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Vermont Business Magazine Lieutenant Governor Phil Scott, who is running for governor, and Senator Patrick Leahy both issued statements Saturday following the recently released video of presidential candidate Donald Trump.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont’s congressional delegation announced Friday that firefighters and EMS personnel throughout Vermont are receiving $1.9 million through 15 federal grants. The awards are part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant program, which helps fire departments and EMS agencies train and purchase critically needed equipment. This year’s grants will help buy a range of equipment, including turnout gear, breathing apparatus, hoses and nozzles, radios and cardiac monitors.   

“These federal grants will help our first-responders protect Vermonters. Our firefighters and EMS personnel play an invaluable role in our communities and we are pleased to be able to help provide the resources they need,” said Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) and Representative Peter Welch (D-Vermont).

Vermont Business Magazine The University of Vermont's Director of Athletics Jeff Schulman announced Thursday evening a set of sanctions assigned to the men's ice hockey team, and specific players in leadership positions including the team captains, in connection with a prohibited initiation activity focused on first-year team members. Immediately after an allegation first surfaced on Sept. 24 about the initiation activity, a Campus Security Authority turned the information over to Police Services for their investigation as per university policies, and in compliance with state law.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont joined a coalition of seven other states, led by New York, in a letter urging the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”) to adopt a strong national rule protecting consumers from the financial harms of payday, vehicle title, and other high-interest small dollar loans. In March 2015, the CFPB proposed a national rule that would require lenders to evaluate consumers’ ability to repay, among other requirements. Today’s letter responds to the CFPB’s proposed rule.

“Vermont has the strongest anti-predatory lending laws in the nation. We support a national rule that preserves Vermont’s and other states’ strict lending laws, while also providing new safeguards for consumers in states without existing protections,” said Attorney General Sorrell.

Vermont Business Magazine Weekly unemployment claims fell again last week to a very low level, as the trend that began in mid-August continues. Overall, claims have edged down for the last seven weeks. After running marginally higher in 2016 than in 2015 for most of the year, they are now below last year's numbers. For the week of October 1, 2016, there were 328 claims, down 25 from the previous week's total and 24 fewer than they were a year ago. By industry, claims were slightly lower from last week, except for small increase in Construction, as Services, as usual, reported the most claims with 48 percent of the total. 

Altogether 2,889 new and continuing claims were filed, a decrease of 102 from a week ago, and 138 fewer than a year ago.

Vermont Business Magazine At the Porter Medical Center Community Town Hall Meeting Friday morning, Porter Medical Center Board Chair Maureen McLaughlin announced that interim CEO Dr Fred Kniffin had been named chief executive officer. Kniffin assumed the interim position last winter after a very difficult time for the Middlebury hospital. Former CEO Lynn Boggs left in March of 2016, after being appointed in April 2015 and taking over in August. Her predecessor, James Daily, led the hospital for 31 years before his retirement in early 2015. The hospital also suffered through layoffs and financial difficulties. Between 2011 and 2015, it had lost $11 million. Kniffin was the chief medical officer before assuming the position of interim CEO.

by Mike Faher/The Commons, Brattleboro Not long after announcing their intent to shut down Vermont Yankee, Entergy executives agreed to hand over $10 million to boost economic development in Windham County and ease the pain of the nuclear plant’s closure. At this point, the state has distributed or committed about half of what Entergy will pay to support what’s been dubbed the Windham County Economic Development Program. And officials say they’re seeing “a very positive impact” in spite of the program’s slow start.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Peter Shumlin did the honors on Thursday at the official Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Blake Hill Preserves new production facility and retail store in Artisans Park in Windsor Vermont. The 6,000 square-foot facility was built by Springfield Regional Development Corporation with financing provided by the Vermont Economic Development Authority (VEDA).  The new plant dramatically increases the production capacity of Blake Hill and, for the first time, offers a direct retail experience for customers.

Vermont Business Magazine While Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders gave Hillary Clinton her biggest test for the Democratic Party nomination, voter turnout in the Green Mountain State is trending down. In 2010, Vermont had the 5th highest voter turnout at 55 percent. That number fell to 42.5 percent in 2014. The state still managed to rank in the top 10 thanks to high donations per capita relative to income.

Vermont Business Magazine On Wednesday, the Carson Davidson Revocable Trust Fund entrusted 204 acres of beloved property in Hubbardton to the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation as part of what will be Vermont’s newest state park. The Taconic Mountains Ramble park was the vision of Carson “Kit” Davidson, who passed away this past Thursday at the age of 92. Long before he built a Japanese garden in the shadow of Hubbardton’s Mt Zion, documentary filmmaker and author Kit Davidson lived with his wife Mickie, a children’s book author, in the heart of Greenwich Village.

“This was in the 1960s,” said Davidson, “back when real people could still afford that.”

Both he and Mickie loved the downtown’s creative energy, but they wanted a summer escape north of the city. The couple had a specific vision for their land, one not easily fulfilled until a fortuitous trip to Vermont in November of 1966 after five years of searching.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Retail Lumber Dealers Association (VRLDA) has named Joe Miles, president of r.k. MILES Inc, 2016 Lumber Person of the Year. The VRLDA Lumber Person of the Year recognizes an individual who has made significant contributions to the lumber and building materials industry as well as to his or her local community. 

Joe Miles (left) and Chuck Handley, NRLA Chairman, Burke’s Do It Best, take a moment to pose for a photo at the VRLDA’s 2016 Golf Outing and Annual Meeting held at Green Mountain National in Killington, VT on September 22. Courtesy photo.

Vermont Business Magazine The Working Lands Enterprise Board (WLEB) has announced the opening of this year's grant cycle and the availability of approximately $650,000 in grants funds for the 2017 program year. Funds support projects across forestry and agriculture that enhance Vermont's communities, economy and culture. Links to the requests for proposals and applications can be found online at http://workinglands.vermont.gov/apply/rfp. Applicant Information Sessions are scheduled for October 6th and 11th at various locations across the state.

Franklin County farm. VBM file photo.