Current News

You can help improve the streams and rivers of Vermont! Volunteers are needed for events throughout the month of September which is Vermont’s official River Cleanup Month. To find out about an event near you, check out the Vermont River Cleanup web pages at www.watershedsunitedvt.org/vtrivercleanup or call Watersheds United Vermont at (802) 585-3569.

On the ground work has begun and events are currently planned from Springfield up to Morristown and from the Connecticut River Valley to Burlington with many in between. Find the event closest to you via the Watersheds United Vermont’s River Cleanup page. There you will find an interactive map and details about each event. Check back often as new events are posted weekly.

Vermont Commission on Women and Main Street Alliance of Vermont will host a series of free community forums across the state this fall focusing on long-term paid family and medical leave. These forums examine the possibility of developing and implementing a state-run Temporary Disability and Caregiver Insurance (TDCI) Program in our state as a funding mechanism for leave. Participants will explore the need for a TDCI program; how similar programs have been implemented in other states; and what a successful TDCI program could look like for Vermont. The forums will consist of a brief presentation followed by a discussion with business owners and community members. Coffee and refreshments will be served.

Burlington Electric Department today announced that, based on a forecast of temperatures nearing 90 degrees, it has postponed tonight’s scheduled power outage that would have affected locations in the Old North End, specifically those customers located at:

NORTH CHAMPLAIN ST - #s 15 – 138

PEARL ST - #s 26 – 34

PERU ST - #s 9 - 69

PARK ST - #42

MONROE ST - #s 7 – 85

JOHNSON ST - #s 1 – 27

GEORGE ST - #s 13 – 76.

“Nothing is more important that the safety of our customers and our BED workers,” said BED General Manager Neale Lunderville. “Despite our careful planning several weeks ago and our balancing of community needs as to the timing for the outage, the BED team always stands ready to adjust in the face of unpredictable factors like the weather to ensure the safety of our community.”

Vermont Business Magazine Shapleigh "Shap" Smith became the first declared candidate for governor today, as the Democratic Speaker of the House made the announcement in his home town of Morrisville. Smith, 49, is an attorney with Dinse Knapp & McAndrew PC in Burlington and has been Speaker for three terms. He previously was a member of the House. Born in Connecticut, he graduated from the university of Vermont in 1987 and the Indiana University School of Law in 1991.

Speech

Shap Smith announces candidacy in Morrisville August 19, 2015.

Lyndon State President Joe Bertolino was appointed to the Vermont Delegation of the New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE). Governor Peter Shumlin appointed Bertolino in June 2015.

NEBHE promotes greater educational opportunities and services for New England residents. Their core programs and services focus on cost savings and affordability and college access and success. They also provide policy leadership on key issues related to education and the economy.

“I am honored to have been appointed by Governor Shumlin to serve as a Vermont delegate to the New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE),” said President Bertolino. “Lyndon students, especially those in our specialized niche programs, continue to benefit from our partnership with NEBHE. I am delighted that LSC will play a leadership role in supporting our peer institutions in New England.”

The Small Business Administration is teaming up with the City of Burlington’s Community and Economic Development Office, and the Micro Business Development Program to host the Burlington Business Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 21 at Burlington City Hall.

The annual fair is free and open to the public.

Fair goers have will have the opportunity to learn about health insurance, labor issues, marketing, taxes and more.

“Many of the exhibitors are from local, state and federal government agencies dedicated to assisting small businesses, and all of our resource partners have a passion to assist entrepreneurs who want to make their dream a reality,” said Vallerie Morse, SBA Vermont District Office Deputy Director.

The fair will also have free workshops and the “Professional Corners” to provide one-on-one consultations, including legal, financial and insurance advice. The workshops available are Hiring Employees at 10 a.m. and Alternative Financing at noon.

Mayor Miro Weinberger today responded to the retirement announcement of Burlington Fire Chief Seth Lasker, in which he informed the Mayor of his plans to retire on October 31, 2015. Lasker has served the City of Burlington for 26 years, working his way through all of the ranks of the Department excluding Fire Marshal; Lasker served as Battalion Chief (one year) and Deputy Chief (five years) before serving five years as Chief of the Burlington Fire Department.

Disclose Risks And Increase Transparency

In continued efforts to halt offshore oil drilling in the Arctic Ocean, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and other senators this week called on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to require increased transparency from companies engaged in offshore drilling in American waters.

The senators’ call follows the Obama Administration issuing drilling rights to royal Dutch Shell plc. (Shell) to explore in the deep water off Alaska’s northwest coast for the first time in more than two decades. The decision came only weeks after it was made public that shell had not disclosed risks inherent to drilling at unprecedented depths in one of the world’s most fragile ecosystems.

Vermont will receive over $717,000 of a settlement reached between 49 Attorneys General and Amgen Inc. Amgen will pay a total of $71 million to resolve allegations that it unlawfully promoted its Aranesp® and Enbrel® drugs, and must adhere to specific restrictions with respect to future drug promotions.

“Promoting drugs without the required scientific evidence or FDA approval exposes consumers to enormous health risks, particularly those consumers whose health is already compromised. This settlement directly addresses that dangerous practice,” said Attorney General Bill Sorrell.

Mayor Miro Weinberger and Aviation Director Gene Richards, joined by other airport officials and stakeholders, today celebrated the first non-stop air service from Burlington International Airport (BTV) to Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) serviced by American Airlines. The 80-seat Embraer E-175 aircraft featuring First Class and Main Cabin seating, complete with in-flight Wi-Fi service, took flight at 8:05 am, marking the inaugural flight from Burlington, Vermont to Charlotte, North Carolina.

“Today’s start of non-stop service to Charlotte is another step in the right direction for the Burlington International Airport and our region’s economy,” said Mayor Weinberger. “We welcome American Airlines’ Burlington to Charlotte service to our Airport and encourage the region to use this great new travel option.”

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Chamber of Commerce announced Tuesday the selection of Janette Bombardier as its 2015 Citizen of the Year. Bombardier’s contributions to Vermont will be celebrated at an awards dinner on Thursday, October 29 at The Essex Resort & Spa. Bombardier was selected by the Vermont Chamber of Commerce for the Citizen of the Year Award for her extensive community involvement and continual devotion to the betterment of Vermont.

A Colchester resident, Bombardier is currently the Senior Location Executive at GLOBALFOUNDRIES Fab 9 in Essex Junction, and has served on the Governor’s Council on Economic Advisors and Congressman Welch’s Business Advisory Board. She also serves on the Boards of the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, Merchants Bank and the Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies as well as the Vermont Workforce Development Advisory Board.

Vermont Business Magazine Gifford Medical Center in Randolph was notified last week that it has earned the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) ENERGY STAR certification. The national certification signifies that the building meets strict energy efficiency performance levels set by the EPA and performs in the top 25 percent of similar facilities nationwide for energy efficiency.

Gifford’s Director of Facilities Doug Pfohl notes that while this EPA ranking does not include buildings outside of the main medical center campus in Randolph, energy efficiency has been incorporated into all improvements and new building projects at Gifford since the 1980’s. The hospital has previously ranked high in the national Healthier Hospitals Greenhealth program.