Current News

by Rebecca Holcombe, Secretary of Education When the towns of Bethel, Rochester and Royalton started to talk about how to move forward under Act 46, one of the first things they did was ask students what they wanted for their high school experience. The answer was loud and clear: more peers, greater depth and breadth of academic opportunities, and more extracurricular activities. Community members wanted the same, but they also worried about affordability.

Vermont Business MagazineNew results from a 15-year study on Mount Mansfield and at the University of Vermont's research forest come to a surprising conclusion: Imitating old-growth forests enhances carbon storage in managed forestland far better than conventional forestry techniques. As the planet warms, carbon markets are getting hot too. Forest landowners have been looking for ways to enter these markets, making money from their commercial timberland not just by selling logs—but also by demonstrating that their land is absorbing climate-warming carbon dioxide from the air.

by C.B. Hall Vermont Business Magazine AllEarth Rail, an affiliate of Williston-based solar manufacturer AllEarth Renewables, has announced its purchase of 12 vintage rail coaches to be used in launching a commuter rail service in northwestern Vermont. AllEarth Rail president David Blittersdorf, who is also CEO of AllEarth Renewables, said that Texas's Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) had awarded AllEarth Rail a contract for purchase of the cars after it won a bid for the equipment over three other parties.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) and Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) joined a letter to Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos led by Sens. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), and Patty Murray (D-Wash.), and sent by a total of 36 senators. The letter expresses concern over announcements that borrowers may not be able to rely on notices they have previously received about their eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF).

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General TJDonovan announced that the State of Vermont joined two multi-state actions to force the USDepartment of Energy (DOE) to finalize energy conservation standards for several consumer and commercial products. Efficiency standards are crucial for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and saving money for consumers. The standards apply to items such as ceiling fans, portable air conditioners, walk-in coolers and commercial boilers.

Vermont Business Magazine Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont0 and Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) issued the following statements after the United States carried out a missile strike in Syria in response to the Syrian government’s chemical weapons attack this week.

Vermont Business Magazine Representative Peter Welch (D-VT) and Representative David McKinley (R-WV) this week introduced the Fair Access for Safe and Timely (FAST) Generics Act. The legislation would thwart manipulation of the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) drug safety regulations in order to block the production of generic alternatives to brand name medicines. This would increase consumer access to generic drugs, boost market competition, and ultimately save American consumers money.

“Generic prescription drugs are very often a cost-effective alternative to brand name drugs.Patients, in consultation with their physician, should have a choice where possible,” said Welch. “Our legislation will save consumers billions of dollars by ensuring timely competition in the market and preventing unfair delays for patients seeking more affordable options for their medications.”

Vermont Business Magazine State Treasurer Beth Pearce joined with Governor Phil Scott on Thursday to recognize student achievement in the “Reading is an Investment” program and the “Be Money Wise” financial literacy poster contest. Both programs are administered by the Treasurer’s Office to engage student interest in money management skills

“Teaching Vermont’s children about financial concepts will help them achieve a lifetime of financial well-being,” said Treasurer Pearce. “Too many Americans lack the knowledge and skills to manage their money. The Treasurer’s Office’s programs provide teachers, librarians and parents with tools to teach important concepts like setting goals, saving and investing. I am proud of the Vermont students who use these programs to expand their academic horizons.”

Vermont Business MagazineSaint Michael's College is hosting an online information sessionto showcase the benefits of its Accelerated Summer College (ASC), established for college students to take courses at significantly reduced tuition. Through the ASC, students can complete one course or up to an entire semester in just one summer.Kellie Campbell, director of the Accelerated Summer College, explains, "St. Mike's created the Accelerated Summer College as a way for students to graduate on time – no matter if they study abroad, double major, or have difficulty in some classes. Ambitious students who take full advantage of it can even graduate early, thereby saving significant money."

Vermont Business Magazine FirstLight, a leading fiber-optic bandwidth infrastructure services provider operating in the Northeast, announced today a long-term dark fiber contract with a major wireless carrier for the implementation of a new metropolitan CRAN ring throughout Manchester, NH, Biddeford, ME and Burlington, VT. The fiber networks are purpose-built to support additional small cell deployment capabilities across smaller, Tier 2 and 3 markets throughout this region. In addition, FirstLight's soluti ons are now available to enterprise customers along these newly built routes.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) delivered a shorter version of the speech below on the Senate Floor yesterday, in the run up to today’s votes on the nomination. The cloture motion to shut off further debate failed in a vote of 55 to 45 [60 votes are required for cloture]. Majority Leader McConnell then invoked the so-called “nuclear option” to change the Senate rules on cloture for Supreme Court nominees, so they can be confirmed with simple majority votes and not the current 60-vote threshold. Leahy opposes the nomination and also voted against cloture. A vote of the full Senate on the nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch for the US Supremem Court is expected Friday.

Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.)

On The Nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch

April 5, 2017

Vermont Business Magazine Twenty entrepreneurs throughout the state have been selected to participate in a free business course starting April 21 at Vermont Technical College in Williston. Emerging Leaders is a Small Business Administration training program specifically tailored for entrepreneurs looking to grow their small businesses. The program includes approximately 100 hours of classroom time, connects small business owners with a network of industry experts and peers, and assists with the creation of a three-year strategic growth action plan.