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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. 

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Shumlin on Thursday signed a proclamation declaring November 13-19, 2016, as Vermont Apprenticeship Week, stating that “the advancement and well-being of the United States depends upon the continued development of workers skilled in their chosen fields”.  The proclamation coincides with “National Apprenticeship Week” activities sponsored by the Vermont and US Departments of Labor.  Since 2015, the Vermont Department of Labor has been awarded more than $3.9 million dollars in competitive Apprenticeship grants from the USDOL.

Vermont Business Magazine Norwich University honors all veterans with a Corps of Cadets Review Parade with university leadership as well as special remarks from Brigadier General Jeffrey A Farnsworth, Norwich Class of 1986. On Friday, November 11, the Norwich community gathers to honor brave men and women, both living and deceased, who have served our nation under arms, and to recognize their sacrifices in the defense of liberty and freedom around the world.

Vermont Business Magazine The City of Burlington has established CommunityStat, which will attempt to reverse the opioid crisis by approaching it as a public health challenge that requires collaboration and coordination of efforts among all the community stakeholders engaged in responding to it. Mayor Miro Weinberger made the announcement today, along side Burlington Police Department (BPD) Chief Brandon del Pozo, new BPD Opioid Policy Coordinator Jackie Corbally, CommunityStat Co-Chair Jane Helmstetter, Vermont Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Harry Chen, Howard Center Chief Client Services Officer Catherine Simonson, Chittenden County Opioid Alliance Project Director Cathy Aikman, and United Way of Northern Vermont Executive Director Martha Maksym.

Vermont Business Magazine Agriculture is at the core of Vermont’s economy, and it is an essential part of the environmental stewardship education at Sterling College. That commitment to sustainable agriculture has resulted in Sterling College and its Rian Fried Center for Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems being ranked as the top college farm in Vermont, and the eleventh college farm nationally, by OnlineCollegePlan.com.

The list was compiled in honor of National Farm to School Month in October, a month dedicated to spreading awareness and celebrating the efforts of the farms at participating schools. Other Vermont schools were well represented in the rankings, with Green Mountain College, Middlebury, and the University of Vermont also included.

Vermont Business Magazine City of Burlington voters on Tuesday passed the four ballot questions related to economic development in the city. Questions #1 and #2 was related to Sustainable Infrastructure Bonds necessary to implement the first five years of the City’s 10-Year Capital Plan. The plan addresses infrastructure improvements and funding to replace firetrucks. The passed by 76 percent and 88 percent respectively. The more controversial ballot questions are related to the $220 million redevelopment of Burlington Town Center, in particular to the increase in the building height requirement to 160 feet and for infrastructure improvements to the development area, which necessitates the establishment of a TIF (Tax Increment Financing) District for the development.

Vermont Business Magazine US Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) issued the following statement Wednesday after Donald Trump was elected president of the United States.