Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Finding work for unemployed and underemployed young Vermonters, while filling positions for needy businesses, is the goal of the second annual Jobs for Youth Fair, to be held Thursday in Burlington. Mayor Miro Weinberger today joined Vermont Department of Labor Deputy Commissioner Michael Harrington, Chittenden County State’s Attorney Sarah George, Spectrum Youth and Family Services Multicultural Youth Program Coordinator Michael Hill, Jr, Westport Hospitality Human Resources Director Amy Shea and Westport Hospitality COO Joe Carton, to encourage participation in the second annual jobs fair May 11 in the Burlington Town Center.

Vermont Business Magazine The Boards of Directors of Addison County Transit Resources (ACTR) and Stagecoach Transportation Services Inc voted on May 8 to formally merge the two community transportation agencies into one, the culmination of a partnership begun three and a half years ago. While the merger will bring a new name, Tri-Valley Transit (TVT), to the umbrella organization, both the ACTR and Stagecoach names will remain intact for their respective operating regions.There are no expected changes to on-the-street services, no immediate plans to change the unique branding of local services, and no anticipated job losses, according to an announcement Tuesday.

Vermont Business MagazineBerkshire Bank will host a luncheon onMay 10to recognize National Small Business Week.The event will honor local Rutland Economic Development Corporation and Community Capital of Vermont with a $1,000 grant in recognition of their commitment to supporting and assisting local small businesses.

Vermont Business MagazineESCO Technologies Inc(NYSE: ESE), a St Louis industrial energy equipment supplier,announced in a press release today that it has acquired NRG Systems, Inc of Hinesburg. NRG, also known asRenewable NRG Systems, wasfounded in 1982. Itis a global market leader in the design and manufacture of support tools for the renewable energy industry, primarily wind. It is well known for itslittle propeller-like instruments called anemometers, which are used to gauge wind speed and direction. Terms were not disclosed.

Vermont Business MagazineWhistlePig LLC, of Shoreham, apremier rye whiskey company, announced Monday that it received a $25 million asset-based line (ABL) of credit from JPMorgan Chase, replacing its current ABL and more than doubling its access to liquidity. The credit facility is a reflection of WhistlePig’s performance to date, expected growth, and strong existing inventory position. It will provide the company with incremental funding to accelerate the production and aging of premium rye whiskey.WhistlePig's goal is to produce a farm-to-bottle whiskey at its Vermont location.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont ranked Number One in the nation and five of the top seven states were in New England in a WalletHub study of children's health. Raising a child in America is more expensive than ever, and health care accounts for a big chunk of the bill. And while more kids are insured today than at any other point in history, the higher coverage rate hasn’t translated to lower health costs for parents. Per-capita spending on children’s health care in 2014 reached $2,660 — having increased by more than 5 percent every year since 2010 — due mainly to rising health costs, according to a recent report from the Health Cost Institute.

Vermont Business MagazineFreshTracks Capital announced Monday it has investedin a growing Vermont-based beverage brand, DRINKmaple.This is the second Vermont-based investment from FreshTracks Capital’s newly launched investment fund, FreshTracks IV.DRINKmaple, based in StAlbans, is a rapidly-growing maple water brand that features only one ingredient, straight from the tree. It’s refreshing, hydrating and naturally nutritious, with just a subtle hint of maple. DRINKmaple is packed with 46 naturally-occurring nutrients including antioxidants, polyphenols, minerals and electrolytes, with more manganese than a cup of kale, and half the sugar of coconut water. The company also makes DRINKmelon Organic Watermelon Water, also made from one ingredient, 100% organic watermelons.

Vermont Business Magazine Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC) and Green Mountain Academy for Lifelong Learning (GMALL) are proud to announce a new partnership titled “Medicine Today.” During the series, clinicians from SVMC and Dartmouth-Hitchcock Putnam Physicians will present an intellectual perspective of medicine now and how they anticipate it will change in the future. Often they will be accompanied by physicians and researchers from Dartmouth-Hitchcock.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont's two residential drug treatment providers have increased the number of available beds for inpatient treatment and are taking referrals, filling the need brought about by the decision in February by Maple Leaf Treatment Center to close its doors.

Following the unexpected announcement by the Underhill-based center, the Vermont Department of Health reached out to Valley Vista and the Recovery House network to identify space for additional beds and inpatient treatment services.

Deputy Health Commissioner Barbara Cimaglio said Valley Vista and Recovery House did not hesitate when asked to help. "We are grateful to our partners for stepping up and making these services available so quickly following the closing of Maple Leaf Treatment Center. These new beds will ensure that we can provide timely care to Vermonters who need treatment," said Cimaglio.

by John McClaughry If you watch the news media, and especially the accounts of things like the Peoples’ March for Climate, Jobs and Justice, you would believe that the most critical problems facing America are deportation of immigrants for entering the country illegally, employer resistance to paying low skilled workers $15/hour, carbon dioxide emissions that cause “climate change,” pipeline threats to sacred Native American burial sites, intolerance toward those whose religion commands jihad, and allowing conservatives to speak on campuses.

Well, people are entitled to march to draw attention to issues important to them. But could we pause just a moment to look at four threats that unarguably have the potential to cripple or even destroy American and global civilization?

Vermont Business MagazineA law just passed in Vermont that will provide protections for employees experiencing healthy, uncomplicated pregnancies who need workplace accommodations such as having access to water, access to a chair, longer or more frequent restroom breaks, or avoiding heavy lifting.

“Everyone benefits from laws that support a fair work-family balance,” said Vermont Attorney General TJ Donovan, whose office will enforce the new law in the private sector. “For decades, Vermont employers have been doing a great job accommodating workers with disabilities. Applying that same positive mindset to helping out expectant or new mothers makes sense and is the right thing to do.”

Vermont joins nineteen other states (including Washington, D.C.) in passing similar legislation, and currently, at least seven states have similar bills pending.

Vermont Business Magazine The Department of Environmental Conservation today announced the Town of Bennington is required to pay $15,000 for failing to maintain its wastewater treatment facility over the past several years. The facility’s disrepair caused foul odors and several releases of partially-treated wastewater into the Walloomsac River.

The Town of Bennington has a permit from the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to discharge treated wastewater into the Walloomsac River. Prior to discharge, units known as rotating biological contactors (RBC) biologically treat the wastewater. In the late summer of 2016, failure of two-thirds of the facility’s 32 RBC units caused discharge water to be released into the river with bacteria levels above allowable standards.