Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Mayor Miro Weinberger released the following statement announcing he has joined hundreds of mayors and leaders from across the country in signing an open letter, released today, declaring that the signatories will continue to support the Paris Climate Agreement: “Burlington is proud to be the first city in the nation to source 100 percent of its energy from renewable generation, and we are now working hard to become a net zero energy city,” said Mayor Weinberger. “I am excited to work with leaders of state and local governments, businesses and institutions to achieve the Paris Agreement’s goals regardless of last week’s disastrous decision by President Trump. Together, we can and will do our part to save the planet.”

Vermont Business MagazineGovernor Phil Scott, joined by a bipartisan group of Bennington County lawmakers, signed S10 into lawFriday. The legislation is designed to protect the drinking water of families and communities from chemical contamination. The new law, co-sponsored by Bennington County Senators Dick Sears and Brian Campion, holds individuals and businesses liable for the release of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in or near drinkable water sources. The law creates strict penalties for PFOA detected in areas that could pose potential harm to the drinking water of municipalities within the state of Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine Last Friday, 13 business, low income, faith and environmental organizations denounced President Trump’s decision to withdraw the US from the Paris Climate Agreement and sent a letter to Governor Scott urging swift action to stem the negative consequences of this shortsighted move. They've issued a letter saying they are pleased that Governor Scott has decided that Vermont will join other state’s in the US Climate Alliance; one of six specific actions the groups called on Scott to take. The organizations thanked the governor for taking this first step and ask him to act on five other specific requests.

Vermont Business Magazine The states with the most robust economies are tending to be on the coasts, while the interior of the US is growing more slowly. Vermont ranks 26th. On the top five "best" and "worst" subcategories, it is in only one, ranking second best in educational attainment of newcomers. Other states have seen a tremendous rebound from the Great Recession. California, for instance, blossomed in 2016 as the sixth largest economy in the world, boasting a GDP that’s comparable in size to the UK’s and even larger than those of France and India. Meanwhile, Illinois continues to be in a fiscal free fall, with a record $14.5 billion in unpaid debt — imperiling its schools and social programs — as well as the second-highest unemployment rate in the Midwest.

Vermont Business Magazine Norwich University officials have named its new Provost, CIO, and Dean of the College of National Services. The Northfield university has named Sandra G. Affenito, PhD, as new provost and dean of faculty beginning August 1, 2017. Affenito comes to Norwich after serving as associate provost and dean of Graduate Studies and Research at the University of Saint Joseph (USJ) in West Hartford, Ct. As dean at USJ, Affenito functioned as a Chief Academic Officer for two major academic units. She established the Center for Student Research and Creative Activity; the Academics and Art Alliance; advanced teaching, research, scholarly and creative activities; and expanded professional development for faculty and academic staff. Affenito has over twenty-five years of leadership and administrative experience in higher education, health care, and the corporate sector.

by Mike Smith Many liberals and progressives are bewildered over the national Democratic strategy to win the 24 seats needed to regain control of the US House of Representatives. At a time when many in the party are motivated and energized, these liberals and progressives are urging their party to challenge Republicans at every opportunity across this country to maximize their chances for success. However, Democratic leadership in the House is insisting on a more focused strategy, concentrating their efforts and resources in the cities and suburbs where voters are likely to be angrier with President Donald Trump, rather than in rural districts.

This strategy explains why the Democratic House leadership left congressional candidates in Montana and Kansas to financially fend mostly for themselves in recent special elections, ultimately leading to their defeat when many thought those contests were winnable.

Vermont Business Magazine Although there are still some slopes to be conquered (Killington had its last run on Superstar on June 1), many skiers and snowboarders can agree that the national 2016/17 season turned out to be successful, with several Vermont resorts teaming up with other large North American ski companies. Resorts acrossthe United Stateswere able to benefit from a flurry of winter storms that arrived just in time for the holidays, translating to 30 percent and 4percent increases of total skier visits from last season for the months of December and March, respectively, according toKen Schapiroof Condor Capital Management.

Overall, average resort snowfall increased 36percent from last season. Accordingly, recent figures by the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) showed that nationwide skier and snowboarder visits rose to 54.7 million, a 1.5percent increase from 53.9 million during the 2015/16 season.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott and Representative Linda Joy Sullivan (D-Bennington-Rutland) hosted dozens of Vermonters at a town hall-style meeting Friday in Dorset. Sullivan was one of several House Democrats who voted for and nearly pushed through legislation that would create a statewide, teacher health insurance plan. Democratic leadership and the teachers' union oppose Scott's proposal.

In Dorset, a press release said the discussion focused on the governor’s education savings proposal, which would allow the state to realize up to $26 million in annual education savings available through a transition in school employees’ health plans, while investing nearly $50 million to keep out-of-pocket costs the same.

Vermont Business Magazine The Lake Champlain Committee (LCC) is recruiting citizens interested in water quality to serve as cyanobacteria monitors for Lake Champlain and select inland Vermont lakes. LCC will host training sessions starting June 6 for new and returning monitors. The program provides critical data on where and when blooms are happening and is relied on by health, environmental and recreation agencies to keep people informed about lake conditions.

LCC initiated the citizen-based near-shore monitoring program in 2003 and has steadily expanded the network of trained volunteers and monitoring sites every year. During the 2016 season LCC monitors submit nearly 1,200 reports from over 100 sites on Lake Champlain and several inland lakes. The focus of the cyanobacteria monitoring program is to raise awareness of the issue, build a database of information on bloom frequency, and identify and publicize potential health hazards.

Vermont Business Magazine Green Mountain Power customers who bring their energy statements and a special code to Freedom Nissan in South Burlington now throughSeptember 30will get $10,000 off the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of a 2017 Nissan Leaf. The newly dubbed “Leaf Power Program” is the newest in GMP’s many programs encouraging Vermonters to go green and reduce costs. The Nissan Leaf is a 100 percent electric vehicle.

“At GMP, we are committed to helping our customers find ways to use clean sources of energy and to save money, as we partner on a new energy future,” said Mary Powell, GMP’s President and CEO. “The Leaf, a fully electric car, allows the owner to never have to rely on gasoline or get oil changes again. And with the growing number of charging stations for electric vehicles across the state, Vermont is ready to go electric.”

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott announced Friday that Vermont will join the US Climate Alliance, a new bipartisan coalition of states committed to meeting the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement. “Vermont is a leader in environmental policy and natural resource management. That’s one reason Governor Charlie Baker and I encouraged the Trump Administration to remain committed to the Paris Climate Agreement,” said Gov. Scott. “The President’s decision to withdraw the nation from the agreement only strengthens our commitment and makes the work of states more important. I am proud to join this bipartisan group of governors and reaffirm Vermont’s commitment to fighting climate change through the U.S. Climate Alliance.”

Vermont Business MagazineThe Brattleboro Museum & Art Center (BMAC) has been awarded a $200,000 grant from the EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) to clean up and begin redeveloping the neglected property at 11 Arch Street in downtown Brattleboro, Vermont. The grant is one of 279 FY17 Brownfields Assessment and Cleanup grants awarded by the EPA to 172 communities throughout the United States.