Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont), Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) and Representative Peter Welch (D-Vermont) announced Thursday that three southern Vermont organizations will share a total of $700,000 in Brownfields Program assessment and cleanup grants from the US Environmental Protection Agency. The grants are for projects in Brattleboro, Bellows Falls and Bennington. Brownfields grants allow communities to assess and clean up contaminated properties to facilitate their redevelopment and reuse.

Vermont Business Magazine More beer, more visitors, cleaner water, less waste? That’s what the team at The Alchemist have accomplished with their new brewery in Stowe, and they were recently recognized for their environmental success with an award from the Green Mountain Water Environment Association (GMWEA). Steve Miller, Lead Cellar and Water Operator for The Alchemist, was presented with the award at GMWEA’s spring meeting at the Killington Grand Hotel on Thursday, May 25. Vermont’s Department of Environmental Conservation nominated the Alchemist for the award, which is presented each year for demonstrated commitment to clean water and pollution prevention, including implementation of water or wastewater treatment changes to address problems common to similar industries.

by Timothy McQuiston Vermont Business Magazine Last July, as Vermont Gas Systems built its pipeline extension from Chittenden County to Middlebury, the town of Monkton became a battleground for the contentious project. Vermont Gas was already spending more on the pipeline than it anticipated and was fending off lawsuits, fracking protesters and disgruntled residents, some of whom were facing a land taking. Vermont Gas also encountered the harsh sunflower, a “rare, threatened, or endangered (RTE) plant species.”

A communication breakdown between Vermont Gas and its contractor led to 77 of the 2,004 harsh sunflower plants in a Monkton field being mown down, which resulted in $59,000 in penalties. The case was finally resolved by the Public Service Board last week.

Vermont Business Magazine Just one-year after a bitter contract battle nearly led to a teacher strike, the Burlington School Board and the teacher’s union are once again far apart for a new contract. Last year's settlement only delayed a long-term solution. The two sides engaged in a seven-hour contract mediation session Wednesday without reaching a settlement. For salary, the Board is offering a 1.75 percent increase in FY18 and 2.0 percent in FY19. This would mean an average salary increase of $1,241 per teacher in the first year and $1,469 in the second year. The teacher’s union is seeking a 5.28 percent salary increase in one year, or $3,745 per teacher. Significant differences also remain in the areas of health insurance benefits and operational changes.

Vermont Business Magazine The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) invites grant applications for projects supporting economic and community development in rural areas. Grant funding is available to non-profits and public bodies through two programs: the Rural Community Development Initiative Program and the Community Facilities Technical Assistance and Training Grant Program.

“USDA Rural Development helps communities across Vermont and New Hampshire build their capacity to meet the needs of rural residents,” said Acting USDA Rural Development State Director for Vermont and New Hampshire Jon-Michael Muise. “By helping an essential community facility, such as a hospital, plan for an expansion, or supporting a housing non-profit in training residents on accessing safe and affordable housing, Rural Development’s programs invest in community led initiatives that will open economic doors across the two states.”

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont political leaders and activists are joining a national call to support #MillionsOfJobs, a coalition effort to enact a 21st Century New Deal for Jobs. They are urging Congress and the Trump Administration to ensure that any federal public infrastructure spending in Vermont invests in clean air, clean water, and rebuilding our state’s crumbling roads and bridges. This proposal includes core principles that must be true of any jobs and infrastructure plan that passes into law. Political leaders, environmentalists and union members are meeting at noon Thursday in Montpelier, on State Street Bridge over the North Branch of the Winooski River near Capitol Grounds coffee shop.

Their principles include:

• Prioritizing public investment over corporate giveaways;

• No selling off public roads and bridges to investors and foreign companies;

Vermont Business Magazine Energize Vermont is launching The Vermont Neighbors Project to describe life near Vermont’s wind electricity plants. The group opposes large-scale wind projects in Vermont. The project’s website, VTNeighbors.org, features videos of Vermonters describing how being placed in the shadow of wind turbines has affected them and their children. The new Public Service Board rules on large wind projects limits noise to neighboring homes to a large degree for health reasons.

by Timothy McQuiston Vermont Business Magazine At his weekly press conference, Governor Phil Scott announced the he expected to announce a new chair of the Public Service Board this week, as James Volz's term is expiring on the utility regulatory panel. He also said he had signed the racial justice bill (H308) into law. He also added that talks over S22, marijuana legalization, were progressing and while he had already vetoed the bill, he could see a “path forward” to sign a bill during the June 21 veto session.

On the most contentious issue, that of a statewide teacher health insurance plan, he said he would veto both the budget and the property tax bills when they reached his desk. However, despite no new talks, he would not close down the government and would eventually sign both bills.

Vermont Business Magazine US Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) will deliver the commencement remarks at two Vermont high schools in the coming weeks. Sanders will deliver the South Royalton High School commencement address on June 10 in South Royalton. Sanders will also be the commencement speaker during Champlain Valley Union High School’s graduation on June 16. On Monday, Sanders will also deliver video remarks to graduating high school students at St Johnsbury Academy. He had planned to be in St Johnsbury but had to withdraw because he will still be in Europe.

Sanders plans to share with Vermont’s graduating seniors the importance of getting involved in our democracy.

Vermont Business Magazine American Resort Management, LLC of Erie, PA today announced that the new Hampton by Hilton located in the heart of downtown St Albans will open with a ribbon-cutting at 3pm on Friday, June 2. Members of the community along with City dignitaries are expected to attend. The hotel was developed by PeakCM and will be professionally managed by American Resort Management, LLC of Erie, PA.

Vermont Business MagazineOne of the nation’s largest vendors of electronic health records (EHR) software, eClinicalWorks (ECW), and certain of its employees will pay a total of $155 million to resolve a False Claims Act lawsuit alleging that ECW misrepresented the capabilities of its software, the Justice Department announced. The settlement also resolves allegations that ECW paid kickbacks to certain customers in exchange for promoting its product. The whistleblower will get $30 million and the rest will go back into the federal Medicaid program. The state of Vermont itself will not receive any money. ECW is headquartered in Westborough, MA.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Attorney General TJ Donovan joined with Vermont power companies, businesses, and residents to launch a new campaign to protect Vermonters from being scammed by people pretending to be a utility.These scammers call residents and businesses demanding immediate payment for electricity with a credit card, pre-paid card or money order. Utilities report these scams are increasing and scammers are becoming more sophisticated and tech savvy in their scams. To raise awareness and protect Vermonters, the Attorney General’s office started the “Scam Buster” campaign, reminding people to stop, ask, and confirm before they make any payment to avoid being scammed.