Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The US Department of Labor recently announced $140 million in grant awards through the end of Program Year 2016 ($337 million annually for an additional 3 years) in job training grants to 19 organizations nationwide, including a $10.2 million annual award to Vermont Associates for Training and Development, Inc, a non-profit headquartered in St. Albans. The grant, funded through the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), provides critical job training and related services to low-income workers age 55+.

Vermont Associates continues to administer the SCSEP in Vermont, with locations in Bennington, Brattleboro, Burlington, Montpelier, Rutland, St. Johnsbury, and St. Albans. In addition, as part of the new grant, Vermont Associates will administer the SCSEP in Maine, and in large parts of New York and Pennsylvania, where they will be doing business as Associates for Training & Development.

by Timothy McQuiston Vermont Business Magazine Merchants Bancshares (NASDAQ: MBVT), the holding company for Vermont's largest, locally based bank, will be acquired next year by Community Bank System, Inc, (NYSE: CBU) based near Syracuse, NY. Merchants Bank, based in South Burlington, is a $1.9 billion financial institution, while Community Bank is $8.7 billion. Once the transaction is completed, Merchants will be re-branded under the Community Bank NA name. The banking companies jointly announced Monday that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Community Bank System will acquire Merchants Bancshares, parent company of Merchants Bank, in a cash and stock transaction for total consideration valued at approximately $304 million.

Vermont Business Magazine Green Mountain Power’s Stafford Hill Solar Farm in Rutland, one of the nation’s first micro-grids powered solely by solar and battery back-up, is now the first in the region to use battery storage to reduce peak power usage, benefiting customers by saving $200,000 in one hour. Stafford Hill is also the first and only project currently providing fast-acting power when the grid needs it as renewable energy fluctuates during the day and night. This is another way the project lowers costs for customers. This new market in New England is key to helping the grid provide reliable power as the region uses more renewable energy.

Vermont Business Magazine Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont (BCBSVT) is pleased to announce its competitively priced, highest-ranking Medicare Part D prescription drug plan options for 2017. BCBSVT also reminds Vermonters of the open enrollment period, which runs from October 15 to December 7, 2016 with enrollment effective on January 1, 2017. This is the time when those eligible may join a Part D plan or switch plans or insurance carriers. Medicare prescription drug coverage (Part D) is available to anyone who is entitled to Medicare Part A and/or enrolled in Part B. Part D adds drug coverage to original Medicare and helps to lower prescription drug costs and protect from higher costs in the future. 

by John McClaughry For years, indeed decades, Vermont’s public school Establishment has regularly found ways to put pressure on the non-sectarian independent schools that receive tuition for pupils from the 90 “tuition towns”. Why? Many within the Establishment believe that public money ought to be spent only on the (unionized) public schools, regardless of their value to the pupils. Some of them believe that parents are underqualified to make choices about their child’s education. Some of them dislike having competition.

Vermont Business Magazine The University of Vermont (UVM) Health Network has become the newest owner to join Greenhealth Exchange (GX) -- a purchasing cooperative that makes it easy to source products and services used in health care settings that are good for people, the planet and the bottom line. The UVM Health Network has been acknowledged over the years with awards from leading national organizations for its sustained efforts to reduce energy consumption, waste stream and carbon footprint, and to increase the use of healthy, locally produced foods.

Vermont Business Magazine Brattleboro Memorial Hospital President and CEO Steven R Gordon has announced changes within the leadership of the hospital’s Information Services Department, including the promotion of Steven P Cummings from Chief Implementation Officer to Vice President for Information and Support Services and Jonathan Farina from Director of Information Services to Chief Compliance and Security Officer.

Steven P Cummings. BMH photo.

Vermont Business Magazine University of Vermont President Tom Sullivan and UVM Foundation Chairman of the Board John A Hilton, Jr announced today that UVM Foundation President and CEO Rich Bundy will be leaving the UVM Foundation at the end of 2016 to become vice president for development and alumni relations at his alma mater, the Pennsylvania State University. To ensure a smooth transition, he will continue in this role through December. The UVM Foundation will conduct a robust national search to fill this important leadership position.

UVM Foundation President and CEO Rich Bundy. VBM photo.

Vermont Business Magazine Devonwood Investors LLC, owner and developer of the Burlington Town Center, unveiled last week updated project sketch plans for the Burlington Town Center redevelopment project that respond to several suggestions received from the public and City’s Conservation Board, Design Advisory Board, and Development Review Board over the summer. The updated plans also meet all requirements of the Downtown Mixed-Use Core Overlay zoning amendments passed by the Burlington City Council on September 29, 2016.

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General Bill Sorrell reminds Vermonters that the working group on law enforcement–community interaction will be holding its final public forum on Tuesday evening. Sorrell convened the working group to gather perspectives on the role that implicit bias has played in interactions between the community and law enforcement. The goal of gathering this feedback is to inform ongoing efforts to strengthen law enforcement training and enhance community trust in law enforcement in Vermont.

The working group will join the Attorney General at the Bennington Firehouse Meeting Room to hear from the public:

Tuesday, October 25, 2016 – 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Bennington Firehouse Meeting Room
130 River Street
Bennington, VT

Vermont Business Magazine Delmolino & Sons, Inc. an out-of-state commercial waste hauler, is now required to pay a penalty of $8,375 after operating for a year in Vermont without a solid waste transporter permit. The Agency of Natural Resources announced today the issuance of a Final Order against Delmolino & Sons, Inc for commercially hauling solid waste in Vermont without a permit. Hauling permits are required for anyone intending to commercially transport trash, recyclables, food waste, septage or sewage, or regulated quantities of hazardous waste materials within the state. ANR stated that the permitting process is an important tool for maintaining public health and safety because it holds waste transporters accountable for practicing safe and environmentally sound transportation methods, and delivering waste materials to appropriate destinations.

Vermont Business Magazine Proctor-based Carris Reels has announced the purchase of the Texas firm Lone Star Reel from Mike Pawlish and Larry Beal. Lone Star Reel is a manufacturer of plywood reels and nailed wood reels, serving wire and cable customers throughout the Southern United States for approximately 20 years. Pawlish and Beal started the company in McKinney, Texas, in 1997, and expanded to Bonham, Texas, five years later. Today nailed wood reels are produced in the Bonham plant and plywood reels from McKinney. The two former owners will remain actively engaged in the company.

Mike Pawlish, Dave Ferraro and Larry Beal. Courtesy photo.