Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Spoon and bowl manufacturers around the world are taking note of Ben & Jerry's newest innovation. Pint Slices, inspired by the very best part of the pint, give fans a way to enjoy euphoric flavors, chunks and swirls in a round single serving that's enrobed in a decadent chocolatey coating. It's a to-go order of ice cream goodness that's easy to take on the road, and hard to resist.

Vermont Business MagazineThe 2016 Stowe Wine & Food Classic again provided a celebration of good food, exquisite wines and refreshing craft beer, thanks to the hard work of Stowe Charities, Inc. The Stowe-based not-for-profit organization has donated $12,500, a portion of the proceeds raised by the event, to Copley Hospital to outfit two new Chemotherapy/Infusion Rooms that will be built later this year in the hospital’s Center for Outpatient Services. The gift enables the hospital to outfit each private room with a special reclining chair, Infusion Pump and IV pole, television, and comfortable seating for family and friends.

BioTek has been granted US patent 9,557,217 for imaging and microplate reading in one instrument.The intellectual property protected by this patent is used in BioTek’s award winning line of Cytation™ Cell Imaging Multi-Mode readers. Other patents are pending.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced that workers’ compensation insurance would cost less for most Vermont employers when new rates approved by the Department of Financial Regulation (DFR) become effective on April 1. This is Vermont’s first rate decrease in two years and represents the largest rate decrease in more than eight years.

Gov. Scott applauded the good news for Vermont workers, their employers and the overall Vermont job market. “I am pleased to announce this substantial decrease in workers’ compensation rates, which will directly lower the cost of doing business in Vermont,” said Gov. Scott. “These considerable savings will contribute to making Vermont a more affordable place to do business and creates more opportunity for businesses to thrive, grow their operations and support more workers.”

Vermont Business Magazine - The University of Vermont's Board of Trustees was presented with a new concept to house a new Multipurpose Event Center on campus. Plans were considered to move the Event Center off campus to either downtown Burlington or to So Burlington's new downtown location.

According to a press release submitted by UVM's communications office, the need to upgrade and expand our facilities to better accommodate UVM’s health, fitness, wellness, academic, cultural, social, athletic, events, and related programs has been discussed for years.

In 2007, the UVM Board appointed its own Campus Life Task Force to conduct a detailed assessment of what is needed.

Contribution Supports VT Small Businesses with Financial Consulting & Training

The Vermont Community Loan Fund (VCLF) has been awarded a $5,000 contribution from Citizens Bank in support of VCLF’s Microlending Technical Assistance Program.

Vermont Business Magazine United States Attorney Eric Miller has announced his resignation, effectiveFebruary 10, 2017. In 2015, Miller was appointed to his position by President Barack Obama on the recommendation of Senator Patrick Leahy and was confirmed unanimously by the United States Senate. Since then, he has led the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont, which has 45 employees, including 20 attorneys, who enforce all federal criminal and civil laws in the state.

Vermont Business Magazine -Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) joined Senate Select Committee On Intelligence Vice Chairman Mark R. Warner (D-Va.)Thursdayin introducing legislation that will clarify the permanent membership of the National Security Council (NSC). The introduction follows the unprecedented reorganization of the NSC by President Trump, which diminished the permanent roles of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Director of National Intelligence and extended NSC membership to Steve Bannon, a top campaign and political advisor.

Vermont Business Magazine Weekly unemployment claims have been edging down the last four weeks and are running slightly lower than last year. The holidays produce wild swings in these numbers, as retailers, especially, hire then lay off workers in short order. But that dynamic has played itself out. By industry, Construction reported the most claims last week at 37 percent of all claims, and were slightly lower in actual number than the previous week. In an average week, Services usually record the most claims.

For the week of January 28, 2017, there were 575 claims, down 36 from the previous week's total and 60 fewer than than they were a year ago. Year-to-year claims have been lower the last several weeks.

Vermont Business Magazine As part of the Vision 2020 strategic plan that the Bennington Area Chamber of Commerce unveiled last week at their Annual Dinner, the Chamber has launched one of their main promises, a new website. “This new website is a complete overhaul of the former website,” said Matt Harrington, executive director at the Chamber. “We modeled this off of many modern and relevant websites that we’ve been admiring for some time now. The important part of any website these days is the ability to combine beautiful design and strategic function. The visitors have to be wowed by the imagery and energy of the website, while still being able to navigate and find the answers they’re looking for. I think this website is a step in the right direction.”

Vermont Business MagazineThe Vermont Manufacturing Extension Center (VMEC) has announced a new 3-day innovation fundamentals course that teaches you how to Work Smarter RIGHT NOW - no matter your skill, title or experience. This training is designed to ignite innovation within the people, projects, and cultures of businesses and organizations. Anyone who wants to learn how to create, pitch, test and implement new ideas for products, services, customers and markets, processes, business models, and systems - faster and smarter - should attend. The Innovation Engineering Quick Start course will be held February 27 through March 1, 2017 at GlobalFoundries in Essex Junction. The course will be taught by well-known international innovation expert and entrepreneur, Doug Hall, Founder and CEO of Eureka!Ranch in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Vermont Business Magazine About 56 Vermont employers, representing nearly 20,000 employees from across the state, gathered at the Capital Plaza Hotel yesterday for the launch of Vermont’s Early Childhood Business Council. The event, which included remarks by Governor Phil Scott, was emceed by Emerson Lynn, editor and co-publisher of the St. Albans Messenger, and featured presentations by business leaders who believe that high-quality, affordable child care is an economic driver.