Current News

by Joshua E Brown With nearly sixty percent of American adults now taking prescription medications—from antidepressants to cholesterol treatments—there is growing concern about how many drugs are flowing through wastewater treatment facilities and into rivers and lakes. Research confirms that pharmaceutical pollution can cause damage to fish and other ecological problems—and may pose risks to human health too. Scientists have assumed that people flushing their unused medications down the drain or toilet was a major source of these drugs in the water. But a new first-of-its-kind study tells a different story.

Vermont Business Magazine Picking up trash out of a river may not sound like the most fun way to spend a weekend morning, but the hundreds of Vermonters who annually participate in river cleanups would beg to differ. This September, join the fun by volunteering to clean up your local river as part of Vermont’s official River Cleanup Month. “Spending just a few hours one weekend picking up trash from a river can make a big difference,” said Lyn Munno, Director of Watersheds United Vermont, “River cleanup volunteers are critical in removing shopping carts, plastic bottles and tires from our waters. Many Vermonters are concerned about clean water, and river cleanups are a great way for citizens to get involved and make a visible difference in the health of their local river.”

by Michael Bielawski The town of Grafton will hold a vote on a 28-turbine wind energy plant proposed by Iberdrola Renewables. By a 3-to-1 vote Tuesday night, the Grafton Selectboard approved a townwide vote on the Stiles Brook Wind Project to occur in late 2016 or early 2017. Board Chair Ron Pilette advocated holding the vote during the November 8 election, when neighbors in Windham will vote on the same project, but the board ultimately voted against it.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont tax revenues have suffered through several months below expectations, even as targets have been lowered, but in August they improved with the vital Personal Income Tax rebounding and the Corporate Tax leading the way. The one notable disappointment was the Sales Tax. The General Fund for the month of August collected $96.71 million, +$2.33 million or 2.47 percent above revenue targets adopted by the Emergency Board on July 21, 2016. This better than expected performance was driven primarily by the following tax components; Personal Income Tax at +$1.03 million or +2.47%, Corporate Tax at +$1.28 million, or +79.48% and Meals and Rooms Tax at +$1.25 million +8.35%. These gains were slightly offset by underperformances in the following taxes; Sales and Use, Inheritance and Estate and Insurance Premium.

Vermont Business Magazine US Senate Candidate Scott Milne today announced that his campaign’s kick-off will be in Washington, VT, on Saturday, September 10, at 10 am. The public is invited to the event, which the campaign has labeled Bringing Washington, Vermont values to Washington, DC. Milne grew up in Washington, VT, and graduated from the Washington Village School.

“One of the biggest problems in America today is career politicians in Washington, DC,” said Milne. “I am inspired by my hometown’s namesake, George Washington, who led by example when he turned the Revolutionary Army over to the people’s Congress after we won Independence. He led by example again when he stepped down after two terms as president.  

Vermont Business Magazine FairPoint Communications has completed broadband expansion projects in 38 towns in Vermont. As a result of these upgrades, faster broadband speeds are available to approximately 39,250 locations in these communities – including some addresses for the first time.

Vermont Business Magazine Phil Scott released a healthcare plan today detailing his approach for getting healthcare reform back on track and increasing affordable choices for families and businesses. “Over the last six years of one-party rule, healthcare costs have increased by well over twenty percent,” Scott said Wednesday. “To get healthcare costs under control, Vermont needs to be honest about the scope of the challenge,” Scott said.  “Politicians have been promising quick-fixes for far too long. The reality is, we will not be able to fix the problem on day one, and it is going to take focus and discipline to get healthcare reform back on track.”

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Peter Shumlin today announced a plan that would allow for lamprey treatment of the LaPlatte River – a tributary to Lake Champlain that has become a major source of lamprey – while protecting the drinking water supply serving the Champlain Water District. Joining the governor at the announcement was Jim Fay of the CWD, a representative of Senator Patrick Leahy’s office, Bill Archambault and Brad Young of the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and state Natural Resources Agency and Health Department officials. 

Lake trout with lamprey attached. New York DEC photo.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing has announced that it will award $75,000 in dollar-for-dollar matching grants through the Market Vermont program to help Vermont-based organizations and businesses promote themselves outside of the state. Applicants may seek up to $10,000 for their project. Approved by the Vermont Travel and Recreation Council, Market Vermont matching grants are intended to help organizations and businesses initiate or expand events, marketing programs, advertising campaigns and public relations programs that hold great promise of producing significant, measurable increases in non-resident visits to Vermont, with the collateral goals of increasing visitor spending in Vermont.

The grant recipients, which will be awarded for Fiscal Year 2017, will be chosen by the Vermont Travel and Recreation Council.

Vermont Business Magazine Castleton welcomes the greater Rutland community to come celebrate and gain an inside look at the university’s newest Rutland project, as it hosts a Grand Opening for its new downtown apartments on September 15 from 4-6 pm in the Clement Building at the corner of Merchants Row and West Street. The event will kick off with remarks by Castleton President Dave Wolk, building owner Mark Foley Jr, Rutland Mayor Chris Louras, and Steve Costello of Green Mountain Power, all collaborative partners in the project. The open house will also feature a ribbon cutting, apartment tours, and light refreshments.

Vermont Business Magazine Innovation Week, October 15-22, 2016, (presented by Dealer.com) is a series of events that highlights the vibrant energy of greater Burlington's entrepreneurial, technological and creative ecosystem. Powered by BTV Ignite and its partners, this first-ever weeklong celebration of engaging events has something for everyone who loves what Burlington and Vermont IS — and what it can be. The week begins with the annual Hack VT, a 24-hour hackathon in which teams compete to build apps that help the state of Vermont, and ends with the 10th Vermont Tech Jam, a two-day job fair and tech expo showcasing some of the area's most exciting employers and their products, along with K-12 student projects displayed in a school mini maker faire.

Vermont Business Magazine Community College of Vermont (CCV) and the Vermont Department of Labor (VDOL) are partnering with area employers including K&E Plastics Inc., JBM Sherman Carmel, Inc and GS Precision, Inc to offer a Certified Production Technician (CPT) course in Bennington, beginning September 21. This course, which is free to participants,  is the first step in establishing a manufacturing pathway to help advanced manufacturers close a workforce gap and to help individuals receive the necessary training to fill open positions. Courses like the CPT help workers develop their careers by teaching specialized skills that Vermont advanced manufacturers are looking for in their new employees.