Current News

Vermont Business Magazine President Obama on Tuesday called on Congress to provide more than $1 billion in new funding to address prescription opioid and heroin addiction. In recent years, rural communities in Vermont have been hit hard by the epidemic, which has been the focus of Senate Judiciary Committee hearings that senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) has previously chaired in Vermont and Washington. Last week Leahy invited Governor Shumlin to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee in Washington about Vermont’s experience. The Judiciary Committee as early as this Thursday may vote on the Comprehensive Addition and Recovery Act, legislation cosponsored by Leahy that would help address the heroin and opioid epidemic. Leahy, a former prosecutor, also is a cosponsor of legislation that would provide $600 million in emergency federal funds to help states combat the problem.

Vermont Business Magazine Paid sick leave in Vermont received initial Senate approval today after a key committee backed the measure last week. The Healthy Workplaces bill (H187) passed the House last year with a vote of 72-63. Governor Peter Shumlin (D-Vermont) has called for the bill to pass and be sent to him for signature. Businesses have been concerned about the cost of the program and about how the plan rectifies differences between existing plans, which most employers have, and the new law. Many Vermonters work for companies that are based out-of-state, creating compliance problems for employers. But language in the bill should allow enough flexbility for those firms to use existing benefits. While every small business must comply, the Senate version allows for more exemptions than the House version, which could trigger a Conference Committee to resolve differences if the Senate passes the bill as is.

Vermont Business Magazine Problems plaguing the EB-5 Regional Center program must be addressed through bipartisan legislation this year, Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) said Tuesday in a sternly worded statement to his colleagues. Vermont developers have used EB-5 funding at several large, tourist-related development projects, including at Jay Peak and Burke Mountain, in Stowe and at Sugarbush, Okemo and Mount Snow. Because of a backlog in processing and increased oversight by federal regulators, including the SEC and USCIS (immigration), application approvals have slowed and projects have stalled.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Climate Change Economy Council (VCCEC) is proposing a bold new vision and strategy for economic development statewide. With today’s State House release of Progress for Vermont, the Council is highlighting ways to make Vermont the most desirable location for creative small businesses and innovative entrepreneurs that advance clean energy generation, improve efficiencies, transform transportation and revitalize communities. Many of the state’s business innovators are already finding practical ways to reduce carbon emissions and diminish climate risk while providing their products and services across the world. The VCCEC strategies are designed to stimulate this green economy and assure Vermont remains a national leader in this expanding sector.

Vermont Business Magazine The Plum Creek Foundation recently awarded a $4,000 grant to the Vermont PBS Youth Environmental Education program, which offers environmental conservation and preservation material to engage the next generation of environmental stewards. According to Maggie Hunter, Director of Grants and Foundation Support, the Vermont PBS’ Youth Environmental Education program has inspired young viewers and their families since its start in 2014. In 2016, the program places to focus on their Watershed and River Model. This will involve river clean ups, looking at trout in the classroom, exploring the chop & drop watershed restoration technique and looking at riparian buffers.

Vermont Business Magazine Kevin Pearce was at the top of his sport as a world class professional snowboarder in 2009 when he sustained a traumatic brain injury while training for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. The  28-year-old Pearce’s road to recovery has brought to light his potential to transform the experience of traumatic brain injury (TBI) into a source of inspiration, education and awareness. He will share his story of recovery at Champlain College on Thursday, February 4 at 6:30 pm in the Champlain Room of the Center for Communication and Creative Media at 375 Maple St. It is presented by the Champlain Ski and Ride Club and the LoveYourBrain Foundation. The talk is free and open to the public. Doors will open at 6 p.m. and seating is first-come, first served.

by Sarah Tuff Dunn “Blood is something we all have, but rarely consider,” says Julie Desrochers, the fall prevention program manager at the Vermont Department of Health, of her years working for the American Red Cross in Burlington. “I loved sharing my knowledge on the behavioral clues that make up what we consider instincts—for example, the small signs that indicate an early reaction, such as syncope—a temporary loss of consciousness caused by a fall in blood pressure--which can prevent an adverse blood donation experience or injury.”

by John McClaughry In his January budget message, Gov. Shumlin announced a new source of tax revenue to help fill the ever-gaping Medicaid budget deficit ($55 million in Fiscal Year 2017). He proposed that the provider assessment now applied to hospitals and nursing homes be expanded to independent physicians and dentists, at 2.35% of net patient income. “This will,” he said, “raise $17 million in state funds and draw down $20 million of the federal dollars that we’ve been leaving on the table.”

This game began in 1991. In that year the legislature (ill-advisedly) bought into a Massachusetts-invented scheme called “MediScam”.

The Federal government matches state money raised to fund Medicaid. The matching percentage (called FMAP), is approximately 55% for 2017.

Vermont Business Magazine Pathways Vermont, a local housing and mental health service agency, recently completed the installation of a community kitchen in their building in Burlington’s Old North End. The kitchen is a new addition to The Wellness Co-op, Pathways’ community center located at 279 North Winooski Avenue. The program is funded primarily by the Vermont Department of Mental Health and aims to create a vibrant community that supports resilience through collective learning, creative exploration and mutual support. In 2015 the center had more than 500 unique visitors. 

Business Expo at Great Ice Cancelled

Champlain Islands Business Expo at Great Ice on Saturday, February 6th, 2016 has been cancelled for this year due to weather challenges.                              

We hope you will join us for the other great events

that are still on the schedule!

FRIDAY Feb 5th

Christmas Tree Bonfire 5:30p at North Hero House Pier

Family Italian Dinner 6:30p at North Hero House Inn 372 4732

SUNDAY Feb 7th

FlapJack Breakfast 8-11a. A hearty VT breakfast at North Hero House. 

Chili-Cook Off 12:30-1:30p at Hero's Welcome Picnic Area

by Joyce Marcel, Vermont Business Magazine You’re reading an unusual story for Vermont Business Magazine — one that begins with a mostly naked pop star. In June of 2014, the pop singer Rihanna was presented with a style icon award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA). The dress she wore became an internet sensation around the world; the fashion magazine Elle described it this way: “In an Adam Selman gown made out of 230,000 Swarovski crystals and zero slips, Rihanna was basically naked on the red carpet.” As bare as she was, if you look closely you’ll see that under her sheer and sparkly dress Rihanna is wearing a tiny thong. A tiny thong that was made by a lingerie company called Commando LLC, which happens to be located in South Burlington, Vermont. It gives a whole new meaning to the term “Made in Vermont.” 

Vermont Business Magazine According to filings by Senator Bernie Sanders' (I-Vermont) presidential campaign, more than $20 million – almost all from online contributions averaging about $27 apiece – was donated to Sanders’ presidential campaign in January during the run-up to Monday’s Iowa caucuses. The more than 770,000 individual contributions in January pushed the total number of donations for his entire campaign past the 3.25 million mark. That’s a record at this point in the campaign for any White House candidate. Unlike other campaigns which rely heavily on wealthy donors who give the maximum allowed by law, more than 99.9 percent of Sanders’ donors can give again. In sharp contrast, Federal Election Commission reports indicate that more than 3 in 5 dollars given to Hillary Clinton come from donors who already have given her the maximum allowed by law.