Current News

by Rob Roper Over the past legislative session, the issue of divesting state pension funds of fossil fuel investments received considerable debate both in the State House and around Vermont. This debate spilled over into the August 9 primary election where incumbent Treasurer Beth Pearce, a vocal opponent of divestment was challenged by Richard Dunne, who ran a pro-divestment campaign. Divestment lost in a landslide.

Pearce, has been a long-time opponent of divestment since the issue first surfaced in 2013, and throughout her thirteen years at the Office of the Treasurer she has consistently championed fiduciary responsibility and a practical yet principled approach to pension management. The role of investing state pension monies is to generate the best return for pensioners and taxpayers and should not be influenced by politics.

Vermont Business Magazine The state of Vermont’s electronic Property Transfer Tax Return (ePTTR) online application has processed more than $100 million in property transfer taxes for the state. Built at no cost to the state over a two-year period, between 2009 and 2011, by the state's digital government partner, Vermont Information Consortium (VIC), in conjunction with the state’s Department of Taxes, the service has also securely processed over 70,000 returns.

Agency of Natural Resources – Watershed Management The following are Public Alerts submitted by Wastewater Treatment Facilities for prompt public awareness of untreated discharges and their locations. The most recent on August 15 occurred in Montpelier. These alerts have been directly reported by Wastewater Treatment Facilities and may have not yet been reviewed by the State. Wastewater Treatment facilities are required to submit a public alert as soon as possible, but no longer than one hour from discovery of an untreated discharge from the wastewater treatment facility. This time requirement is extended to no longer than four hours if the operator does not have telephone or internet service at the location or they are working to control or stop the untreated discharge. Additional details regarding sewage overflows and incidents are required to be reported within 12 hours of discovery and available below.

Vermont Business Magazine The flag is being lowered in honored of Justin Beebe, a federal firefighter from Bellows Falls, Vermont, who was killed while battling a wildfire on August 13, 2016, in Great Basin National Park in Nevada.  Justin was in his first year as a member of the Lolo Hotshots, an elite US Forest Service crew based in Missoula, Montana.  Justin’s body will return to Vermont on Tuesday, August 23, 2016.

by Timothy McQuiston Vermont Business Magazine The state’s employment scene looks the same on paper, but there is uncertainty behind the numbers. The Vermont Department of Labor announced today that the seasonally-adjusted statewide unemployment rate for July was 3.2 percent. This represents no change from the revised June rate. However, all the major metrics pointed negative: the labor force decreased, as did the number of employed, while the number of unemployed increased. It might be another month or so before the situation clarifies with the start of a new school year and the discrepancy between the adjusted and unadjusted numbers can be rectified to understand whether employment is being maintained at its apparent high level, or whether it is worsening, as the unadjusted numbers suggest. The national rate in July was unchanged at 4.9 percent.

Vermont Business Magazine Weekly unemployment claims increased slightly last week. Claims remain relatively low, as typical for summer, but are running higher in 2016 than in 2015. For the week of August 13, 2016, there were 550 claims, up 27 from the previous week's total and 131 more than they were a year ago. By industry, claims more than doubled for Manufacturing. Service, the usual leader, fell back to second. 

Altogether 4,438 new and continuing claims were filed, an increase of 69 from a week ago, and 68 more than a year ago.

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

Vermont Business Magazine Karen Tucker, of Swanton, Vermont, Pauline Gaboury of Essex Junction, Vermont, Christy Richard of St. Albans, Vermont, and Katherine Tucker of Milton, Vermont were all recently convicted of charges related to a Medicaid Fraud scheme orchestrated by Karen Tucker in Franklin County that resulted in over $100,000 in losses to Vermont Medicaid Program over a nearly five-year period.

Vermont Business Magazine US Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) issued the following statement Thursday after the Justice Department announced plans to end its use of private prisons: “Our criminal justice system is broken and in need of major reforms. The Justice Department’s plan to end its use of private prisons is an important step in the right direction. It is exactly what I campaigned on as a candidate for president.

“It is an international embarrassment that we put more people behind bars than any other country on earth. Due in large part to private prisons, incarceration has been a source of major profits to private corporations. Study after study after study has shown private prisons are not cheaper, they are not safer, and they do not provide better outcomes for either the prisoners or the state.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont-based specialty food producer Gringo Jack’s announced today at Healthy Living market in South Burlington plans to expand their line of locally produced and sourced specialty food products. Gringo Jack’s, known throughout the Northeast for their “Flaky Chips,” “Sassy Salsa” and Craft Beer BBQ Sauces, launched the “CHIP IN” local investment campaign to help finance this expansion. CHIP IN utilizes the newly authorized Vermont Small Business Offering (VSBO), a program that allows Vermonters to make small investments in local businesses with a goal of growing the local economy. As with any investment CHIP IN provides investors with the potential for a financial return. Additionally, CHIP IN provides Vermonters the opportunity for true “impact investment” because, if successful, it will help grow jobs both at Gringo Jack’s as well as the company’s local suppliers and circulate wealth within the community. 

by Mike Faher/The Commons Entergy has agreed to give the state $600,000 for Vermont Yankee emergency planning over the next two years, and officials say some of that money will be allocated to towns in the vicinity of the shut-down nuclear plant. The funding is part of a new contract between Entergy, the plant’s owner, and the Vermont Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security. Due to changes in federal safety regulations at Vermont Yankee, Entergy’s mandatory emergency planning payments to the state ended as of June 30. But Vermont officials had lobbied hard for some kind of continuing support from the company, and the agreement announced Aug. 10 fulfills that goal.

Vermont Business Magazine Recent heavy rainfall has created potentially dangerous conditions along streams and small rivers in the Mad River and Huntington River watersheds, especially at Huntington Gorge. With sunshine and seasonably warm temperatures predicted for this week by the National Weather Service, Vermonters are strongly urged to exercise caution and avoid fast moving, rain-swollen waterways.

Vermont’s popular swim holes, rivers and streams offer some of summer’s best recreational opportunities. However, these areas can become unpredictable, dangerous and sometimes deadly in the days following storms and flash flooding.

Vermont Business Magazine Registration is now open for Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility’s (VBSR) 15th Annual Terry Ehrich Award Ceremony & Dinner. VBSR members and friends are invited to join the celebration on September 21st at the Historic Old Labor Hall in Barre, Vermont. This year VBSR is pleased to be honoring Paul Millman, President and CEO of Chroma Technology Corp., with the award.