Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Safety & Health Council EXPO, www.vshc.org  The Stoweflake Mountain Resort and Spa has been selected as the site for the 2016 VSHC Expo, 1746 Mountain Road, Stowe, Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine Weekly unemployment claims stayed at a very low level last week after a steep drop the week before. Overall, claims are running higher in 2016 than in 2015. For the week of August 27, 2016, there were 385 claims, down 4 from the previous week's total and 38 more than they were a year ago. By industry, claims were up for Manufacturing, as they were two weeks ago. Services, the usual leader, led the way with 38 percent of all claims, which for actual claims was a steep drop from last week (56 percent). 

Altogether 4,254 new and continuing claims were filed, a decrease of 130 from a week ago, and 131 more than a year ago.

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

Vermont Business Magazine Democratic Candidate Sue Minter has announced that her campaign raised $101,819 for the September 1 filing period, out-raising her opponent, Phil Scott, by a nearly 2-1 margin. Minter has out-raised Scott in every fundraising period this cycle.

Vermont Business Magazine It’s not enough that Jackie Freiberg, PhD, espouses the value of corporate cause. She actually wrote the book about it. The leadership consultant and author is heading to Vermont in September to engage as many as 400 CEOs and other business leaders at the Vermont Business Roundtable’s third annual Executive Leadership Series breakfast at the Sheraton Burlington. Freiberg has been a long-time consultant to National Life Group and has helped CEO Mehran Assadi and others at the company transform it into a financial powerhouse by rallying around the simple but difficult promise “Do good. Be good. Make good.” 

Dr Jackie Freiberg

Vermont Business Magazine Trusted Choice Vermont Insurance Agents Association donated $7,500 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation^® of Vermont. Vermont Insurance Agents Association (VIAA) presented the check during the Vermont Lake Monsters baseball game against the Lowell Spinners on Wednesday, August 24. Kody Lyon, of the Noyle Johnson Group, threw out the first pitch. Kerri O’Connor, AAI, Noyle Johnson Group, Vermont Young Agents Committee Chair, and Dan Rodliff, NFP P&C, Vermont Young Agents Committee Outreach Chair presented the check to Jamie Hathaway, Executive Director of the Vermont Make-A-Wish branch.

The donation will go towards helping grant the wishes of children with life-threatening illnesses. Trusted Choice is the funder in collaboration with VIAA. 

by Timothy McQuiston Vermont Business Magazine Jay Peak CEO Bill Stenger has entered into a settlement agreement that would resolve the Securities & Exchange Commission civil suit against him. Stenger and Jay Peak and Burke Mountain Resort owner Ariel Quiros were charged by the SEC and state regulators with fraud last April, involving the EB-5 foreign investor projects at the two resorts and at the proposed AnC Bio facility in Newport. However, the agreement does not necessarily let Stenger avoid possible SEC penalties involved in the case, nor does it necessarily forgo possible criminal prosecution, as US Attorney Eric Miller is separately looking into the cases against Stenger and Quiros.

Vermont Business Magazine In light of the new federal law establishing a “National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard,” the Grocery Manufacturers Association and other plaintiffs have agreed to voluntarily dismiss their lawsuit challenging Vermont’s Act 120, the state's GMO labeling law. As part of the stipulated dismissal, the attorney general secured plaintiffs’ agreement to pay the State $17,569.55 towards the costs incurred in defending Act 120. On Thursday, the Vermont federal district court approved the parties’ stipulation and dismissed the case. Last month, Plaintiffs voluntarily dismissed their Second Circuit appeal that had been pending in this matter.

Vermont Business Magazine The Community College of Vermont (CCV) has accepted 119 high school seniors into its Early College program for the 2016-2017 academic year, a nearly twofold  increase over last year. Enrollment in the program has grown steadily since its inception in 2014. This year, 11 CCV academic centers will host students representing 39 Vermont high schools and the state’s home-schooled population. “The Early College program offers students an exceptional advantage as they prepare for their future,” said CCV President Joyce Judy. “We are committed to expanding access to college for all Vermonters , and the strong enrollment in Early College this fall is a promising indication of progress toward that end. We are proud to provide Vermont’s high school seniors with a cost-effective, accelerated path to earning a college degree.”

Vermont Business Magazine Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger announced Wednesday that after more than a decade of dramatic increases in payments to the city’s retirement system, even as its funded ratio fell, the system’s stakeholders have jointly implemented a set of reforms that have already resulted in significant savings for taxpayers and ratepayers and put the system on more stable footing. These improvements include stabilizing payments and a small cut in property taxes. Retirement payments had risen from $1 million to $9 million a year from 2003 to 2015. Weinberger was joined in the announcement by City Councilors, members of the City’s Retirement Committee, Burlington Employee Retirement System (BERS) Board, union representatives, and community members.

by Keith Flynn, Commissioner, VT Department of Public Safety On August 24 of this year, FEMA Region 1 notified the State of Vermont’s Division of Emergency Management & Homeland Security that it was awarding a $96,750 grant to the Town of Enosburg for the federal share of a culvert upgrade on the Tyler Branch. One of six Vermont projects approved in August alone, this was the latest, but will not be the last project to benefit from federal assistance tied to Tropical Storm Irene.

The federal Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) continues to make Vermont communities stronger – five years after Irene.   HMGP provides assistance to communities like Enosburg to fix areas of repetitive damage and make trouble spots safer.  Making those areas more flood resistant through elevation of a building or road, larger culverts, or stronger riverbanks also helps save towns, the state, and the federal government money in repair costs over the long run.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont's wholesale beer industry is worth over $300 million annually. Meanwhile on the brewery side, the Vermont craft beer industry alone contributes over $271 million to the Vermont economy. The Vermont Brewers Association on its Website now boasts 48 members, which supports over 1,500 jobs and brings in over a million tourists. While there is some overlap in all these numbers, it's clear that the growing beer industry has become an important revenue generator in Vermont and a vital employer. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Addison County Chamber of Commerce welcomes its newest member, Parlour, and congratulates owners Lisa Phelps and Megan Mandigo on the opening of their new full service salon and mini-spa. Located at 8 Elm Street in Middlebury, Parlour is open five days a week with regularly scheduled hours and by appointment. The telephone number is 802-989-4993 and can be found on the web at ParlourVT.com. Parlour is a full service salon and mini spa offering a full array of hair services, nail treatments, waxing and facials. They carry several exclusive lines of hair and skin care products such as R&Co, Living Proof and Tata Harper—which is a nationally-recognized business based in Shoreham, Vt. Tata Harper herself designed Parlour’s facial room, the only one in Vermont.