Current News

Despite lower gasoline and diesel fuel prices in the second half of 2014, the registrations of fuel-efficient clean diesel and hybrid cars and SUVS both showed double-digit increases in vehicle registrations in 2014, according to the latest data compiled by IHS Automotive for the Diesel Technology Forum. Vermont ranks 10th in growth of diesel vehicles sold from 2013 to 2014..

Diesel cars and SUVs showed an increase of 13.5 percent in 2014 over 2013, and hybrid cars and SUVS increased by 15.1 percent.

Mindy S Lubber, one of the world’s most influential leaders in harnessing capitalism for positive environmental outcomes, will be Green Mountain College’s 2015 commencement speaker on Saturday, May 16. Lubber is the president of Ceres, the leading US coalition of investors and environmental leaders working to improve corporate environmental, social and governance practices. Ceres has succeeded in persuading more than 1000 companies to sign its “Climate Declaration” urging Congress to adopt new laws to combat global warming. She also directs the Investor Network on Climate Risk (INCR), an alliance of more than 100 institutional investors representing over $10 trillion in assets.

The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (VAAFM) is pleased to announce the publication of a new resource, Using Food Hubs to Create Sustainable Farm to School Programs (available here), which explores the key roles that Food Hubs can play in the development, support, and maintenance of successful Farm to School (FTS) programs. While Food Hubs remain a relatively new and evolving concept within the national food movement, Vermont is home to over a dozen Food Hubs, whose missions range from the aggregation, processing, and distribution of locally made foods, to consumer education, to farmer/producer technical assistance.

The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets (VAAFM) has announced the availability of grant funds for the purpose of enhancing the competitiveness of Vermont specialty crops including fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, horticulture and nursery crops. These funds are awarded through a competitive review process guided by industry, nonprofit and government stakeholders. Interested applicants may download the Vermont Specialty Crop Block Grant Program Request for Proposals on the Agency’s website.

Public Assets Institute Fewer Vermonters were working in 2014 than in 2004, according to revised figures from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. The decade of stagnant employment contrasts with the previous 10 years. In 2004 the average number of working Vermonters was 34,000 greater than in 1994. The revised figures also show that employment has declined for the last three years, after a brief recovery following the recession.

On Wednesday, March 18, Lyndon State College President Joe Bertolino announced details of a plan developed to “right size” the College’s budget in response to projected deficits in the coming years. The College entered the 2014-15 academic year with an unexpectedly large decline in new students — resulting in a $1.5 million gap that was closed with a combination of one-time initiatives including budget cuts, increased efficiencies, a hiring freeze, and monies from reserves. The plan also includes the layoff of five staff memebers and the cutting of some adjunct positions.

The issue of climate change is one that affects everyone across the globe especially people in vulnerable communities from Vanuatu to Red Hook. But what has been clear for sometime now, is that to change everything, it’s going to take everyone. These impacts will affect everyone alike and require an equivalent response for people to step up and take action. Ben & Jerry’s has long fought to bring this issue into the spotlight and stimulate change, and 2015 is no different. The ice cream maker is taking to the streets in its new emissions-free Tesla retro-fitted ice cream vehicle to deliver free scoops of ice cream and encouragement for fans to join the climate movement. The year-long Save our Swirled campaign will inspire citizens around the world to support the global climate movement by joining Avaaz and calling on world leaders to support a transition to 100 percent clean energy.

Governor Peter Shumlin kicked off Vermont's 2015 maple sugar season Tuesday, officially tapping a tree at Slopeside Syrup, in Richmond. The governor was joined by Vermont Agriculture Secretary Chuck Ross and students from Richmond Elementary, who tap trees at Slopeside as part of their “farm to school” curriculum.

Slopeside Syrup is located on the grounds of Cochran’s Ski Area, a not-for-profit ski center founded in 1961 by Mickey and Ginny Cochran. The sugaring operation was established in 2011 by four of Mickey and Ginny’s grandchildren: Jim Cochran, Tim Kelley, and Roger and Douglas Brown.

“For more than fifty years, Vermont’s young people have come to Cochran’s to learn how to ski,” Shumlin said. “Today, they are learning another essential Vermont skill…sugar-making!”

Mayor Miro Weinberger today responded to the retirement announcement of Burlington Police Chief Michael Schirling, in which he informed the Mayor of his plans to retire on June 30, 2015. Schirling has served the City of Burlington through his work at the Burlington Police Department for more than 25 years, including his seven years of service as Chief of Police beginning in February 2008.

“Michael Schirling has been one of the great Chiefs of the proud, 150-year-old Burlington Police Department,” said Mayor Weinberger. “Chief Schirling joined BPD as an Auxiliary Police Officer while still in college and worked his way up the ranks, showing great energy, innovation, and compassion throughout his 25 years. As Chief, he modernized the Department, deepened its community ties, and confronted squarely growing social challenges. It has been an honor to serve with Chief Schirling, and I wish him much success and happiness with his future plans.”

Crystal Rock Holdings, Inc (NYSE MKT: CRVP), which also does business under the name Vermont Pure brand, has announced its financial results for its fiscal quarter that ended January 31, 2015. These results will be filed on Form 10-Q with the Securities and Exchange Commission today. Total sales for the first quarter of fiscal year 2015 decreased 4 percent to $17.7 million compared to $18.4 million during the same period in fiscal 2014.

Gross profit decreased for the quarter ended January 31, 2015 to $8.0 million from $8.4 million for the same period a year earlier. Gross profit as a percentage of sales was 45 percent in both periods.

Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC) and VITL recently completed the final phases of a hospital interface project that developed five connections to transmit health data from the hospital to the Vermont Health Information Exchange (VHIE), the statewide health data network operated by VITL.

The five interfaces were built to:

Vermont Business Magazine The number of jobs created in January showed a modest increase, as the jobless rate itself remained the same as December and the same from last year. Construction and Hospitality were up, while Manufacturing and Business Services were down.

The Vermont Department of Labor announced today that the seasonally-adjusted statewide unemployment rate for January 2015 was 4.1 percent. At this level, the statewide unemployment rate held steady from the revised December rate (4.1 percent). The seasonally adjusted Vermont data for January show the Vermont civilian labor force decreased by 100 from the prior month estimates. The number of employed increased by 200 and the number of unemployed decreased by 250. None of the over-the-month changes were statistically significant in the seasonally-adjusted series.