Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Mayor Miro Weinberger today announced that Burlington Chief Administrative Officer Bob Rusten will be leaving the CAO position on September 1, 2017, after serving in City Hall since 2013. Rusten played a critical role in numerous key initiatives over the last four years, including the restoration of the City’s credit rating, voter passage of a five year infrastructure plan, and substantial reform of the City’s retirement system.

by Timothy McQuiston Vermont Business Magazine Democratic leadership in the Legislature announced today that it has given up trying to find a compromise with Governor Phil Scott over the issue of a statewide teacher health insurance plan. They said they will now finalize the state budget and send it to the governor, where he could sign it, let it become law without his signature or veto it, as he has suggested he might. A veto would require the Legislature, nearly two week already behind their intended adjournment date, back into session soon after a veto.

Vermont Business Magazine Do you have an innovative product or creative concept? Do you need help in defining and refining your business concept and business pitch? Are you looking to court investors who can assist in producing your product or capitalizing your business? St. Johnsbury has again secured a spot in the statewide entrepreneurial competition known as Road Pitch, which will be hosted at Catamount Arts on August 4th. From Brattleboro to Grand Isle, see upcomiing Road Pitch schedule below.

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.