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Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (VBSR) today launched the Local First Vermont Mobile App today. Free to download onto mobile devices through the App Store and Google Play, the app will serve as a mobile version of the well-known The Buy Local Resource Guide and Coupon Book which is published annually by the group.

“We’ve been publishing the Buy Local Book for 7 years now,” said Wendy Wilson, manager of Local First Vermont. “People love using the book to support local businesses and save money, but at 250 pages, it’s not exactly convenient to carry around. This app gives people access the book’s 230+ coupons on their phone. We are thrilled finally give Vermonters an even more convenient way support local business owners and bolster Vermont’s economy.”

by Chris Graff Vermont Business Magazine Time for a change is the most powerful campaign theme. It helped to elect both Donald Trump and Phil Scott. Yet there is no comparison between the two winners. One was elected to blow things up while the other was elected to slow things down. Scott’s election fit a pattern now a deep part of Vermont’s history. For the past 54 years, without fail, when changing governors, Vermonters have replaced the governor of one party with one from the other.

Phil Scott on the campaign trail October 2016. VBM photo.

Periods of expansion follow periods of retrenchment. Republicans follow Democrats. Like clockwork. Since 1962.

Vermont Business Magazine School Hack Solutions, a Bristol-based education technology firm, has been awarded a $350,000 loan from the State of Vermont to add new jobs and help more schools – in Vermont and across the US – implement personalized learning for students. The funding was awarded by the Vermont Economic Development Agency as part of a competitive loan review through the Windham County Economic Development Program. 

Vermont Business Magazine For the sixth year, Norwich has been named one of the most military-friendly schools in the US. The Military Friendly Schools designation is awarded to the top colleges, universities, community colleges, and trade schools in the country that are doing the most to embrace military students and dedicate resources to ensure their success both in the classroom and after graduation.

Vermont Business Magazine A new working group has formed to advance Vermont’s Climate Economy. Founded by the Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD), the Vermont Climate Economy Action Team unites business and non-profit leaders in promoting economic growth in Vermont by leveraging the economic and business development opportunities that will flow from solving climate change challenges while creating jobs and boosting the prosperity of communities throughout the state. The group works on the premise that Vermont should be a uniquely attractive place to start, run, and invest in businesses that address climate change, and prosper doing so.

The Vermont Climate Economy Action Team is dedicated to advancing initiatives to expand distributed energy generation and efficiency in Vermont and cultivate climate economy entrepreneurs and startup businesses, and attracting youth and creative entrepreneurs to the state.

by Sena Meilleur You’ve probably seen a commercial on TV for Sovaldi, a breakthrough drug that can cure Hepatitis C. Without a doubt, this drug has and will change people’s lives for the better. But there’s a catch: it costs about $1,000 per pill, and a full course of treatment is three months. Yes, you did the math correctly: at one dose per day, that is close to $90,000. This is only one example of an explosion of exciting – and expensive – new drugs to come on the market in recent years. Cutting edge treatments for cancer, MS, and Hep C – among others – have propelled a new generation of pharmaceutical superstars into the headlines – and into your checkbook.

Vermont Business Magazine Through a grant provided by the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), the Rutland Regional Planning Commission (RRPC) is continuing its multi-pronged outreach work focused on improving water quality in this region to comply with the Vermont Clean Water Act (VCWA) or Act 64 which became law in 2015. The goal of the outreach is to address sources of water pollution in the Rutland Region which include local roads, developed lands and farms.  

Vermont Business Magazine Black Friday is right around the corner and Americans will be rushing to the registers with their credit cards. To help show where people have been most responsible with their cards, financial technology company SmartAsset has released their second annual study on places with the least credit card debt. According to the research, Chittenden County residents are among the most responsible with their plastic, sporting one of the lowest per capita credit card debts (compared to income and net wealth) in Vermont. In Vermont, credit card debt is higher in total than the national average. But because Vermont has higher than average wealth, the credit card debt is lower as a percentage of wealth and even than income in some counties.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont's Rising Stars were honored Thursday evening at the DoubleTree in South Burlington with both Governor Shumlin and Governor-elect Scott in attendance. The Rising Stars program was established by Vermont Business Magazine in 2010 to highlight the accomplishments and contributions made by our youth in Vermont. They were selected by the judges listed below for their commitment to business growth, professional excellence and involvement in their communities.

We are thrilled by the response to this initiative to recognize these up-and-coming leaders.  In each of the five years we have seen a significant increase in nominations. Each year with the increase in nominations it makes it more difficult for the judges to pare it down to only 40. 

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Peter Shumlin, AHS Secretary Hal Cohen, and DCF Commissioner Ken Schatz have announced that the average Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) benefit will increase for most Vermont households this year. Last winter the average benefit was $699; That will rise to $865 this year. Vermont anticipates receiving approximately $18.9 million in federal funds for this year's LIHEAP program. These funds will help over 21,500 low-income Vermont households to heat their homes this winter by paying a portion of their home heating bills. "Most Vermonters will get a higher fuel benefit this year because fuel prices have remained steady while caseloads have been going down," said AHS Secretary Hal Cohen.

Vermont Business Magazine Weekly unemployment claims rose last week. Claims have been rising this fall with only a brief respite, while running even year-to-year. Among industrial sectors, Manufacturing and Construction claims were both up for the week. Looking ahead, the holidays typically produce wild swings in unemployment claims, because of an increase in hiring in the Service sector, from retail to delivery-related businesses, and then an abrupt round of layoffs after Christmas.

For the week of November 5, 2016, there were 733 claims, up 189 from the previous week's total and 29 more than than they were a year ago.

Altogether 3,790 new and continuing claims were filed, an increase of 294 from a week ago, but 183 fewer than a year ago.

Vermont Business Magazine To commemorate their 25^th Anniversary, Ledyard National Bank celebrated its community by honoring five local non-profit organizations. The five non-profits as chosen by the Ledyard employees were The Family Place (Norwich and Hartford, Vermont), The Good Neighbor Health Clinics, The Haven, Lake Sunapee Region VNA & Hospice, and WISE of the Upper Valley. Each organization participated in a contest by creating a 2 minute video that incorporated Ledyard’s tagline, ”Plan well. Live well” and how that tagline fits into their charitable initiatives. Each video was posted on Ledyard’s Facebook page and was voted on by the community for a four week period from October 3^rd through October 27^th.