Current News

Vermont Business Magazine General Joseph Dunford, confirmed by the US Senate Wednesday as the top officer in the US military – chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff -- is a 1977 graduate of Saint Michael’s College who now serves as commandant of the Marine Corps. In early May, President Barack Obama named Dunford as his nominee for the post. At that time, Saint Michael’s President Jack Neuhauser noted that General Dunford has maintained a proud and fond identification with Saint Michael’s since the general graduated as a political science major in 1977.

By Deb Markowitz, Secretary, Vermont Agency of Natural Resources When Vermonters see a problem, we work to fix it. That is why earlier this year Vermont signed onto two historic climate agreements which will strengthen our state’s resolve to combat carbon pollution and transition to a new clean energy economy. In April, Governor Shumlin joined leaders from around the world to sign California’s bold “Under Two Memorandum of Understanding.” This agreement aligns our goals to reduce carbon pollution to the level of seriousness of the climate crisis.

Scientists broadly agree that we must not increase global temperature more than two degrees centigrade to avoid devastating climate impacts for our communities and our economies. Under this MOU, we are committing to the level of emissions reductions needed across the globe to do just that.

Vermont Business Magazine J Michael “Mike” Smiles joins Lake Champlain Maritime Museum (LCMM) as the new Executive Director. "Mike brings a breadth of experience that will broaden the Museum’s impact in reaching and serving diverse audiences through our collection of historic replica vessels, innovative education programs, hands-on rowing programs, publications, research, and permanent and traveling exhibits," said Board Chair Bob Beach. "We’re delighted to have him join our team of highly dedicated staff, committed volunteers, and engaged members and donors as we begin our 30th year of operation."

Mike Smiles Photo © Brett Simison

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Historical Society announced today that Jim Douglas, the former four-term governor of Vermont, has agreed to serve as the VHS’s part-time interim Executive Director while a national search is undertaken to replace Mark Hudson, who recently announced his fall departure. Douglas will begin his duties shortly and will overlap for a time with the departing Hudson.

Vermont Business Magazine After an exhaustive assessment of damages caused by the July 19-20 storm in Vermont, state officials have determined there does not exist enough loss for the state to request a federal disaster declaration. However, state resources could be available to communities to help cover the cost of repairing roads. The Vermont Division of Emergency Management & Homeland Security (DEMHS), Agency of Transportation (VTrans), Agency of Natural Resources (ANR), and Regional Planning Commissions (RPCs) worked with communities since the storm to determine the monetary value of damages to public roads, bridges, and other infrastructure. The total eligible damage is tallied at approximately $750,000 - short of the $1-million minimum damages the state is required to meet in order to request federal assistance.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Peter Shumlin announced today that he will appoint attorney Tom Carlson, presently of the Burlington and Middlebury law firm Langrock, Sperry, and Wool, LLP, to the Vermont trial bench. Carlson fills the seat left open by the retirement of Judge Linda Levitt. Tom Carlson has worked at Langrock since 1984, where his practice has ranged from family law and general litigation to business matters of all kinds, and to mediation. Carlson has trained as a mediator at both Harvard Law School and the Center for Dispute Resolution in Washington, DC.

Vermont Business Magazine Middlebury College and 22 to other colleges will be allowed to continue to use a common financial aid system. The US House of Representatives Monday night passed bipartisan legislation introduced by Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Ranking Member Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) and Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) to extend an expiring antitrust exemption that allows certain colleges and universities to continue to collaborate on issues of need-based financial aid. The legislation unanimously passed in the Senate on July 14 and cleared the House of Representatives by a vote of 378-0. This legislation will now be sent to President Obama for his signature.

by Seth Blanchard Selecting investments based on both financial considerations and personal values is nothing new in the investment universe. But what was once considered a “fringe” strategy is becoming an increasingly mainstream approach. Today, there is an increased awareness that choosing opportunities now referred to as Sustainable and Responsible Investing (SRI) can create good investment value.

The concept has matured in recent decades. At one time, much of the focus of SRI was to screen out specific types of companies, such as corporations involved in the tobacco business or defense contracting. The primary emphasis for socially responsible investors was on the values of a specific company, with its financial prospects playing a secondary, though still important role.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Electric Cooperative is encouraging its members to conserve energy on Wednesday, July 29 and Thursday, July 30 between the hours of 1 pm and 6 pm when demand for electricity is expected to spike as a result of high temperatures throughout New England.

Here is what you can do to help beat the peak:

• Turn off all unnecessary lights.

• Delay use of major appliances such as dishwashers, washing machines, and clothes dryers.

• Raise your thermostat or air conditioner by 3 degrees.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) announced today that the State of Vermont will receive $6.7 million in federal grants to develop prevention and preparedness programs to respond to and recover from acts of terrorism and other catastrophic events. The grants were awarded under a formula championed by Leahy to protect smaller states like Vermont and were made public by the US Department of Homeland Security Tuesday.

Leahy said, “Vermonters understand that it is crucial to be prepared. We saw how devastating Tropical Storm Irene was for our rural communities, and we remember how the Vermont Air National Guard were among the first to respond in the tragic aftermath of 9/11. These grants will ensure that our first responders across the state and in our communities have the resources they need to train for the unexpected and respond when the moment comes.”

Vermont will receive grant awards from two DHS programs:

Vermont Business Magazine New mothers from throughout Vermont and northern New York will enjoy modern, private rooms with ample space for their partners and visiting loved ones in the “Glen and Rosemarie Wright Mother Baby Unit” unveiled Tuesday at The University of Vermont Medical Center. The Wright's were the lead donors among the 800 individuals and organizations who helped support the $15.8 million project. The current “Mother Baby Unit” is located in facilities that are 50-70 years old and contains small rooms, most of which have two beds. Twenty-two single-bed rooms in the new unit will dramatically reduce double occupancy and provide 44 percent more space per room for patients and families. An additional 3 rooms will be able to accommodate two beds.

Other features that will enhance the patient experience include:

by Anne Galloway vtdigger.org A revised revenue forecast for fiscal year 2016 puts the state back in the black. State economists say the general fund tax receipts will grow by 3 percent in the coming year, or by $40 million. At the beginning of 2015, revenues were down by $18 million.The revised forecast, presented Monday by Jeffrey Carr, the economist for the Shumlin administration, and Tom Kavet, the economist for the Vermont Legislature, shows modest growth in the state’s economy.