Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Douglas Fisher, Chairman of the Vermont Federal Credit Union Board of Directors, announced today thatJean Giardhas been named President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Vermont Federal Credit Union. Giardjoined Vermont Federal Credit Union as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) in April of 2006 and has been an integral part of the senior management team for over ten years. During that time, she helped the Credit Union grow from a $160 million financial institution to its current $477 million in assets.

Jean Giard, President and Chief Executive Officer of Vermont Federal Credit Union

Vermont Business Magazine After 32 years of faithful service, Jerry Cross, President and CEO of One Credit Union has announced his intent to retire at the end of February. When Jerry joined Bryant Credit Union in 1985, it was a fledgling outfit with just $1.8 million in assets, 1,400 members, and only the most basic checking, savings and loan products. Over the years, Jerry led the expansion to a full service suite of savings and lending solutions, including mortgages, business lending, along with the latest in e-channel technology.

Under Cross’s leadership, One CU is now approaching $150 million in assets, boasting over 16,000 members, with six branches across Vermont and NH, and proudly serving members with leading edge technologies like Mobile Banking, and EMV chip card technology to better protect cardholders from fraud, and soon Mobile Payments (Apple Pay, Samsung Pay and Android Pay) too.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott, in collaboration with Attorney General TJ Donovan, today introduced legislation that helps safeguard the constitutional rights of Vermonters, ensures the State of Vermont takes a unified position when dealing with the federal government, and supports law enforcement in its continued compliance with federal law.

Joined by Attorney General TJ Donovan, Senate Pro Tem Tim Ashe, House Speaker Mitzi Johnson, Lieutenant Governor David Zuckerman, Senator Dick Sears, co-sponsors of the legislation, and members of the Governor’s Civil Rights and Criminal Justice Cabinet, Scott introduced legislation to address concerns over federal government overreach, including its stated policy to request state and local law enforcement agencies perform immigration enforcement functions under the direction and supervision of the Federal Department of Homeland Security, and at the state’s expense.

Vermont Business Magazine More than 50 Vermont attorneys have signed a letter urging the Legislature to “reform our state’s outdated and unjust policies towards cannabis by passing a bill to legalize and regulate its cultivation and sale for adult use in 2017.” The letter was presented to lawmakers at the House Judiciary Committee hearing on H170 Thursday morning. H170 is a bipartisan proposal to eliminate penalties for possession and cultivation of personal amounts of marijuana by adults 21 and older. It also reduces penalties for possession and cultivation of larger amounts of marijuana.

Vermont Business Magazine Yesterday, Attorney General Donovan and 16 other Attorneys General filed an amicus brief in support of the Commonwealth of Virginia’s lawsuit against the Trump Administration’s executive order on immigration. This follows an amicus brief filed earlier this week with the USCourt of Appeals for the 9th Circuit, supporting the Washington State lawsuit against the executive order. The amicus brief is led by the Attorneys General from New York, Illinois, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania, and also signed by the Attorneys General from Vermont, California, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Delaware, Iowa, Maryland, Maine, North Carolina, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington.

Vermont Business MagazineThe USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Vermont is encouraging producers to submit applications for financial and technical assistance through theEnvironmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).While EQIP is offered through a continuous signup, NRCS makes periodic funding selections.The last application cut-off date for farmstead practices to be funded in 2017 isFebruary 17.

Vermont Business Magazine The Public Service Board will hold three public hearings to give citizens an opportunity to provide feedback about the proposed merger between FairPoint Communications and Consolidated Communications. The first hearing is set for February 15th at 6:30 in Montpelier at Union Elementary School. Two additional hearings will take place; the second hearing is scheduled for February 21st at 6:30 at the St. Johnsbury Academy in St. Johnsbury and the third will be March 2^nd at 6:30 at the Bennington Fire Facility in Bennington.

The Public Service Department encourages Vermonters to provide input into the proposed merger between FairPoint Communications and Consolidated Communications.

Vermont Business Magazine Farmers, producers, and localvores from across Vermont converged on Wednesday, February 1 for the 6^th annual Consumer Night at the Vermont Farm Show in Essex Junction. Held on the second night of the Farm Show, Consumer Night celebrates the diversity of Vermont agriculture with the Winter Buy Local Market and Capital Cook-Off.

Vermont Business Magazine Renewable NRG Systems (RNRG) has added two fixed solar arrays to its LEED Gold-certified headquarters in Hinesburg, allowing the company to meet all of its electricity needs with on-site, renewable energy. The upgrade coincides with the 35th anniversary of RNRG, which has been designing and manufacturing purpose-built products for the wind and solar sectors since the renewables industry was in its infancy.

Vermont Business MagazineSince its inception in 2012, the Working Lands Enterprise Initiative (WLEI) has invested over $3.8 million dollars in 129 projects impacting every county of the state, leveraging $7.4 million in additional funds. Over the last 5 years, working lands grantees have created428 new full-time jobsand generated$18.1 million in new sales.Additionally, 98 percent of Working Lands grantees report expanding into new markets, 45% report enhanced environmental stewardship, and 30 percent report increased employee wages as a result of their grant.

Vermont Business MagazineThe Vermont Agency of Natural Resources Secretary Julie Moore announced today that she will host a listening tour this February and March to hear directly from “our customers” about their experiences interacting with the Agency. The Secretary invites business owners, planners, real estate agents and others with regular business before the Agency to attend one of five public forums being hosted across the state at regional economic development commissions.

“The Governor charged me with protecting and sustaining the health and beauty of Vermont’s forests, waters, and wildlife in part because it’s one of our strongest economic assets,” says Agency Secretary Julie Moore. “The Agency has been a leader in working to continuously improve programs and processes, but we recognize that we can always do better. I invite all Vermonters with regular business before the Agency to come and share your experiences.”

Vermont Business MagazineGreen Mountain College, the nation's number-one college for sustainability-based education, reminds high school seniors that the essay deadline for its newFirst in Sustainability Scholarship Awardis right around the corner. All essays must be submitted online and received byFebruary 15, 2017by11:59 pm Pacific time. For students who are passionate about pursuing careers in social, economic and/or environmental sustainability, this is an opportunity to take full advantage ofGreen Mountain College'spremier curriculum.