Current News

by Representative Heidi Scheuermann (R-Stowe) With two weeks left in the 2017 Legislative Session, it is time for Vermonters to really start paying attention. After all, this is the time that just about anything can happen. The most recent dust up came late last week when the Vermont NEA, the statewide teacher's union, blasted Governor Phil Scott for working with the Vermont School Boards Association and the Vermont Superintendents Association to develop and propose a new Statewide Health Benefit for teachers and school employees that will provide $26 million in savings to Vermonters.

Vermont Business Magazine Saint Michael's College has been invited to join the 30 founding members from the nation’s most respected colleges and universities in a new initiative to substantially expand the number of talented low- and moderate-income students at America’s top-performing undergraduate institutions with the highest graduation rates.

The American Talent Initiative (ATI), supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies, brings together a diverse set of public and private institutions united in this common goal. They are enhancing their own efforts to recruit and support lower-income students, learn from each other and contribute to research that will help other colleges and universities expand opportunity.

Vermont Business MagazineFor the second year running, Vermont scored highest among the 50 states and District of Columbia in public health protection readiness, according to the new National Health Security Preparedness Index. The Index measures the nation's ability to keep people safe and healthy in the event of epidemics, foodborne disease outbreaks, terrorism and other large-scale public health emergencies.Overall, Vermont scored 7.8 out of 10 points, compared to the national average of 6.8.

by John McClaughry Not so long ago – 2015 – the carbon tax was all the rage among such organizations as VPIRG, Vermont Natural Resources Council, Conservation Law Foundation, and Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility. Their argument was straightforward. Humankind’s penchant for making use of fossil fuels is (so they believe) inexorably driving the planet toward catastrophic warming by the end of this century. The hour is late! “The science is settled”! Anyone who harbors any doubt is an ignorant yahoo or a tool of the fossil fuel interests!

This must be stopped, and little Vermont must show the world The Way!

Vermont Business MagazineRoyal Philips(NYSE: PHG; AEX: PHIA) has announced that it will feature the company's latest Magnetic Resonance (MR) solutions and neurology-focused clinical applications at theInternational Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine's(ISMRM) 25th annual meeting and exhibition inHawaii on Wednsday. As a part of its newest suite of MR-based software applications dedicated to neurology, Philips will be showcasing MultiBand SENSE, which was developed in collaboration with several partners, including the Larner College of Medicine at theUniversity of Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Economic Development Authority (VEDA) has approved $57.4 million in bond and loan financing to support a variety of economic development projects throughout Vermont. "VEDA is pleased to make tax-exempt bond financing available for a large-scale nonprofit development project that will produce jobs," said VEDA Chief Executive Officer Jo Bradley. "Additional energy, agricultural, manufacturing and small business ventures also will receive financing assistance from VEDA, enabling them to create jobs and contribute to Vermont's economic vitality."

The project approved by VEDA for tax-exempt bond financing assistance is:

Vermont Business Magazine Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc(NYSE: BHLB), the parent company of Berkshire Bank with branches in southwestern Vermont, reported on Monday first quarter 2017 earnings of $15.5 million, or 44 cents per share. Core earnings totaled $19.4 million, or $0.55 per share. Net income increased by 50 percentover the prior quarter and core earnings increased by 8 percent, including the first full quarter benefit of the acquired First Choice operations. Non-core after-tax merger charges totaled $0.12 per share for the quarter.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced the appointment of John Quinn as Secretary of Digital Services and Chief Information Officer. Quinn will lead the Agency of Digital Services (ADS), which was created by Gov. Scott under Executive Order 06-17 to establish a unified organizational structure for the state’s Information Technology (IT) portfolio.

“John has been integral in the planning of the Agency of Digital Services and in our overall strategy for modernizing state government,” said Gov. Scott. “His leadership and experience in IT and project management will continue to be incredibly valuable as we establish this Agency and take a more coordinated and accountable approach to managing the state’s IT infrastructure.”

Vermont Business MagazineAttorney General Donovan today joined a multistate letter calling out the USDepartment of Education for abdicating its responsibility to millions of student loan borrowers. The Department is revoking critical reforms designed to help students avoid default and curtail loan servicer misconduct.The multistate letter – co-sponsored by Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey and Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, and joined by 19 attorneys general and the Office of Consumer Protection of Hawaii – was sent to Education Secretary Betsy DeVos in opposition to the Department’s recentrollback of guidanceintended to protect student loan borrowers and reform the student loan servicing industry.

Vermont Business Magazine Nine Chittenden County municipalities and three other entities are launching Rethink Runoff, a new multi-year public education and participation campaign focused on reducing the impacts of stormwater runoff. The campaign, with technical assistance from the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission (CCRPC), is a combined effort of the municipalities of Burlington, Colchester, Essex, Essex Junction, Milton, Shelburne, South Burlington, Williston and Winooski plus Burlington International Airport, the University of Vermont and the Vermont Agency of Transportation. For several years, these 12 partners have operated the successful but separate efforts of the Regional Stormwater Education Program and the Chittenden County Stream Team to engage the public.

Leonine Public Affairs The Senate Appropriations Committee approved its version of the state FY18 budget bill on Friday afternoon. The Senate Appropriations Committee transferred approximately $8 million of teacher retirement expenses from the General Fund to the Education Fund. This freed up $8 million of General Fund dollars to fund numerous items on the committee’s “wish list” including the Vermont State Colleges, early education, Medicaid rate increases for mental health and home and community based providers and retaining the “cold weather exemption” for the homeless, among other things. The Senate Appropriations Committee also used $4.2 million in proceeds from a recent Volkswagen court settlement to make one-time investments in a variety of areas.

Vermont Business MagazineThe University of Vermont has broken ground on a new $1.4 million headquarters for UVM Rescue, a student-run organization created in 1972 that provides advanced life support ambulance services to the campus and greater Chittenden County. In 2016, UVM Rescue received 1,615 service calls. UVM Rescue’s new home, to be located on the south end the of the parking lot at 284 East Avenue, will open in the fall of 2017. The service is now located within the 284 East Avenue complex.