Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, in partnership with the Equality Federation, has released its second annual national report assessing the status of state legislation affecting LGBT equality across America, including in Vermont. Vermont falls into the second highest-rated category, "Solidifying Equality."

Vermont Business Magazine Holding a press conference at its Williston campus Wednesday, Vermont Tech announced its initiative to tackle workforce development, economic development and gender equity by significantly increasing participation rates among women in several historically male-dominated fields. The college has set new annual female enrollment growth targets in civil and environmental engineering technology, computer information technology, computer software engineering, construction management, and mechanical engineering technology.  The enrollment targets project annual growth of nearly 40%, each year for the next three years starting in the fall of 2016. By the end of the project term, Vermont Tech should realize an increase of female participation in these programs from 10% to 24%. The momentum of such growth and lessons learned from the activities of the project’s years should yield even greater participation rates beyond 2018.

Vermont Business Magazine The paid sick leave bill (Healthy Workplaces bill H187) passed the Vermont State Senate with a vote of 21-8 on this afternoon. The bill was amended slightly on the Senate floor after senators sought to reduce the impact of the act on very small businesses. Small businesses with five or fewer employees will not be required to offer paid sick days until 2018. An amendment to exempt small businesses entirely failed.. H187 passed the House last year on a vote of 72-63. The bill now goes back to the House because it was amended, which could trigger a Conference Committee.

Annie Accettella, Paid Sick Days Campaign Manager said in a statement: "The Senate stood tall for working families today. This strong vote is a big step toward finally giving workers the rights they deserve."

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Peter Shumlin stood with Vermont business and education leaders today who support his call for Vermont to use divestment as a tool to help combat global warming. The governor made the call in his State of the State address earlier this year for Vermont to follow California’s lead in divesting state pension funds from coal assets. The Governor also urged that the state go further and divest from ExxonMobil assets. Joining the Governor were Seventh Generation, Ben and Jerry’s, SunCommon, Sterling College, and Clean Yield Asset Management. Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility also endorsed the Governor’s divestment call.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont’s Secretary of Agriculture, Chuck Ross, issued on Wednesday his revised decision regarding the Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) petition to require mandatory Best Management Practices (BMPs) for farms in the Missisquoi Bay Basin.  The Revised Secretary’s Decision makes a threshold determination that BMPs are necessary in the basin to achieve compliance with Vermont’s water quality goals. The secretary, in his revised decision, has determined that BMPs are generally necessary on farms in the Missisquoi Bay Basin watershed to achieve compliance with state water quality goals. Dairy farms in particular have come under heightened scrutiny for their role in adding to runoff into the lake of phosphorous, which contributes to growth of blue-green algae. In the original order from November 2014, Ross denied the CLF's petition. Ross denied it in part because of the financial hardship it would cause farmers.

Vermont Business Magazine The Greater Burlington YMCA announced today the receipt of a generous $100,000 gift from NorthCountry Federal Credit Union. NorthCountry, now in their fifth year as the Y’s Youth Development Community Partner, has donated a total of $500,000 in recent years to help underwrite early education, after school programs, summer camps, youth swimming, and special events at the Y throughout the calendar year.

“The Y works side-by-side with our neighbors to make sure that everyone, regardless of age, income or background, has the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive,” said Pam Mackenzie, Interim President & CEO at the Greater Burlington YMCA. “The Y has no better neighbor -- no stronger community partner -- in reaching this goal than NorthCountry Federal Credit Union and their members.”

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets (VAAFM) announced today the availability of grant funds for the purpose of enhancing the competitiveness of Vermont specialty crops, defined as fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture crops (including honey, hops, and maple syrup), and nursery crops (including Christmas trees and floriculture). These funds are awarded through a competitive review process guided by industry, nonprofit and government stakeholders. VAAFM plans to award approximately $200,000 in Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) funds in 2016.

Vermont Business Magazine Bruce Lisman, the Shelburne businessman running for governor as a Republican, has released his first television advertisement. The Lisman for Vermont campaign announced Tuesday that the 60-second segment entitled, “L4VT: New Direction for Vermont,” highlights many of the challenges that Vermonters are facing, discusses Lisman’s experience and why he is uniquely qualified to lead Vermont in a New Direction. It also outlines his plan for the future. It is airing on WCAX and statewide on cable. Lisman founded Campaign for Vermont. He's a native of Burlington and made his fortune on Wall Street. Lisman has never held public office. Republican Lieutenant Governor Phil Scott is also running. The chief Democratic contenders are former state senator Matt Dunne and former VTrans secretary Sue Minter.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Gas Systems announced that this week it is officially an Energy Efficiency Utility (EEU) as designated by the Vermont Public Service Board.  “For the past two decades, our customers and the environment have benefited tremendously from our nationally recognized efficiency programs. This designation reinforces our commitment to build on our efficiency services to help our customers cut costs and reduce carbon emissions,” said Don Rendall, Vermont Gas President and CEO. The company serves customers in Franklin and Chittenden counties and is expanding to Addison County.

Vermont Business Magazine Comcast Business has announced that for the third consecutive year the company will seek out the nation’s most innovative startup companies and entrepreneurs to participate in its Innovations 4 Entrepreneurs competition. Current and aspiring business owners can enter the competition for a chance to win up to $30,000 and participate in a day of mentoring with teams of business experts who will provide advice on how to implement their plan.

Based on a 250-word essay submission, applicants will answer the question: How could your business use technology to help enhance your business? Startups and entrepreneurs are encouraged to visit the Comcast Business Community to submit their application and essay and review the full program details. Entries are due by March 12, 2016.

Vermont Business Magazine If you make, build, publish, produce, or create anything, you should be included in Vermont Business Magazine's Business-to-Business Directory. This B2B guide is published in May and is also available online to subscribers. The diretory features manufacturers, constractors, business services, high tech, media, and any company type with 25 or more employees. Please update the information listed that we have for you on file. There is no charge to be listed in any of our rankings or directories. Answer only the questions with which you are comfortable. Return even if all information is correct.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, Governor Peter Shumlin, Secretary of State Jim Condos, Tax Commissioner Mary Peterson and Labor Commissioner Annie Noonan are pleased to announce the successful partnership among their agencies to create a single sign-in business portal to make it easier to register and start a business in Vermont. Everyone doing business in Vermont must first register with the Secretary of State’s Office. Those businesses must also obtain a tax identification number from the Department of Tax, and register with the Department of Labor for unemployment insurance. Until recently, that meant multiple forms, visits, letters, checks and phone calls. The new online Business Portal allows Vermont businesses to create an account with the Secretary of State’s Office, and then interact with each agency quickly and simply in one place.

www.sec.state.vt.us