Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Green Mountain College has been recognized as a national sustainability leader in the 2015 Sustainable Campus Index released yesterday by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). GMC achieved the top spot for curriculum and air quality achievements, and the school was ranked #2 in the area of socially responsible investment strategies. The 2015 Sustainable Campus Index highlights top-performing colleges and universities in 17 areas, as measured by the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) developed by AASHE.

Green Mountain, which received a “gold” designation by AASHE in 2014, ranked first in the curriculum category, which recognizes institutions with education programs and courses that address sustainability. GMC declared its environmental mission in 1995 and has built its curriculum and campus culture around sustainability.

Vermont Business Magazine In 2007, Jack Brennan, then the president of Green Mountain College, became one of the first signatories of the American College & University President’s Climate Commitment (ACUPCC), a signature program of Second Nature. At the time the world was experiencing the second highest global temperature readings for any year on record. On October 5, amidst what might shape up as the warmest year since temperature records have been recorded, GMC’s president Dr Paul Fonteyn signed Second Nature’s Climate Commitment. He was among 45 university presidents to sign the commitment during a ceremony in Decatur, Georgia, on the campus of Agnes Scott College.

Vermont Business Magazine Farm to Feet, makers of 100 percent American socks made with US sourced materials, in US factories, by US workers, is celebrating the communities that support the brand by naming new styles for the fall season after those towns. The North Carolina brand named one of its new ski socks after Waitsfield. Farm to Feet socks are made completely with US materials via a transparent US supply chain ensuring the highest quality of materials and end products, while having as little impact on the environment as possible.
“From Vermont to Alaska to Oklahoma to Georgia, we are proud to honor the communities that support us,” said David Petri, Farm to Feet Marketing VP. “These communities provide the jobs that help keep the U.S. economy rolling and keep domestic manufacturing alive and thriving.”

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Peter Shumlin released the following statement following the decision of the Non-Management Bargaining Unit (NMU) of the Vermont State Employees Association (VSEA) to walk away from the bargaining table during contract negotiations. The Corrections and Supervisory Bargaining Units remain engaged in talks with the State. A letter dated October 14 from the State’s Chief Negotiator requesting that the NMU return to the table is below. For its part, the union said later Wednesday that the state is forcing it to "bargain in the press."

by Jasper Craven, VTDigger Senator Bernie Sanders introduced himself to millions in Las Vegas Tuesday night in a high-stakes matchup that saw the Vermont Senator hit his policy points hard, though he leveled little criticism of his main contender, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who aggressively exploited Sanders’ weaknesses to shore up the perception that she is the inevitable Democratic candidate.

These Bears Have It All: Bernie's Hair, Trump's Hair, Hillary's Cell, Carson's First Aid Kit, and Jeb's Exclamation Point!

Vermont Business Magazine New rule: talk politics. That's according to Vermont Teddy Bear President and Chief Executive, Bill Shouldice. Taking the upcoming election year as an opportunity to promote the importance of voter interest and engagement, Vermont Teddy Bear has launched a new collection of presidential candidate Bears. Bernie Bear, many will remember, made his debut this spring. Joining him now are Trump Bear, Hillary Bear, Jeb Bear and Carson Bear… There's whisperings that Biden Bear is waiting in the wings.

Vermont Business Magazine Green Mountain Power is nearing completion of a new substation in Waterbury that will significantly increase reliability for customers and improve the resilience of the electric grid in the area. The improvements were made this summer and included distribution line upgrades, all new equipment with higher capacity and better voltage regulation to support distributed generation, fiber communications and deterrents for animal caused outages and copper theft. Annually, GMP invests approximately $95 million in capital projects, including system maintenance and upgrades.

Vermont Business Magazine Downstreet Housing and Community Development of Barre is one of 20 nonprofit community development organizations were recognized today for their excellence in sustainable business and housing practices by NeighborWorks America. To date, 81 network members -- or nearly one-third of all organizations in the network -- have earned the NeighborWorks Green Organization designation. Affordable Housing Education and Development of Littleton, NH, was also recognized. This is the fourth year of the NeighborWorks Green Organization program, which recognizes community development nonprofits in its network of more than 240 organizations that achieve a comprehensive commitment to sustainable operations -- both in their lines of business and the corporate operations they run.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Gas today submitted its regular quarterly report regarding the Addison natural gas expansion project with the Vermont Public Service Board (PSB). The filing shows that the Addison pipeline is on track and has remained on schedule and on budget since December 2014. Vermont Gas submits quarterly reports to the PSB regarding budget projections and expenses related to the project. The latest filing reflects the project’s budget standing as of September 30, 2015. Vermont Gas is still waiting for a decision by regulators on whether they will reopen the certificate of public good process.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Peter Shumlin has joined eight Governors from across the country in sending a letter to Congressional leadership urging an end to current trade sanctions imposed against Cuba by the United States. Ending those restrictions could open up an 11 million person market for many Vermont industries, including dairy, renewable energy, consumer and manufactured goods, technology, tourism and others. Current constraints severely limit the ability of US companies to serve the Cuban market. One such limitation prevents US companies from offering standard credit terms, requiring Cuba to pay cash in advance, which is a serious barrier to conducting business. Without such restrictions, competitors like Brazil, the European Union, and Canada are increasingly establishing themselves as a more reliable trading source.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies and Hotel Vermont announced today the InnovateHER VT Challenge, a new business pitch event in Burlington.The competition is at 5:30 pm October 19 at the Hotel Vermont, 41 Cherry Street. Vermont EPSCoR and VCET have underwritten a $10,000 cash prize to the event winner as well as a nomination to participate in the national Small Business Administration event, which has $70,000 in prizes in spring 2016. Organizers intend this competition to increase access to capital and feedback for local entrepreneurs, to highlight the importance of women led companies, and ventures that are specifically designed to improve the lives of women and families.

InnovateHER VT is a part of a national pitch competition through the SBA celebrating and promoting women entrepreneurs and ventures that impact and empower the lives of women and families.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Attorney General William Sorrell is warning consumers who have filed or may soon file for bankruptcy of an emerging scam by impostors claiming to be the consumer’s attorney, the attorney’s partner or a member of their staff. The perpetrators of this scam use software to “spoof” the Caller ID system so that the call appears to be originating from the phone line of the consumer’s bankruptcy attorney. Consumers are then instructed to immediately wire money to satisfy a debt that is supposedly outside of the bankruptcy proceeding.

The perpetrators may be using information from public filings to identify consumers to target and the names of their attorneys. The calls come late in the evening or during non-business hours to minimize consumers’ ability to verify the call by contacting their attorney. Consumers who receive such a call should not wire funds and should contact their attorney as soon as possible.