Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Catamount Financial Advisors of Raymond James have partnered with the Vermont Catamounts in a multi-year partnership between the group and its hometown athletic program, as announced today by the University of Vermont Athletic Department and its multimedia rights partner, Learfield's Vermont Sports Properties.

Vermont Business Magazine PC Construction's Waterbury State Office Complex project has been selected by Engineering News-Record (ENR) to receive a 2016 Merit Award in the Government/Public category in the New England region. The award is one of the highest given by ENR and the only project recognized in this category. PC Construction completed the Waterbury State Office Complex in December 2015.

Vermont Business Magazine The following are Public Alerts submitted by Wastewater Treatment Facilities for prompt public awareness of untreated discharges and their locations. A new public alert has been reported by Rutland Wastewater Treatment Facility in Rutland. These alerts have been directly reported by Wastewater Treatment Facilities and may have not yet been reviewed by the State. Wastewater Treatment facilities are required to submit a public alert as soon as possible, but no longer than one hour from discovery of an untreated discharge from the wastewater treatment facility. This time requirement is extended to no longer than four hours if the operator does not have telephone or internet service at the location or they are working to control or stop the untreated discharge. Additional details regarding sewage overflows and incidents are required to be reported within 12 hours of discovery and available below.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont’s “Wheels for Warmth” program is ready to roll out heating assistance funds for this winter, thanks to its 12^th consecutive year of strong community support. Preliminary numbers for 2016 show the program collected a total of $52,000 for emergency fuel assistance programs, sold 2,250 safe tires, and recycled 2,500 donated, unusable tires. Two sale locations at Dubois Construction in Middlesex and Casella Construction in Mendon, along with 13 tire drop-off locations, made it possible for more Vermonters to take part in the program. People started lining up at both sale sites well before dawn on October 29 to find safe, affordable winter tires.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets (VAAFM) announces grants totaling $237,845 for seven projects to benefit Vermont fruit, vegetable, and added-value producers and increase consumer access to locally produced food. These grants, funded through the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service’s Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP), were awarded to four agricultural organizations to undertake a range of technology development, research, education, marketing, and program-building projects. The grants will leverage an additional $167,000 in matching funds.

USDA photo of beets being harvested.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Education’s Child Nutrition Program has received $32,000 from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to pay for travel costs for local school food service program staff associated with USDA’s Team Up for School Nutrition Success training. Training will take place in Concord, NH in December 2016 in collaboration with Child Nutrition Programs from the states of Maine and New Hampshire.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Peter Shumlin, AHS Secretary Hal Cohen, and DCF Commissioner Ken Schatz announced today 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, or just over half the anticipated average heating cost. 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 The Farm Store, a natural foods store with a focus on local, organic produce and artisans, has outgrown their fifth retail space in the last six years. Owner Jennifer Bishop has purchased the commercial property at 168 Main Street to serve as the permanent location for her store after years of leasing properties across town. Serving as a woman-owned and operated business, the store’s exponential growth comes as result of the demand for such niche offerings in the Smugglers’ Notch destination area.

The Farm Store owner Jennifer Bishop (left) and manager Jennifer Dirkmaat (right). Courtesy photo.

Vermont Business Magazine The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) provided capital support to 17 Vermont businesses transitioning to renewable or energy efficient technologies to cut costs and reduce energy consumption this year. Vermont farms and small businesses used more than $3 million in grants and loan guarantees through USDA Rural Development’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP).

“Energy costs remain one of the largest expenses for a rural small business,” said USDA Rural Development State Director Ted Brady. “By providing these businesses with capital, the USDA aims to incentivize small businesses and farms to invest in new technology that not only increases their profitability, but also reduces greenhouse gases, fossil fuel consumption, and increases our nation’s energy independence.” 

Vermont Business Magazine The following statement was provided by the Green Mountain Care Board on Monday to clarify the justification for the Board’s vote on Wednesday, October 26, 2016, to allow the Green Mountain Care Board Chair to sign the Vermont Accountable Care Organization All-Payer Model Agreement. The statement was signed by four of the five board members, with Allan Ramsay, MD, not signing. In conclusion, they say the All-Payer Model "provides an opportunity for Vermont to move forward towards a more efficient health care system that rewards quality care and positive health outcomes."

by Tom Pelham In times of trouble, from floods to recessions, citizens turn to their government for stability and help. They expect their leaders have the wisdom to keep the peoples’ government on solid footing such that when help is needed, help is available. Unlike the federal government, which can “print” money in times of crisis, state governments do not have such luxury.  Further, elected leaders can overly leverage state finances and the state’s economy such that when times of trouble arrive, rather than a helping hand, there are only empty pockets for those in need.  Over the past six year, Vermont’s leaders have taken us far down the empty pockets road.

Recessions are often caused by private sector “bubbles” that suddenly implode. A housing “bubble” dominated the last recession and before that it was a “tech” bubble. The great depression was attributed to a stock market “bubble”. “Happy days were here again” they said, until they weren’t.

Vermont Fish & Wildlife With youth deer weekend just around the corner, young hunters are encouraged to take to the field to hone their skills and to also help Fish & Wildlife biologists by reporting their deer at one of 24 biological reporting stations around the state. The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department is also offering youth hunting tips. And the preliminary count reveals hunters took 73 moose in this year's regulated hunting seasons.