Current News

Vermont Business Magazine FairPoint Communications, Inc (Nasdaq:FRP), Vermont's largest telecom based in North Carolina, and Illinois' Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc (Nasdaq:CNSL) have moved a step closer to Consolidated's acquisition of FairPoint later this year. FairPoint shareholders on Tuesday voted to adopt the merger agreement between FairPoint and Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc during a special meeting. Approximately 96 percent of FairPoint shareholders who voted on the proposal cast their vote in favor of the merger, representing 74 percent of the Company’s outstanding stock as of the record date. Consolidated Communications also held a special meeting Tuesday at which approximately 98 percent of Consolidated shareholders who voted on the proposal voted in favor of the merger, representing 71 percent of Consolidated's outstanding shares as of the record date.

Vermont Businiess Magazine The University of Vermont's College of Education and Social Services (CESS) jumped nine positions in the 2018 USNews & World Report Best Graduate Schools rankings and is now among the top 60 nationally. The new rankings, based on survey responses from 256 of the 379 institutions that grant doctoral degrees in education, places UVM at No. 57 overall, putting it among the top public schools in the Northeast, and No. 6 in New England for both public and private institutions. CESS was ranked No. 66 last year and No. 67 in 2015.

Vermont Business Magazine When Burlington's City Market (Onion River Coop) purchased just over 4.5 acres at 207 Flynn Avenue in Burlington’s South End, their plan was to subdivide the lot and work to sell the south parcel. Currently, the foundation and steel are going up for City Market’s second store on the north parcel, with an expected grand opening of late fall 2017.

At this time, City Market is moving forward with plans to sell the south parcel. The first step in that process consists of the Request for Proposals (RFP) the Co-op issued Monday. The south parcel is 1.67 acres with an address of 75 Briggs Street. The Co-op’s goal is to close on the propertywithin one yearof accepting a proposal.

Vermont Business MagazinePinSource, a promotional products and custom lapel pin company, and division of SUI International, Ltd., located in Williston, Vermont, announced today that Jennifer Lockwood, Nick Lockwood and Jessica Miro have purchased the company. PinSource is now a subsidiary of LML, LLC, owned by the same partners.

“PinSource has always been known for quality, customer service, and reliability. We're hoping this change in ownership will build upon these elements, while increasing our creativity and innovation to grow with our customers,” said Managing Partner Jessica Miro.

PinSource is known as the worldwide expert in lapel pins. Founded in 1986 by Robert and Lorrie Rothman, PinSource has been a leading supplier in the souvenir industry, and internationally known for its specialization in unique and innovative design and manufacturing of promotional, collectible, and recognition items for companies large and small.

Vermont Business Magazine Keurig Green Mountain, Inc, based in Waterbury, has been named among the 100 most reputable companies in the US, according to the Reputation Institute’s 2017 US RepTrak®100 ranking. The annual survey measures public perceptions of corporate reputations based on seven dimensions: innovation, leadership, governance, citizenship, workplace, performance, and products and services.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont is the 14th-best state to retire, according to a new Bankrate.com report. Vermont strengths are lowcrime rate (lowest in the nation), an abundance of seniors (the 4th-highest percentage of residents age 65 and older) and cultural vitality (4th-highest). Its weaknesses include theweather (2nd-worst), cost of living (8th-highest) and taxes (tied for 10th-highest). New Hampshire is the best state to retire, according to the Bankrate.com report. Colorado, Maine, Iowa and Minnesota comprise the rest of the top five.

The study examined eight key factors which were weighted in line with a nationally representative survey of non-retired USadults. From most to least important, the categories were: cost of living, healthcare quality, crime, cultural vitality, weather, taxes, senior citizens’ well-being and the prevalence of other seniors.

Vermont Business Magazine The Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission has recently assisted 20 towns with 36 applications to the Vermont Better Roads Grant Program. Those applications total $1.8 million in project costs requesting $700,000 in grant funds. The Vermont Agency of Transportation announced the 20^th year of funding to support projects on municipal roads that improve water quality and result in maintenance cost savings. The grant funds are provided by the Vermont Agency of Transportation in partnership with the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources. The Vermont Better Roads Program promotes the use of erosion control and maintenance techniques that save money while protecting and enhancing water quality around the State.

Vermont Business MagazineFour start-up companies that grew out of the research of University of Vermont faculty and graduate students, two technologies developed by UVM faculty that have commercial potential, and a start-up launched by staff at the UVM Medical Center will be on display at the invitation-only National Innovation Summit & Showcase, the world’s largest showcase of industry-vetted emerging-technologies ready for commercialization.

The event will be heldMay 14 through 17at the Gaylord Hotel and Conference Center in Washington, DC.

The seven invitees place UVM and the UVM Medical Center in the top 10 percent of all universities, federal labs, government research centers and companies submitting applications for the event.

Vermont Business Magazine National Grid in Waltham, MA, todayannounced a proposal to develop an innovative, new transmission project that wouldbring up to 1,200 megawatts of clean energy from Canada to the New Englandpower grid.To drive down costs,increase efficiency andminimize environmental impacts, the proposed GraniteState Power Link (GSPL) will be constructed almost entirely along existingtransmissioncorridors and will maximize use of existing infrastructure.

Vermont Business MagazineThe Laplatte River Marsh is recognized as one of the state’s highest quality wetlands. Located in the town of Shelburne at the end of the Laplatte River, which drains into Lake Champlain, this nearly 150-acre wetland and floodplain forest ecosystem is a haven to 60 species of birds, 20 mammals, and 50 species of reptiles, amphibians and fish. The area is unique in its size and characteristics within the Champlain Valley Basin, and provides vital natural water quality functions that help protect Lake Champlain.

Today, VNRC filed a petition to reclassify the LaPlatte River Marsh as a Class I Wetland, which would grant it the highest level of protection under Vermont law. Reclassifying the wetlands as Class I would ensure that no development could take place within the wetland’s boundaries and set up a 100 foot buffer around the wetland.

by John McClaughry In a recent talk before students at St Johnsbury Academy, Senator Bernie Sanders declared that although we are living in the wealthiest country in the history of the world, “the nation’s wealth is in the hands of a privileged few”, producing what he called an “unfair and grotesque level of income inequality.” This is a familiar theme for Sanders, who has attacked the unworthy rich in every campaign he has run since 1972.

Vermont Business MagazineThe Brattleboro Retreat received a Governor’s Excellence in Worksite Wellness award at the 2017 Worksite Wellness conference held on Thursday, March 23, at the Sheraton Hotel & Conference Center in Burlington.

The award was presented to several Vermont employers who in the past year have demonstrated excellence in worksite wellness and have played an integral part in Vermont's reputation as one of the healthiest states in the nation.

On hand to acknowledge the recipients was Vermont Governor Phil Scott, Health Commissioner Dr. Mark Levine, and Janet Franz, chair of the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. Governor Scott shared his appreciation for the employers who received awards based on their commitment to forward-thinking wellness policies that not only benefit employees but ultimately benefit the employer as well by creating a culture of wellbeing in the workplace.