Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) is among ten senators who this week introduced legislation to reform the appeals process for veterans benefits. Because of redundancies and inefficiencies in the current process, most veterans wait years for decisions on their appeals.  The new bill (the Department of Veterans Affairs Appeals Modernization Act) would replace the current appeals process – which today stands at more than 450,000 appeals awaiting decisions – with one that Leahy and the other senators said is simple, fair and transparent. The bill is sponsored by Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and cosponsored by Leahy and Sens. Jon Tester (D-MT), Angus King (I-ME), Tom Udall (D-NM), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Robert P. Casey, Jr. (D-PA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Patty Murray (D-WA).

Vermont Business Magazine Fundraising for the 11^th Annual Kelly Brush Ride powered by VBT Bicycling and Walking Vacations surpassed $400,000. The Saturday ride supported the Kelly Brush Foundation’s mission to empower those living with paralysis through sport and recreation and to improve ski racing safety. More than 700 cyclists and 30 handcyclists, along with more than 100 volunteers participated in the event that was held on September 10 in Middlebury. The total amount raised was $425,000.

Vermont Business Magazine On August 26, EcoSolutions, a Vermont-based engineering design/build firm specializing in the application of innovative ecological restoration technologies and use of low impact designs (LID) for stormwater and wastewater projects, deployed a two-part pilot project to explore the feasibility and performance of a new approach in mitigating the impact of excess phosphorus runoff to waterbodies such as Lake Champlain. Phosphorus is one of the primary causes of algae blooms. While many algae blooms are not toxic, some kinds of blue-green algae produce natural toxins that can be released when the algae die. This summer has seen numerous beach closures as a precaution to swimmers.

Vermont Business Magazine  If you were anywhere near the Winooski River in Montpelier or Middlesex this past Saturday, you probably saw dozens of people wading through the water carrying buckets and pushing canoes full of tires. There were kids as young as six, employees from local businesses, and even an entire AmeriCorps crew from the NCCC Atlantic Region out of Baltimore. It may have looked like an odd scene, but the facts of the matter—and the numbers—are common for Friends of the Winooski River volunteers. 

This year, 60 hardy citizens risked soggy boots and gloves to remove over 100 tires and several truck loads of junk metal and trash (the final weight is still pending) in a three hour period and, shockingly, from mostly the same stretches of river that are cleaned up every year. These numbers are up from last year when volunteers picked up trash from four sites and pulled 52 tires out of the river. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources and the Vermont Foodbank reported this week a 40 percent increase in food donations in 2016, topping the 25-30 percent increase seen in 2015. This announcement comes during September’s Hunger Action Month. It confirms healthier, fresher foods like fruits, vegetables and frozen meat, are making their way into refrigerators and onto plates of Vermonters in need.

“The energy around these new partnerships is contagious. Vermont’s Universal Recycling Law is making lives better, improving nutrition and choice at food shelves, and reducing waste at landfills,” said Deb Markowitz, Secretary of the Agency of Natural Resources.

Vermont Business Magazine Black plastic doesn’t belong in your recycling bin. Black plastic is pretty easy to identify. It’s plastic, and it’s black. And in Chittenden County, it doesn’t belong in your recycling bin. We recommend reusing black plastic containers to store leftovers, or in a craft project. But if you can’t invent another use for them, black plastic goes in the trash. If you’re wondering why, keep reading. SEE RECYCLING FLYER BELOW.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Peter Shumlin and Transportation Secretary Chris Cole  today announced just over $4 million in transit grants to Green Mountain Transit and the Ascutney, Windsor and St Johnsbury regions.  A $3.9  million Federal Transit Administration competitive grant was awarded to the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) for purchasing buses for Green Mountain Transit (formerly known as CCTA), the largest transit provider in Vermont.  This critical funding will help with purchasing approximately 10 large vehicles to replace nearly 10 percent of their aging fleet. This will allow GMT to continue to provide Vermonters with over 3 million trips per year to jobs, schools, shopping, medical facilities, recreation and personal business. 

Vermont Business Magazine Less than a week after Representative Peter Welch (D-VT) and Representative Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) called on House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz to hold a hearing on recent prescription drug price hikes, the chairman announced a hearing to investigate the cause of and potential solutions to prevent skyrocketing drug prices.

Vermont Business Magazine Citing Sue Minter’s experience and commitment to fighting for the middle class, Vermont State Employees’ Association (VSEA) endorsed Minter this past weekend as members gathered for the union’s 72nd annual meeting in Killington. VSEA is the union covering most of state government's workforce. If elected governor, Minter would be the ultimate boss of all state employees, including over 5,000 in the union, and her administration would negotiate future contracts with the union under collective bargaining.

Saint Michael’s College Saint Michael’s College in Colchester released the following statement early this afternoon: "It is with great sadness that Saint Michael's College communicates the tragic news of the death of one of its students. Jeremiah Collins, from Bridgewater, Massachusetts, a member of the Class of 2017 and a business major, was found dead early this morning in the Gilbrook Natural Area near the College campus. Winooski police responded and the cause of death is under investigation, but no foul play is suspected. 

"The student’s family has been notified by police and members of the Student Life staff have spoken to them as well. College staff members met with Jerry’s roommates and his immediate faculty.

by Timothy McQuiston Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont state auditor's latest investigation was made public today on how much fraud plagued the Vermont Department for Children and Families. 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. The DCF budget in FY 2015 was $101.2 million (the fraud amount was $1.8 million on 1,036 improper payment claims over 40 months).

The auditor also questioned how hard the DCF was trying to collect improper payments. For instance, DCF could work with the Tax Department to garnish income tax refunds.

Vermont Business Magazine Green Mountain Power and SunCommon today announced a partnership that will allow customers to store their solar power for security during a power outage. The first of its kind program in Vermont partners a utility with a solar company to offer home storage that both strengthens the grid and allows homes to power from solar during outages. Through the program, Vermonters can add a SunCommon solar system and the Tesla Powerwall to their homes with no upfront cost and a fixed monthly payment.