Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The opening Friday of the newest US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Vermont Service Center (VSC) building, near the IBM campus in Essex, is a continuation of the agency’s effort to provide efficient services to those seeking immigration benefits. The $3.9 million facility houses approximately 275 employees. The VSC handles family-based petitions; requests for humanitarian visas, such as immigration relief for victims of crime or trafficking; and a range of benefits related to work petitions for entertainers, athletes, and specialty occupations.

by Hilary Niles vtdigger.org A single piece of legislation this spring encapsulates grand visions of the state’s economic future and specific strategies for shifting Vermont’s businesses and workforce into high gear. The omnibus economic development bill passed the House on Wednesday with overwhelming support. But representatives voted on a substantially different bill than the one senators approved in late March.

Vermont is the only East coast state to have three resorts open for May skiing and riding. Jay Peak Resort, Killington Resort, and Sugarbush Resort will be spinning lifts and shredding soft bumps and groomer track on over 50 trails this first weekend in May.

PHOTO: Pond skimming at Killington in April.

“Having this many resorts and this much terrain open is a huge testament to the quality of snow and rich ski culture that you can only find in Vermont,” said Sarah Wojcik, Ski Vermont’s Director of Public Affairs. “We can thank Mother Nature for a cold, snowy winter and our 80% snowmaking capacity for the long-lasting base we’re still skiing on in May.”

Saturday, May 3, 2014 marks the 192nd day in operation for Killington Resort. That adds up to over six months of skiing and riding, and made it possible for skiers and riders to ski 8 out of 12 months of the year; and there is no end in near sight.

Vermont Business Magazine The Tax Foundation has released its latest tax map showing the top state corporate income tax rates in 2014. Vermont and New Hampshire levy the same 8.5 percent rate, which is 12th highest, not including those states that levy a gross receipts tax. This map shows top corporate marginal tax rates in each state. Corporate income taxes vary widely, with Iowa taxing corporate income at a top rate of 12 percent (though the state allows deductibility of federal taxes paid), followed by Pennsylvania (9.99 percent), Minnesota (9.8 percent), Illinois (9.5 percent), and Alaska (9.4 percent). On the other end of the spectrum, North Dakota taxes corporate income at a top rate of 4.53 percent, followed by Colorado (4.63 percent), Georgia, Mississippi, and Utah (5 percent).

by Laura Krantz vtdigger.org Lawmakers agreed to a medical marijuana dispensary bill that includes a study of legalizing and taxing pot. The Senate on Wednesday voted to concur with House changes to S247. It now heads to Governor Peter Shumlin’s desk for his signature. The bill eliminates the cap on the number of patients allowed to use medical marijuana dispensaries, among other measures.

The House nixed the Senate’s approval of two additional dispensaries but agreed not to include post-traumatic stress disorder on the list of qualifying conditions for buying medical marijuana.

Vermont Gas kicked off a community engagement and planning process Wednesday for Phase Three of the Addison-Rutland Natural Gas Project.At the first of three open houses, Vermont Gas employees met one-on-one with local residents at “topic tables” to learn about converting to natural gas, energy efficiency and how natural gas can help families and employers cut their heating bills by about 50 percent.

“It was a pleasure to meet with folks from the Rutland area and start the discussion about how natural gas can help them save money, strengthen the economy and improve the environment,” said Jim Sinclair, vice president of sales, marketing and service for Vermont Gas. “People who attended Wednesday’s open house were eager to talk about our project and how Vermont Gas can help enhance the economic vitality of the Rutland County region.”

by Anne Galloway vtdigger.org As the Vermont House put the finishing touches on a plan to mandate school district mergers over a six-year period on Wednesday, the Senate Education Committee passed a separate piece of legislation that would create supervisory union efficiencies. Lawmakers passed H.883 in the House, 76-60, on the third reading with several new requirements, including a Joint Fiscal Office review of unfunded school mandates, a provision that will allow districts to work with private preschools, and an analysis of three groups of school districts that are going through the voluntary merger process.

Manchester, Vermont's Ai Squared, the maker of ZoomText and sitecues; and GW Micro of Indiana, the creator of Window-Eyes, have merged into one company. With this merger, the companies will combine their talents to better assist computer users who are blind or visually impaired.

A report published this week in Nature Climate Change indicated that ethanol made from corn residue can reduce soil carbon and increase CO2 emissions, indicating the harvested leftovers from corn are “worse than gasoline for global warming,” according to the Associated Press, who released the study results.

In Vermont the term “biofuel” and “bioenergy” are commonly used to refer to woody biomass (e.g., chips and pellets), anaerobic digestion (e.g., new manure and food scrap digester at Vermont Tech), and on-farm biodiesel production.

At a charging station in Montpelier this morning, Representative Peter Welch (D-Vermont) unveiled new legislation that makes electric vehicles more affordable for middle-income Vermonters and easier to purchase. Welch arrived at a Statehouse electric vehicle charging station driving a 2014 Ford Fusion Hybrid Energi provided by Lamoille Valley Ford.

“One of the biggest contributors to climate change in Vermont and across the country is vehicle emissions. It is essential that we transition to cleaner, more efficient transportation like electric vehicles,” said Welch. “The battery life and fuel efficiency of electric vehicles are steadily improving making them more accessible and practical to drive. This legislation will make them more affordable while saving Vermonters money at the gas pump and reducing their environmental footprint.”

Energtek Inc (OTCBB: EGTK), a leader in hi-tech natural gas solutions and Adsorbed Natural Gas (ANG) technology, announced today that two high profile experienced managers, Dr Timothy Nulty and Leslie Nulty have joined forces with Energtek. Towards its commercial activities in the USA, Energtek has established a fully-owned subsidiary, Energtek USAInc. In turn, Energtek USA has created Energtek North Country Inc for activities in the Vermont Region and Northeast United States. The company serves natural gas customers not directly on a gas pipeline by trucking compressed natural gas to the customer or localized distribution facility. Tim Nulty is still listed as the CEO of ValleyNet in White River Junction and was the General Manager of Burlington Telecom until stepping down in 2007.

To celebrate ash tree awareness, Governor Shumlin has designated Friday, May 2 as Vermont’s official 2014 Arbor Day. This year’s Arbor Day theme celebrates Vermont’s 160 million ash trees (genus Fraxinus) and the benefits they bring. Vermont’s official Arbor Day celebration will be held in Johnson this year to recognize the community’s proactive initiatives and support local efforts to prepare for the possible arrival of emerald ash borer (EAB). Arbor Day also marks the culmination of Ash Tree Awareness Week in Vermont.