCB website: gmcboard.vermont.gov/board/meetings. Also, all topics and times listed on this agenda are approximate and subject to change during the meeting. The Board will take up each item at the conclusion of the preceding item and not necessarily at the time listed, unless the agenda specifically states that an item will commence at a time certain.

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General TJ Donovan joined a coalition of nine states and the District of Columbia urging the US Department of Veterans Affairs to provide transgender veterans access to medically necessary health care. In the amicus (“friend of the court”) brief filed today in Fulcher v. Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the 10 Attorneys General, led by Bob Ferguson of Washington, ask the US Court of Appeals for The Federal Circuit to order the VA to amend or repeal a rule that prevents transgender veterans from using their medical benefits to cover sex reassignment surgery.

Attorney General Donovan said: "Gender identity should not dictate whether a veteran is eligible for care. All veterans must get the care they need. I am committed to standing up to this kind of discrimination, for our veterans and for all our citizens.”