Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The first phase of the multi-year effort to completely rebuild, expand, and enhance the entire eight-mile Burlington Bike Path broke ground in 2014 with Phase 1a, from Waterfront Park to Perkins Pier. Phase 1a included updating the path to current multi-use standards and enhancing the landscape from Perkins Pier to Penny Lane. The total construction cost was $830,000 and construction concluded in 2015.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Energy Control Systems (VECS) from Ferrisburgh in Addison County has been selected by Congressman Peter Welch’s office to attend the IoT (Internet of Things) annual showcase. The event on June 13 highlights innovation and technology on Capitol Hill in Washington. It's hosted by the Subcommittee on Digital Commerce and Consumer Protection. VECS was chosen because they are an emerging Vermont business which designs and manufactures electronic devices using cutting edge technology for IoT applications.

Vermont Business Magazine The Martin family founded, owned and ran WCAX-TV since 1954. On Thursday, June 1, Gray Television Inc of Atlanta will take over ownership of Vermont's first commercial television station. Two long-serving Vermont journalists offer their unique perspectives on the station, the Martins and what WCAX has meant to Vermont. National Life Vice President Chris Graff was the bureau chief of Vermont's Associated Press office and was a frequent commentator for WCAX. Vermont Agriculture Secretary Anson Tebbettswas a reporter and then news director at WCAX.

Vermont Business Magazine Ledyard Financial Group, Inc, headquartered in Hanover, NH, isthe holding company for Ledyard National Bank. Itwas ranked among the Top 200 publicly traded banks and thrifts in the United States by American Banker Magazine for the third straight year.The rankings were based on return on average equity across three years.Ledyard Financial Group ranked 159thin 2016 and moved up twenty-one spots to the 138thposition in 2017 with a three-year average ROAE of 9.74%.Ledyard National Bank has a branch in Norwich, Vermont.

Vermont Business MagazineAmong its highlights for FY17, Walmart anticipates investing millions in Vermont through the remodeling of its Williston store this year, along with e-commerce enhancements and other customer-focused priorities across its six Vermont stores. The Arkansas retail giant also boasted $460,000 in cash and in-kind contributions to Vermont non-profits, employs over 1,200 in-state, and spends over a quarter-billion dollarswith Vermont suppliers.

Walmart released its 10th annual Global Responsibility Report Tuesday, which highlights “milestones in its global progress toward creating shared value for people, business, and society.”

Vermont Business Magazine Mobius is excited to announce the start of the 2017-2018 Vermont Mentoring Grants application process. These annual grants are designed to support new and existing mentoring programs in Vermont that match adult volunteers as mentors for youth mentees (ages 5-22) in long-term, one-to-one, quality-based mentoring relationships.

Vermont Business MagazineChristopher CShaddock Jrhas been appointed the Director of Business Development for the Rutland Region Chamber of Commerce. Shaddock comes with over forty years of experience in service, sales and marketing in the health and fitness industry along with a decade of sales leadership in resort development including the Killington Grand Hotel project and the Okemo Mountain, Jackson Gore Inn and Golf expansion.

Vermont Business MagazineCastleton University recently received word from the office of Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy that its TRiO Upward Bound program has been funded for five more years at $1.3 million to serve 63 high school students in Rutland County attending the target schools of Fair Haven Union High School, Mill River Union High School, Poultney High School, Rutland Senior High School and West Rutland High School.

Castleton University has successfully managed a US Department of Education TRiO Upward Bound program since 2003. While the grant process was competitive, Castleton Upward Bound received additional points for exceeding its Grade Point Average (GPA), standardized test, secondary school retention and graduation, and postsecondary enrollment and graduation objectives in the previous grant cycle - a testament to Castleton University’s institution-wide commitment to excellence in educational opportunity.

by US Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) President Trump's budget is morally obscene and bad economic policy. It would cause devastating economic pain to tens of thousands of Vermonters making it harder for our children to get a decent education, harder for our working families to get the health care they desperately need, harder to protect our environment, and harder for the elderly to live out their retirement years in dignity. Sadly, it follows in the footsteps of the Trump-Ryan health care bill which gives massive tax breaks to the people on top, while throwing 23 million Americans off of their health insurance and dramatically raising premiums for older workers.

Vermont Business MagazineAn online business directory, also known as a phony yellow pages, has violated the Vermont Consumer Protection Act, according to a lawsuit filed today by Vermont Attorney General TJDonovan. Thelawsuitalleges that General Yellow Pages and its owner, Vladimir Adolphe, attempt to hide their fees from prospective customers, misrepresent the purpose of their telephone solicitations, and engage in other deceptive practices.

Vermont Business Magazine Community Bank NA has announced its continued support of the Financial Futures Program at Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity (CVOEO). The $5,000 donation will support Vermonters with low and moderate incomes on their path to financial well-being. Financial Futures provides financial capability and asset-building services in Chittenden, Franklin, Addison and Grand Isle counties through microbusiness counseling, matched savings accounts, and financial coaching and classes.

“The skills taught through the Financial Futures Program are invaluable,” Community Bank N.A. Regional Manager Anita Bourgeois said. “This program is important to the success of a strong community and we are delighted to support their work.”

Community Bank completed its acquisition and rebranding of Merchants Bank in mid-May.

by Rob Roper Governor Phil Scott came into office pledging to put Vermont’s wounded economy back on the right track. After one legislative session he gets high marks for accomplishing an important first step in saving the patient: stopping the bleeding. The new governor drew a line in the sand, threatening to veto any new taxes or fees and succeeded in getting the legislature to go along. But stopping the bleeding alone isn’t a cure. Now it’s time to start the real surgery to repair the damage.

Moving forward, the legislature is not likely to be as cooperative as they were on taxes, as the standoff over teachers’ healthcare contracts demonstrates. Altering the status quo, particularly where special interest groups come into play, is not something they seem willing to contemplate.