Current News

by Alexa Clauss, Primmer, Burlington Vermont recently became the fifth state to pass a law requiring paid sick leave for employees. All employers doing business in or operating in the State of Vermont are covered by this law, and because each state’s paid sick leave mandate is different, we provide this summary specific to Vermont’s earned sick leave law (21 V.S.A. §§ 481-486).

Vermont Business Magazine Vermonters are more likely to die from preventable chronic diseases than from all other causes of death combined. To reverse this epidemic, Health Commissioner Harry Chen, MD has launched a new statewide initiative called 3-4-50. 3-4-50 signifies the fact that three behaviors – lack of physical activity, poor diet and tobacco use – contribute to four chronic diseases – cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and lung disease – resulting in more than 50 percent of all deaths.

Vermont Business Magazine The People’s United Community Foundation, the philanthropic arm of People’s United Bank, has announced that it has awarded $15,000 to Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity (CVOEO) in Burlington. CVOEO programs are designed to help individuals with low-income achieve economic independence. The grant from People’s United Community Foundation will support the agency’s Growing Money Program, which assists participants in reaching their financial goals, improves their credit scores, and identifies areas for saving. The program’s free financial classes and coaching help individuals learn to manage spending, create a budget, access banking products and services, and work with creditors and avoid predatory lending.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Peter Shumlin, Chittenden County State's Attorney TJ Donovan, and the Vermont Department of Labor (VDOL) in Burlington today announced a 'Jobs for Youths' initiative to help at-risk youths find employment. The Jobs for Youths initiative will provide one-on-one mentoring services for at-risk youths to help match them with summer employment opportunities and prepare them to enter the workforce. Participants will be assigned a case manager who identifies the candidate’s strengths and interests and connects them with an appropriate training provider. A job fair will be held on June 23 at King Street Youth Center in Burlington for those interested in taking advantage of the program.  From 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. VDOL will provide workshops to assist youth in the completion of applications, mock interviewing, searching available jobs, and exploring career pathways. Employers will participate from 1 pm to 3 pm. 

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Peter Shumlin today signed S260, a bill designed to improve regional and town energy planning and to enhance community input into the siting of energy projects. He vetoed the original version of the bill, S230, exactly one week ago. The legislation was developed over a number of months, and was based in large part on the recommendations of the Solar Siting Task Force. It provides regional planning commissions and towns with “substantial deference” before the Public Service Board when their plans have been determined to be consistent with state energy and climate goals. Funding and training to support planning efforts will be available through the Regional Planning Commissions working in concert with the Department of Public Service and the Vermont League of Cities and towns. The new law requires planning across sectors to include electricity generation, electric and thermal efficiency, and transportation.

Vermont Business Magazine GMP announced today that five cutting-edge energy entrepreneurs have been named winners of the Company’s first ever Inspire Space Contest to collaborate with Green Mountain Power in its state-of-the-art, open concept workspace in Colchester, Vermont. The visionary companies were selected by a team of energy innovation leaders at GMP for their interest in Vermont. They will work alongside the GMP team to grow their companies, share ideas to help develop technology and clean energy solutions for GMP customers and beyond.

by Mike Smith It seems Donald Trump is doing everything possible to hand the presidency to Hillary Clinton, which only bolsters the belief by some that this has been the plan all along. These conspiracy theorists are convinced that Trump and Clinton are working hand-in-hand to make sure she wins. Trump’s role is to attract a base of supporters in the Republican primary so that he can win the nomination while simultaneously alienating large segments of the American population — including many traditional Republicans — making it impossible for him to win in a general election. For her part, Clinton’s focus is on fending off the challenge of a progressive socialist, by saying whatever needs to be said in order to secure the nomination.

by Jonathan Rose Whether you are a grocer, a prepared- or processed-food manufacturer, or a supplier, you should already be aware that Vermont’s first-in-the-nation GMO food labeling law, commonly known as “Act 120,” is slated to take effect on July 1, 2016.  By that date, food manufacturers and retailers will have to begin labeling most foods containing ingredients produced with genetic engineering.  The new law is likely to raise a host of novel and potentially complex questions for businesses responsible for complying.  For now, food producers and sellers should be thinking about how the law’s basic requirements might apply to them.

Vermont Business Magazine - Vermont philanthropists Holly and Bob Miller have capped decades of support to strengthen palliative care and clinical services in end-of-life care in Vermont with a $3 million gift to establish the Holly and Bob Miller Chair in Palliative Medicine at the University of Vermont College of Medicine. The gift was celebrated Friday  in a ceremony at the Dudley H Davis Center to install Robert E Gramling, MD, DSc as the inaugural Miller Chair — the 100^th endowed faculty position at the university. At the investiture, nationally recognized palliative care expert BJ Miller, MD, a close friend of Dr Gramling, shared his own near-death experience and how it fundamentally altered his views on living and dying well.

Vermont Business Magazine Weekly unemployment claims fell last week and are now lower than the same time last year. For the week of June 4, 2016, there were 417 claims, down 73 from the previous week's total and 5 fewer than they were a year ago. By industry, claims were down for Trade, but were about the same for most industrial segments. 

Vermont Business Magazine Burlington’s community-owned food cooperative, City Market, is considering expansion into the city’s Old North End. For many years, members have asked the Co-op to open a City Market in this area of town, which was home to the Onion River Co-op, which opened over 43 years ago. The auto parts store located at 242-244 North Winooski Avenue (next to the Central Market and across from the McClure Multigenerational Center) closed several months back and the property is currently for lease. This spring, City Market worked with a consultant to forecast potential sales for a Co-op at this location and has been working closely with Redstone, who recently purchased the building.

Vermont Business Magazine A US Senate committee is advancing legislation co-authored by Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) to improve and boost access to the loan programs aimed at helping Guard members and Reservists facing financial setbacks.  Their bill, approved Thursday by the Senate Small Business Committee, makes improvements in the Military Reservists Economic Injury Disaster Loan (MREIDL) and Repayment Deferral for Active Duty Reservists programs. 

Leahy, the co-chair of the Senate’s influential National Guard Caucus, said:  “I have long believed that both the National Guard and small business communities are foundational threads in the fabric of Vermont.  Getting our bill through the committee brings us a step closer to providing additional support for veterans and service members wishing to turn their entrepreneurial goals into reality.”