Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Attorney General William H Sorrell on Tuesday joined attorneys general from across the nation in a meeting in New York City to announce a national coalition with 17 other States and Territories to protect and expand progress the nation has made in combating climate change. The attorneys general were joined by former vice president and leading climate activist Al Gore for the announcement in New York City. All of the members of the new coalition are part of a coalition of 25 states, cities and counties that intervened to defend the federal Environmental Protection Agency’s “Clean Power Plan” against legal challenge. Also on Tuesday, the interveners filed a brief in the DC Circuit Court in support of President Obama’s Clean Power Plan rule, which requires fossil-fueled power plants, the largest single source of greenhouse gas emissions in the nation, to cut their emissions pursuant to the Clean Air Act.

Vermont Business Magazine The Addison County Economic Development Corporation (ACEDC), Vermont’s only Kiva Zip Trustee, has endorsed the first Kiva Zip loan in Addison County for Caroline’s Dream, a handcrafted skincare producer based in East Middlebury. Kiva Zip is a loan program within the global non-profit Kiva that offers 0% interest loans for small businesses and entrepreneurs in the United States through crowdfunding. Kiva Zip Trustees are individuals or organizations who recommend borrowers to the Kiva Zip program. Trustees are an integral part of the model because of their ability to vouch for an entrepreneur’s character and reputation.

Susan Shashok

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Gas announced Wednesday that it is a charter member of the US Environmental Protection Agency National Gas STAR Methane Challenge Program. The voluntary program provides a new mechanism through which companies like Vermont Gas can make and track ambitious commitments to reduce methane emissions.

Vermont Business Magazine Orvis, the premier outfitter of outdoor adventures and the longest continually-operating fly fishing business, is once again gearing up to host their popular free fly fishing lessons nationwide! Every Saturday from April 23 through June 18, 2016, Orvis retail stores and participating dealers will offer Fly Fishing 101, a free clinic providing people of all ages an opportunity to learn more about the sport. Now in its seventh year, Orvis has introduced over 50,000 people to the joys of fly fishing with these complimentary clinics which offer participants lessons on fly casting and outfit rigging.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont), Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) and Representative Peter Welch (D-Vermont) Wednesday announced the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) will begin accepting applications for the next round of grants to encourage economic development and job creation along the norther border of Maine, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont. The commission has approximately $1.7 million in federal funding to award to projects in Franklin, Lamoille, Caledonia, Essex and Orleans counties.

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General Bill Sorrell, together with state law enforcement partners in every other state in the nation, the District of Columbia, and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), have obtained a permanent injunction to dissolve two nationwide sham cancer charities and ban their president from profiting from any charity fundraising in the future under a settlement filed in court today. “The settlement announced today pulls the plug on these sham charities,” said Vermont Attorney General William H Sorrell. “Charitable contributions support numerous important activities in our communities and we will not allow scammers to deprive legitimate charities of much needed support.”

Vermont Business Magazine A Williston drinking water-testing laboratory is contesting allegations made by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection that its methodology did not meet requirements and will be filing an appeal with the DEP. The DEP on Monday suspended the accreditation of Analytical Services, Inc. The notice was made public March 29. DEP accredited the laboratory in March 2015 to provide analysis of drinking water supplies for cryptosporidium, giardia, and E. coli. Over the past year, 15 Pennsylvania public water systems in Pennsylvania used Analytical Services to conduct raw source water sampling as part of a routine assessment for only those contaminants. ASI does microbiological testing, consulting and research.

Vermont Business Magazine After nearly two years of research, surveys, meetings, and fundraising, BDCC is launching a new SeVEDS Workforce Development program in collaboration with regional employers and education partners. The Fast Tracks to Success program is supported by an $18,000 grant from the Vermont Department of Labor. It will be implemented throughout all four Windham Region High Schools, and is designed to increase youth engagement in and knowledge of the local job market.

BDCC entrance in Brattleboro

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Peter Shumlin joined CVS Health today to announce that the opioid overdose-reversal drug naloxone will now be available to patients without an individual prescription at CVS Pharmacy locations around Vermont. CVS Health has established a standing order with physicians in Vermont that allows CVS Pharmacy to expand access to the medication in the Green Mountain State.  

Vermont Business Magazine The Agency of Commerce and Community Development today announced that Philip Tortora has been named communications director for the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing. In this role, he will be responsible for leading tourism media and trade relations. The Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing's key objective is to increase awareness of the Vermont brand with the goal of increasing visitation to the state. Tortora was most recently the audience analyst at the Burlington Free Press, where he worked since 2010 as the lead digital and social media editor for the newspaper. He also reported for the Free Press, and served as a news correspondent for USA Today. Both the Free Press and USA Today are owned by the Gannett Company.

Philip Tortora Twitter photo

Vermont Business Magazine In the spirit of promoting Francophonie Month and the cultural, economic, and political ties between France, Canada, Québec, and the State of Vermont, international dignitaries will gather for a flag raising in downtown Burlington today, March 30, 2016. The flag raising is a collaborative effort of the City of Burlington, the State of Vermont, Canada, Québec, and France — and is supported by the Alliance Française of the Lake Champlain Region, whose mission is to engender awareness of French culture and support the local francophone economy.

Flag raising photos from 2015 by Alliance Française of the Lake Champlain Region (AFLCR)

Vermont Business Magazine Yankee Farm Credit has distributed $4.9 million to its members who borrowed from the cooperative. This distribution represents approximately 48 percent of Yankee’s 2015 net income of $10.2 million. George Putnam, Yankee Farm Credit’s President and Chief Executive Officer, said that Yankee sent out payments to 1,353 borrowers on March 25. The payments represent patronage refunds, which allow Yankee members to share in the cooperative’s 2015 earnings. Yankee Farm is based in Williston with offices in Northern Vermont and upstate New York.

Putnam explained, “The patronage refunds we provide to members are based on the profits that our association generated last year. This cash patronage refund effectively reduced average loan rates to members by approximately 24% in 2015.”