Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced he and Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker have sent a letter to the Trump Administration urging them to continue the United States’ commitment to the Paris Climate Agreement. The letter from the two Republicans cites Vermont and Massachusetts’ ongoing nation-leading efforts to combat climate change and stresses the importance of leading on this issue to build a stronger and more resilient country.

“Our states, working individually and in multi-state efforts, have already made tremendous progress in reducing our carbon emissions,” wrote Govs. Scott and Baker. “We believe maintaining this commitment and the U.S. leadership on climate change is the right action for the protection of our children, grandchildren and future generations.”

Vermont Business Magazine On May 16, 2017 Ski Vermont donated a record breaking $19,980 Larson Farm and Creamery in Wells. The donation comes from the proceeds of the 2016-17 seasonal Fifth Grade Passport sales which helped over 3,100 children to ski and snowboard in Vermont for free this winter. The Ski Vermont grant, which is part of the Working Lands Enterprise Initiative, will help the Larson family develop marketing, packaging and cover initial startup costs for their new line of dairy products. New products will include cream-line milk, yogurt, skyr, gelato and butter. The WLE Initiative works to protect and progress the working landscape of Vermont by investing in agricultural and forestry based businesses.

Vermont Business Magazine The University of Vermont Medical Center is investing $1.4 million in a broad range of social service and community health programs in Chittenden and Franklin counties through its Community Health Investment Fund. Grants have been awarded to innovative programs that address critical health problems such as opioid dependency, mental health, food insecurity and homelessness, among other issues.

Vermont Business Magazine Five Vermont organizations are getting nearly $1.5 million in grants to revitalize communities and support access to affordable housing across Vermont, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont), Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) and Congressman Peter Welch (D-Vermont) announced Wednesday. These funds mark the first round of FY17 federal grants awarded by NeighborWorks America, now being released after the passage of a federal appropriations bill on May 4, 2017. NeighborWorks is a national nonprofit organization that supports 245 local community development organizations throughout the United States.

NeighborWorks America awarded five grants to Vermont’s affiliates, totaling $1,489,334.

Champlain Housing Trust—$495,333

Downstreet Housing and Community Development—$237,000

NeighborWorks of Western Vermont—$281,667

RuralEdge—$179,667

Vemront Business MagazineOn Tuesday, May 2, 2017 over 200 members joined Vermont Federal Credit Union leadership and staff at the DoubleTree in South Burlington to elect the Board of Directors.The meeting began with an Italian buffet and a special presentation on emotional intelligence from guest speaker, David Caruso, PhD, followed by remarks from President and CEO of the Credit Union, Jean Giard and Board Chair, Douglas Fisher. Upon membership voting at the 64^thAnnual Meeting, incumbent Lisa Rees and newly elected Will Voigt joined the Credit Union’s Board of Directors for three year terms.

Vermont Business Magazine Hat Brewing Company is Vermont born and bred, dreaming up small-batch, exceptional elixirs to delight residents and keep flatlanders longing for the Green Mountain lifestyle since the early days of craft beer. And while the cast and crew of Magic Hat have always happily shared their beers far and wide, this year they are keeping a little something special behind the curtain for local enjoyment only. The Vermont-Only Pilot Batch Series, new for 2017, is unveiling some of the brewery’s most exciting concoctions exclusively in its home state.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) released the following statement Tuesday after The New York Times reported that President Donald Trump asked FBI Director James Comey to shut down the federal investigation into former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn in an Oval Office meeting in February.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Rand Paul (R-KY), Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) on Tuesday reintroduced the JusticeSafetyValveAct, S1127, in the US Senate. Representative Bobby Scott (D-VA) and Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY) are reintroducing companion legislation in the US House of Representatives.

Last week, Attorney General Jeff Sessions directed federal prosecutors to pursue the most serious charges and maximum sentences in their cases, returning to stricter enforcement of mandatory minimum sentences. TheJusticeSafetyValveAct would give federal judges the ability to impose sentences below mandatory minimums in appropriate cases based on mitigating factors.

Vermont Business Magazine With the legislative session nearly two weeks into extra time, Governor Phil Scott is still pressing his plan to create a single, statewideteacher health insurance plan. He maintains it will save property taxpayers $26 million a year. His administration is now also saying that the resulting benefits will actually be better for school employees than what they currently have. The teachers' union has vehemently opposedthe plan because, they say, it undermines the collective bargaining process and reduces local control of school budget.

The governor could veto the state budget if it does not contain the provision for a statewide teacher health insurance plan.Legislative leaders are scrambling to find a compromise that would save taxpayers (or at least homeowners) a similar amount but retain the current level of collective bargaining that the union wants.

Vermont Business Magazine Stowe will be buzzing with some two hundred ski industry leaders attending INSIGHT, Inntopia’s sold out annual conference held at Topnotch Resort this May 22-25. The annual conference focuses on bringing together key leaders and personnel from management, marketing, sales, IT, reservations, and more for three days of presentations and discussions focusing on best practices and cutting-edge trends in travel marketing, commerce and business intelligence.

This year, INSIGHT has a strong focus on Vermont. Three individual sessions will feature keynote speakers from some of the most prestigious, and well-known Vermont companies including Ben & Jerry’s, ibex, Skida and Stowe Mountain Resort.

Vermont Business Magazine Bill Schubart and Phoenix Books Burlington will celebrate the launch of Schubart's new novel, Lila and Theron, on Tuesday, June 6 at 7 pm. Ticket holders who purchase Lila and Theron at the launch celebration will get a complimentary CD of Bill Schubart reading five of his favorite picks from Lamoille Stories! The genesis story of Lila and Theron, "Lila's Bucket" is on the CD. (Some exceptions apply.)

Vermont Business Magazine Norwich University celebrated graduation of approximately 380 students from 32 undergraduate programs and one master’s program at a ceremony held Saturday, May 13, in Shapiro Field House. There were approximately 238 students in the Corps of Cadets and 142 civilian students that graduated. The top five graduating majors are: Criminal Justice; Management; Nursing; Mechanical Engineering; and Computer Security & Information Assurance.