Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Flu season is fast approaching and Mt Ascutney Hospital and Health Center (MAHHC) has announced its annual schedule of free flu clinics. The Hospital has scheduled the free flu clinics for nine dates this fall. The first two will be held Saturday, September 24 from 9 am to noon at MAHHC in Windsor andTuesday, September 27 from 5 to 7 pm at Ottauquechee Health Center in Woodstock. The full schedule is available on the Hospital’s website.

by Mike Faher/The Commons Town officials in Grafton say they may not meet a developer-imposed deadline to vote on the controversial Stiles Brook Wind Project proposal. Developer Iberdrola Renewables has said it will abide by the results of a November vote from Windham and Grafton residents on whether the 28-turbine Stiles Brook plan — which would be the state’s largest turbine site — should proceed. While Windham has committed to a November 8 vote, Grafton Selectboard Chairman Ron Pilette says he doesn’t think residents will have all the information they need by Election Day. The vote could be postponed, officials have said, until later this year or early next year.

Vermont Business Magazine On Friday, September 16, the Town of Shelburne filed a Motion for Stay, Temporary Restraining Order, Relief from the Court’s June 29, 2016 Option, Order for and Expedited Discovery and Hearing, in United States District Court for the District of Vermont. In a statement released today, the Town said it is seeking a temporary restraining order (TRO) ordering Vermont Railway, Inc to cease developing property located at 2087 Shelburne Road. The town said the Court’s decision of June 29, 2016, was based on incomplete information and possibly purposefully false testimony by Barrett Trucking and Vermont Railway, Inc witnesses. The Court in June, without fully settling the issue, gave Vermont Railway the greenlight to continue construction on the salt shed and related facilities off Route 7.

Vermont Business Magazine Avangrid Renewables representatives, joined by Governor Shumlin and local elected officials, broke ground on Deerfield Wind today in Searsburg in Benninigton County. Once operational, Deerfield wind will produce enough energy each year to power around 14,000 average Vermont households with clean, renewable electricity.  Avangrid signed a 25-year power purchase agreement for the project with Green Mountain Power in 2015. The 30-megawatt (MW) project will include 15 Gamesa wind turbines and will be the first utility-scale project on US Forest land in the country. Avangrid Renewables was formerly known as Iberdrola Renewables.

Vermont Business Magazine Norwich University President Richard W Schneider announced Saturday that the university has raised more than $74 million towards its $100 million dollar fundraising goal. The announcement was made to over 500 alumni and donors at the “All Class Partridge Society Luncheon and Year of Leadership Launch,” a Homecoming event. This past weekend, Norwich University hosted several thousand alumni and guests during annual Homecoming festivities. This year kicks off the “Year of Leadership,” the theme for year three in the five-year, $100 million campaign called “Forging the Future.”

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont congressional delegation today announced that Vermont Student Assistance Corp. will receive $2.8 million over six years to encourage more Vermont students to pursue higher education. The federal education grant will serve over 1,000 students at 40 Vermont schools. In a visit to Burlington High School, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) said the Talent Search grant will ensure that more Vermonters earn a postsecondary degree or credential needed for their future careers.

Senator Leahy joins students at Burlinton High School Monday. Vermont will receive $2.8 million over six years to help more students continue their education after high school. VSAC photo.

Vermont Business Magazine Weekly unemployment claims increased last week but remained at a seasonal low level last week. Overall, claims have been been static and are running slightly higher in 2016 than in 2015. For the week of September 10, 2016, there were 379 claims, up 17 from the previous week's total and 33 more than they were a year ago. By industry, claims were up a small number for Services, while Manufacturing and Construction claims fell. Services, the usual leader, led the way with 53 percent of all claims. 

Altogether 3,210 new and continuing claims were filed, a decrease of 679 from a week ago, and 2 fewer than a year ago.

The Department processed 0 First Tier claims for benefits under Emergency Unemployment Compensation, 2008 (EUC08).

Vermont Business Magazine The Office of the Vermont State Auditor recently released the findings of an audit they conducted to determine: 1. How the Economic Services Division (ESD) of the Department for Children and Families prevents and detects benefits fraud; 2. If people who received improper payments were disqualified from getting further benefits; 3. Whether improper payments were recovered. State Auditor Doug Hoffer reported that the DCF substantially investigated alleged beneficiary fraud on two of the programs, but not all, and improper payments were not effectively collected. Only 3SquaresVT disqualified fraudulent recipients for a period of time. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Supreme Court has reinstated a finding by the Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation that Plum Creek over-harvested trees in violation of its forest management plan. The Attorney General praised the Court’s opinion, which recognized the Department’s central role in setting standards for acceptable forest management practices for landowners who seek the tax benefits of the Current Use Program. 

by Mike Smith Last weekend was the 15th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Almost 3,000 people were killed and over 6,000 injured in these attacks. It was the single deadliest terror attack in history. Life in America changed for all of us after 9/11. We could no longer ignore or be oblivious to events in other parts of the world; nor could we feel completely protected from them, even here at home. As a country, we refocused with vigor on our obligation to protect our citizens.

So why, given the lack of equivalence to the massive attack on our homeland, has there been so much attention on the terrorist attack at the diplomatic compound and CIA annex in Benghazi, Libya, that killed four Americans on Sept. 11, 2012?

Vermont Business Magazine How does a small, employee-owned company in Vermont score among the best companies in the world? Gardener’s Supply Company is among the top winners just revealed with the B the Change Media release of the Best for the World lists, the globe’s most outstanding socially and environmentally impactful businesses. The list spans 20 countries and 44 industries. Gardener’s Supply Company, a direct marketer and retailer, is honored as “Best for Workers,” for its innovative employee-owned model and other strong scores. The Best for the World honors are awarded only to those Certified B Corporations that score in the top 10% of the B Corp community on the B Impact Assessment, a comprehensive set of standards that rigorously measures each company’s impacts on its employees, its community, and the environment. B Corp Certification and the B Impact Assessment are both administered by the nonprofit organization B Lab.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont PBS is pleased to announce the introduction of a new video streaming service that provides member access to a rich library of public television programming. Called VTPBS Passport, the service is available via the web at VermontPBS.org, as well as on other digital platforms such as the PBS app, Roku, AppleTV and more. “We are delighted to unlock this online library of Vermont PBS programs, viewable on your schedule, not ours!” said Holly Groschner, President and CEO of Vermont PBS. “This means unprecedented access to the PBS treasure trove of quality storytelling, journalism and performance is available to all Vermont PBS supporters with monthly donations of just $5 or more. VTPBS Passport is another way for us to bring you Vermont PBS when and where you want it.”