Current News
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University of Vermont The University of Vermont, as an educational institution, vigorously supports freedom of inquiry and expression within the academic community and promotes a welcoming, safe and inclusive environment for all members of our community. With these twin goals in mind, the flag was displayed in accordance with University established procedures. First Amendment freedoms protect speech and ideas, including controversial ideas, differing perspectives, and contentious viewpoints.
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Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Secretary of State Jim Condos has announced Vermont's Elections Division has been ranked as the nation's most accessible. This is the second year in a row Vermont has been ranked #1 in the State Election Agency Report produced by Ballotpedia, a nonpartisan online encyclopedia of American politics and elections. The annual report measures state election agencies in terms of their ease of access, quality of information, and response speed. Vermont topped the list and was awarded a total of 49 out of 50 possible points, the highest of any state.
View the full report HERE.
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Vermont Business Magazine The Brattleboro Retreat has appointed two new trustees, Kate O’Connor and Adam Grinold, who officially joined the hospital’s board of directors on Friday, September 23. Brattleboro resident Kate O’Connor currently serves as the executive director of the Brattleboro Area Chamber of Commerce and the vice chair of the Brattleboro Select Board. She began her career in public service as an aide to former Vermont Gov. Madeleine Kunin. For fourteen years she was a top policy and political advisor to Howard Dean during his tenure as Vermont governor and as a candidate for US President.
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by John McClaughry Four months from now the 2017 legislature will hear the new Governor’s budget message for FY 2017. Each fiscal year over the past five the legislature has been presented with an opening General Fund deficit projection. Each year, by hook and crook (including a host of tax increases and aggressive fund robbing) the governor and legislature have managed to produce an arguably balanced budget.
To Shumlin’s credit, he did not sign laws to increase income tax rates or sales tax rates. He did, however, sign laws that increased the residential school property tax rate no less than five times, and also laws that raised taxes on hospitals, nursing homes, home health agencies, insurance claims, use value property transfer, and liquor and cigarette sales.
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Vermont Business Magazine A rainbow-colored crosswalk connecting the Champlain College campus will be installed on South Willard Street on Wednesday, Sept. 28 to both serve as a symbol of inclusiveness and to make the busy crosswalk safer for students and neighbors. Champlain President Donald J Laackman will be on hand for some brief remarks and to kick off the painting of the crosswalk with students.
Rainbow crosswalk at Champlain College with Mayor Weinberger and President Laackman, right.
The bright multi-colored crosswalk will address the need to create a more visible signal to motorists traveling on South Willard Street since it is one of the busiest crossings on campus
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Vermont Business Magazine The Department of Public Service today released a public review draft of the energy planning determination standards and recommendations called for in Act 174, the Energy Development Improvement Act. The Department is due to issue final standards and recommendations by November 1. The public is encouraged to review and comment on the draft standards and recommendations through October 20. In addition, the Department will host a public hearing to present the draft standards and gather feedback in Randolph on October 11. Along with the expected expansion of solar and biogas for energy, the plan encourages expansion of in-state wind energy and conversion of fossil fuel heating systems to wood.
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Vermont Business Magazine Surrounded by employees at the Twincraft Skincare’s liquids manufacturing facility today in Essex Junction, Sue Minter unveiled more details on her InnovateVT economic plan. InnovateVT focuses on growing four key sectors of the Vermont economy: clean energy and efficiency, farm and forest production, the tech industry, and next generation manufacturing. Minter’s announcement today focused on growing next generation manufacturing.
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Vermont Business Magazine Community Capital of Vermont (CCVT), a statewide, nonprofit community-based lending organization that provides loans to underserved businesspeople and new entrepreneurs, has named Carol Lighthall as its incoming executive director. Karen Winchell, President of the CCVT Board of Directors, said that Lighthall was selected for her focus on entrepreneurs and their needs, ability to interpret and share information, leadership skills, and her personable, inclusive, and articulate nature.
Carol Lighthall, Executive Director, Community Capital of Vermont
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Vermont Business Magazine today announced the winners of its Rising Stars recognition award. The list is comprised of 40 winners under the age of 40. Award recipients were selected by a panel of judges for their commitment to business growth, professional excellence and involvement in their communities. Vermont Business Magazine will honor Vermont's most accomplished young leaders at the Rising Stars dinner on November 10th. The dinner will be held at the DoubleTree Hotel in South Burlington. The honorees will also be featured in the November issue of Vermont Business Magazine.
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by Mike Smith “It is wrong and immoral to seek to escape the consequences of one’s acts,” said Mahatma Gandhi, yet that is precisely what Wells Fargo’s chairman and chief executive officer John Stumpf attempted to do when he testified before Congress last week. Wells Fargo employees enrolled as many as two million unsuspecting customers into bank products without their permission. In some cases customers were charged fees. All of this was done, of course, to meet the quota the bank had established for cross-selling different financial products.
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Vermont Business Magazine At the 70th anniversary celebration of his family business, DuBois Construction in Middlesex, Phil Scott announced his plan for a full and complete separation from the 70-year-old, central Vermont construction company he has co-owned and run for more than 30 years, if he is elected governor.
"Obviously, this was not an easy decision to make, nor do I take it lightly," Scott told his employees and supporters just after noon on Saturday. "Should the people of our state hire me for this important job, I will sell my portion of the company."
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Vermont Business Magazine The 158th Fighter Wing, Vermont Air National Guard (VTANG), announced late Saturday night that it has accepted a $39.8 million contract bid from Kubricky Construction Corp of Wilton, NY, on a major construction project for apron replacement and taxiway upgrade at the Air National Guard Base located at the Burlington International Airport. Kubricky Construction Corp. has been a division of the DA Collins Companies, since 1983. DA Collins is a full-service civil construction group that provides a wide range of services to clients in the public and private sectors. With major industry projects dating back to 1948.
Construction is expected to begin this fall with a two-year completion date to repair the majority of the airfield pavement surfaces, including a primary parking apron and taxiways Delta and Foxtrot.