Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The number of Vermonters working in the clean energy sector increased by 1,366 since last year, a 29 percent increase since 2013. A steady increase in the clean energy job market is detailed in the 2017 Clean Energy Industry Report released today the Clean Energy Development Fund (CEDF).The report states that there are over 19,000 Vermonters employedinclean energy, 12,000 of which are full time jobs.With one in every 16 workers - or about six percent of the State's workforce - now part of the clean energy economy,Vermonthas thehighest number of per capita clean energy workers of any US state.

Vermont Business Magazine Mayor Miro Weinberger today announced that the City of Burlington has joined 13 cities from across the country, including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, St. Louis, San Francisco, Seattle, and Portland, in preserving public research on climate change by posting the deleted Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Climate Change data pages to the City’s website on June 13. Burlington and other cities followed the lead of City of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who announced on May 7 that Chicago had posted the pages deleted by the Trump Administration. Chicago created a website called "Climate Change is Real," encouraging other municipalities to post the climate change research to their cities' websites.

by Timothy McQuiston Vermont Business MagazineVermont Auditor Doug Hoffer today released a report on the Vermont Department of Buildings and General Services capital projects that says it not only suffers cost overruns, but that it also does not have processes in place to even know how to fix the problem. Average costs of a sampling of projects ran nearly a third over budget and some as high as 71 percent above projected costs. The report concludes that “the department’s reputation is at risk.”

Vermont Business MagazineBlue skies and green rolling hills were the backdrop for the third annual Breakfast on the Farm event hosted by the Hall, Purchase and Ayer families at Fairmont Farm in East Montpelier.On June 17^th, the families opened their farm to the public to showcase what farmers do to produce local, wholesome food in Vermont.

The free, public event included a pancake breakfast and self-guided tours of the dairy farm, which was recently named Vermont’s 2017 Outstanding Dairy Farm of the Year.Their excellence in dairy farming was on displaySaturdayas a record crowd of 1,200 people attended the breakfast and farm tour.Visitors got a peek into the life and business of dairy farming in Vermont – home to over 850 dairy farms that make 63% of the milk for New England, according to USDA data.

Vermont Business MagazineThe Northeast Association of Electric Cooperatives represents the nine electric cooperatives in the states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and New York State.Together they provide electricity to over 120,000 members in these four states. Electric cooperatives were formed by executive order in 1936 to provide rural America with electricity.Seventy percent of the United States landmass is served by electric cooperatives. Electric cooperatives are member-owned and operate under the Seven Cooperative Principles that govern cooperatives world-wide.

This year’s annual meeting was held in Woodstock, Vermont from May 24 through May 26 at the Woodstock Inn and Resort.The event pulls together Directors and CEOs from the NEAEC member organizations for several days of education, advocacy and planning.

by House Speaker Mitzi JohnsonThe budget invests in Vermont’s future, makes good on our promises, and does so with great fiscal restraint. It passed 143-1 in the House and 30-0 in the Senate. Former Governor Douglas praised the budget as a “positive step.” In vetoing the budget, Governor Scott said no to a morally and fiscally responsible budget, and no to its inclusive, non-partisan process.

Vermont Business Magazine FairPoint Communications has announced the completion of broadband projects impacting more than 5,600 locations in 30 Vermont towns that enhance its 18,000 mile fiber network in northern New England. In Burlington, Colchester, StGeorge, Shelburne and Williston, this project brings customers download speeds of up to 50 Mbps2 -- providing broadband service to some areas for the first time.

by Mike Smith Last year I wrote about my father’s alcoholism. It’s a horrible disease. He died at the age of 44 because — essentially — he drank himself to death. It’s easy to focus on his disease. No doubt my father’s memory will always be overshadowed by his addiction. Sadly, the lasting impact of alcoholism is that it steals away so many memories of who that person actually is — or might have been — absent this disease.

But, to me, my father’s legacy isn’t about his alcoholism; instead, his legacy centers on those qualities that he instilled in me before the disease changed him. He taught me about compassion toward others, especially those who are sometimes ignored or forgotten. He insisted that I respect others, no matter their status in life.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont labor force and number of employed were battered in May, thoughthe unemployment rate itself (with labor force being the denominator)didn't change.The Vermont Department of Labor announced Friday that the seasonally-adjusted statewide unemployment rate for May was 3.1 percent. This reflects no change from the revised April rate (3.1 percent). The national rate in May was 4.3 percent. As of the prior month’s preliminary data, the Burlington-South Burlington Metropolitan NECTA was tied for the 12th lowest unemployment rate in the country for all metropolitan areas at 2.3 percent (not-seasonally-adjusted). Overall, Vermont’s unemployment rate was tied for the eighth lowest in the country for the same time period.

Vermont Business Magazine Utility Services Inc. (USI) received an award on May 25, 2017. USI was recognized by the Global Energy Utility & Telecommunications Awards as the leader in the industry and the “Best Utility Compliance Consultancy Firm - USA.”

At a celebration of USI’s 10^th anniversary with clients, staff, and invited family and friends, Brian Evans-Mongeon, President and CEO, announced to the guests the honor of receiving such an award. “This award is because of our dedicated staff of professionals, and without their continued commitment to our overall mission of serving our clients, none of this would be possible. The clients we serve are the reason we exist and are the catalyst for all that happens at Utility Services, and their continued trust in us is where our success should be credited.”

New Americans contribute significantly to Chittenden County’s housing values, GDP, and job market according to a new report released by the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity (CVOEO). This report addresses the negative stereotypes surrounding immigrants, documenting the wide range of benefits provided by our New American neighbors.

Jan Demers, Executive Director of CVOEO says, “This document provides a much-needed resource for Chittenden counties’ nonprofits, local and state agencies, and for-profit businesses as we advocate for our new neighbors, forge new and strengthen existing partnerships, and reach out to funders and individual donors. Our community will be stronger for everyone.”

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont State Treasurer Beth Pearcehasjoined a bipartisan coalition of State Treasurers from across the country to urge theU.S. Department of Labortofully implement the Fiduciary Ruleto protect citizen investors frompotential harm.

In aletterto Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta, Treasurer Pearceand colleaguescautioned against revising provisionsof the Fiduciary Rule:“The retirement savings crisis is growing daily,” the letter states. “We are committed to protecting the financial interest of our constituents – in particular, ensuring that retirement planning and investment advice is not conflicted, and is provided in the sole interest of retirement savers. The Fiduciary Rule is not only a common-sense measure, but a necessary one to protect the public interest.”