Current News

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.

Vermont Business Magazine SunCommon, a Waterbury Center-based solar installer, has joined California'sSunpreme Channel Network — a strategic partnership program designed to deliver the most advanced solar products and expertise to residential, carports and commercial clients through leading solar installers. Sunpreme carefully selects its strategic channel partners, awarding the distinction only to installers that consistently put customers first with high quality solutions.

Vermont Business Magazine Monday morning at Switchback Brewing Company’s annual meeting, owner and Brewmaster, Bill Cherry, announced to the brewery’s 30 employees that they had become partners in ownership of the 14-year-old company. Cherry, who will remain as Brewmaster and President of the Burlington beer maker, said about the transition, “I wanted Switchback to be Vermont-owned forever."

Vermont Business Magazine Today, Governor Phil Scott and Human Services Secretary Al Gobeille announced a plan that would improve health care outcomes for Medicaid patients while ultimately lowering costs. The two were joined by several doctors and health care providers, detailed the State’s Medicaid agreement with OneCare Vermont, representing a coalition of hospitals, independent practices, and other health providers within the framework of a Accountable Care Organization (ACO) financial model.The agreement between DVHA and OneCare is for nearly 30,000 attributed Medicaid patients and nearly 2,000 unique health care providers. The pilot will run for one full year, with the total cost estimated to be $93 million in state and federally-matched funds.

Vermont Business Magazine MILK MONEY L3C, an equity crowdfunding portal for Vermonters, has announcedits sixth Invest Local campaign: KINGDOM FIBER. Vermonters will have the opportunity to learn more about and invest in this broadband company via the Milk Money platform. Milk Money offers the opportunity for true “impact investing” since a dollar invested in a local business generates potential financial return as well as tangible social return on investment. By investing in a local business such as Kingdom Fiber, you will circulate wealth and build a stronger community that fosters new relationships between businesses and community members. The Milk Money platform serves as a meeting place for Vermonters to discover local investment opportunities such as Kingdom Fiber.