Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont State Auditor Doug Hoffer today released the findings of a performance audit that details the billing practices and state oversight of 11 nonprofit community centers that provide developmental disability and mental health services. These organizations, called the designated agencies, provide a range of services to adults with mental illness, children and adolescents with severe emotional disturbances, and individuals with developmental disabilities. In the audit, Hoffer writes that the state oversight mechanisms "generally did not include a systematic comparison of budgeted to actual services for inclusive rate programs. Without such comparisons, DAIL and DMH cannot ensure that clients are receiving the planned services and that the payments being made reflect the services being performed and are not too much or too little."

Vermont Business Magazine Pam Mackenzie has resigned from the South Burlington City Council, effective today, October 15. Mackenzie has been a lightning rod on several high-profile issues. She ascended to chair of the council as a pro-F-35 member and was able to reverse the council's stance from opposing the F-35 to supporting the jet fighter. The US Air Force subsequently awarded the Vermont Air Guard, located at the Burlington International Airport, the fighter wing. The airport is located in South Burlington. She also was chair of the Vermont PBS board and was involved in closed door meetings that ultimately led to the resignation of then VPT President John King and to a reprimand of the station by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, in July 2014, for holding those meetings without proper notice.

by Timothy McQuiston Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont entrepreneurs who came up with an innovative business model which trucks natural gas to industrial customers off the natural gas pipeline system have sold a controlling interest in their Milton, Vermont, firm. Clean Energy Fuels Corp (NASDAQ: CLNE) on Wednesday announced that it has acquired from Tom and Mary Evslin a controlling interest in NG Advantage LLC for $37.6 million. NG Advantage is a pioneer in the natural gas “virtual pipeline” delivery system. The natural gas is compressed (not liquefied) and specially designed trucks deliver it to the customer, where the truck then also serves as the storage facility. Clean energy said in a statement that the NG Advantage investment will primarily be used to fund capital expenditures for expansion and growth in that business.

by Morgan True vtdigger.org Advocates pressed for increased state funding for higher education and business incentives, even as the governor is calling for level-funded or reduced spending across state government. Ben Johnson, president of the Vermont chapter of the American Federation of Teachers, said Tuesday that the state has underfunded higher education for 35-years and the state college system is nearing the breaking point. “There’s no more fat to cut,” said Johnson, a librarian at Vermont Technical College.

Betsy Bishop, executive director of the Vermont Chamber of Commerce. Courtesy photo

by Morgan True vtdigger.org Vermont expanded its contract with technology firm Optum by $14.3 million last week, further cementing its role as the company that will likely complete the underperforming Vermont Health Connect exchange. The exchange website is currently down for maintenance and to allow the state to address security issues. It lacks an automated tool for users to update their coverage or personal information, and small businesses mandated into the exchange have never been able to use the website.

State officials have said not to expect those functions to be there when the site is brought back online, sometime before open enrollment, which begins Nov. 15.

Optum is helping the state prepare for a rush of traffic during open enrollment, when many existing users will renew coverage and new users are expected to create accounts.

The State of Vermont is banking on tourism to keep booming. The summer and fall have been strong and the ski industry has had two of its most successful seasons on record the last two years. Governor Peter Shumlin said great weather and targeted advertising, with more than $300,000 focused on the fall season alone, prompted a strong summer and foliage tourism season in Vermont. More than 4 million people visited Vermont this summer from around the world, and the early reports from around the state regarding foliage visitors has been promising. In addition, the Department of Tourism and Marketing is fine-tuning a $350,000 winter ad campaign to ensure this ski and snowboard season gets off to a strong start.

A Massachusetts-based paid fundraiser has agreed to settle claims by the Vermont Attorney General that it misrepresented itself as a charity in calls to Vermonters and failed to disclose prior legal action by the Ohio Attorney General in violation of Vermont law. Integral Resources, Inc ran fundraising campaigns seeking donations from Vermonters for the national chapters of the American Council of the Blind and the League of Conservation Voters. During fundraising calls for these campaigns, callers from IRI repeatedly suggested they were calling from the charity itself, not from a for-profit fundraiser. When calling potential donors, IRI used phrases such as: “We can make a difference, but we need your renewed support;” and “It is because of the support and generosity of people like you that we are able to provide essential services.”

Vermont’s Governor’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities (GCEPD) announced the first employer award recipients for the “Spirit of the ADA” Awards. The Vermont “Spirit of the ADA” Award is given to employers who reflect the spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act in their employment practices. Every day, people with disabilities can and do add value to America’s workplaces. However, in both good economic times and bad, people with disabilities have far fewer job opportunities than the general population. The goal of the GCEPD is to promote the hiring, retention and advancement of people with disabilities and to dispel stereotypes about disability and employment. The employers who are recognized for this award have been exemplary in their employment of people with disabilities, and the employees have been successful contributors to their respective businesses.

by Patricia Moulton, the Secretary of the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development The Agency of Commerce is compelled to correct several inaccurate allegations that VTDigger published in the October 5 story “VTDigger Exclusive: EB-5 Investors Question State’s Watchdog Role.” The article (which subsequntly ran on vermontbiz.com) incorrectly alleges that the state should have demanded quarterly reports from Jay Peak Resorts, but did not, thus not adequately monitoring the project.

Green Mountain Power is looking to help eight non-profit groups capture the sun to lower their energy costs and generate more clean, renewable energy for Vermont. Green Mountain Power today announced that it is once again sponsoring a program to help eight non-profits construct solar arrays. The Vermont Public Service Board approved a GMP proposal to award eight matching grants of up to $20,000 each to non-profit groups all across Vermont, and GMP is encouraging organizations to apply.

Mary Powell speaks at the Stafford Hill solar project in Rutland in August. Courtesy photo.

FirstLight Fiber, a facilities-based telecommunications service provider operating fiber optic networks in Upstate New York and Northern New England with connectivity to Canada, announced today that it has completed its acquisition of substantially all of the assets of New Hampshire-based G4 Communications, including G4's customer base and data center located at 77 Sundial in Manchester, New Hampshire. FirstLight's local headquarters is in Williston, Vermont.

Two leading statewide associations representing Vermont’s Designated and Specialized Service Agencies have formed a partnership to better serve Vermonters affected by developmental disabilities, mental health conditions and substance use disorders. The Vermont Council of Developmental and Mental Health Services and the Vermont Care Network (formerly Behavioral Health Network of Vermont) have come together under the partnership of Vermont Care Partners to provide statewide leadership for an integrated, high quality system of comprehensive services and supports.

The two organizations have launched a new, joint website. (www.VermontCarePartners.org).