Current News

Governor Peter Shumlin says the growing ‘opiate epidemic’ in Vermont will be a ‘major focus’ of his administration this legislative session, along with resolving a $70 million budget gap and laying the groundwork for his signature single-payer health care system in 2017.
Opiate addiction will be the overarching theme of the governor’s State of the State address on Wednesday. Shumlin will mention the documentary ‘Hungry Heart,’ a film by Bess O’Brien that documents the lives of Vermonters who are struggling with addiction. Dustin Machia, a recovering addict, and his doctor, Fred Holmes, will be in the audience.

In a case with nationwide implications that has been praised by anti-smoking advocates, Vermont has recovered $8.3 million in civil penalties and permanent injunctive relief from RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company. The recovery follows a successful lawsuit filed by Vermont Attorney General Bill Sorrell in 2005 charging Reynolds with making unsubstantiated advertising claims concerning the health consequences of using one of its tobacco products. In 2010, the trial court found that Reynolds did not conduct sufficient scientific studies to support its advertising claims that a non-traditional cigarette, Eclipse, would reduce smokers’ chances of developing cancer. The court later awarded the State $8.3 million in civil penalties for the violations and issued a permanent injunction against Reynolds to prevent similar conduct in the future.

People’s United Community Foundation, the philanthropic arm of People’s United Bank, announced today that it has awarded $113,000 in grants to nonprofit organizations throughout the communities it serves in Vermont.’
A total of 26 nonprofit organizations received grants in 2013. Funding supported programs such as basic needs services, financial literacy, workforce development and job placement, life skills training, first-time homebuyer programs, affordable housing development, education initiatives and after-school programs.’ Recipients included Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity, Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity, Vermont Works for Women, and the Committee on Temporary Shelter, among other local organizations.’

by Alicia Freese vtdigger.org Governor Peter Shumlin set the tone for the 2013 legislative session by devoting his entire inaugural address to education. He offered an array of proposals to bolster both early education and postsecondary opportunities.
This year the governor’s focus will shift to curbing opiate addiction in Vermont, but the 2014 session will nevertheless start with two separate education summits ‘ one organized by lawmakers, the other by the Shumlin administration ‘ and the focus will be on how the state pays for public education and whether taxpayers are getting an adequate return on the investment. (Vermont spends more per pupil than any other state.)
The cost-benefit question will define much of the discussion in the House Education Committee, according Rep. Peter Peltz, D-Woodbury, who serves as vice chair.

On December 12, a group of dairy farmers and dairy industry representatives met in Montpelier, Vermont for the first board meeting of DairyVision Vermont, a forward thinking program to assist and support dairy farm operations in building successful businesses. ‘ DairyVision Vermont will organize service provider teams composed of experts in all the aspects of dairy operations to work with individual farms to identify and implement steps to enhance profitable dairy production.’
DairyVision Vermont has secured a group of nationally recognized service providers, hired administrative staff and secured funding to launch the program. ‘

The Kelly Brush Foundation has awarded more than $135,000 in grants to both better the quality of life for those with spinal cord injury (SCI) and improve ski racing safety, foundation president Charlie Brush announced. Grants were awarded to individuals for adaptive sports gear and participation and to ski racing clubs and organizations for safety equipment.

The total amount granted, $135,853, represents the most support, in funds and number of grants awarded, since the foundation's inception eight years ago.

The Vermont Chamber of Commerce has unveiled its 2014 legislative priorities with support for sustained funding for tourism promotion and workforce training. In addition to these important investments in Vermont’s economy, the statewide business organization advocates policies that create a healthy business climate, better integration of regulations, and fewer state mandates.
‘As businesses plan for greater job growth and capital investment, they look for certainty and predictability from government in tax policy, regulation and other areas that impact their costs,’ said Betsy Bishop, President of the Vermont Chamber of Commerce. ‘Our five-person lobbying team will work with policy makers to ensure support for our key business issues to increase opportunities and prosperity for all Vermonters.’

The ribbon is cut at the Rutland Region Chamber of Commerce Ribbon Cutting at the new downtown Rutland ticket office of Cape Air which is located at 118 West Street, Suite 104 in Rutland (next to Small Dog Electronics). The downtown office is open 6 days per week for information and ticket purchases and also acts as a call center for reservations on Cape Air.’
Cape Air, A JetBlue partner, operates three daily round trip flights from Rutland Southern Vermont Regional Airport to Boston Logan Airport with connections throughout the world.’ For more information on Cape Air go to www.capeair.com.
Front
Tom Donahue, EVP/CEO, Rutland Region Chamber of Commerce
Mike Coppinger, Executive Director, Downtown Rutland Partnership
Peg Bauer ‘ Cape Air
Tracy Adams ‘ Cape Air
Linda Fitzgerald ‘ Cape Air
Joe Flanders ‘ Cape Air
Jacqueline Donohoo ‘ Cape Air

by Alicia Freese vtdigger.org Several contentious labor bills have risen to the top of the 2014 agenda for Vermont lawmakers this year.
A years-in-the-making effort to mandate that businesses provide seven days of paid sick leave to their employees has gained momentum since lawmakers departed in May.
The Senate will also return to a topic that’s produced a series of political skirmishes during the past several years ‘ whether independent child care workers should be able to join a union.
A group of Democratic and Progressive lawmakers in the House and Senate will push the Legislature to raise the minimum wage substantially.

In an effort to recognize and honor Vermont’s best companies, Vermont Business Magazine’ and the Vermont Chamber of Commerce’ created the Deane C Davis Outstanding Business of the Year Award in 1990. Named for the former Governor of Vermont, this annual award honors a Vermont business that shows an outstanding history of sustained growth while displaying an acute awareness of what makes Vermont unique.’ ‘
Each year’ Vermont Business Magazine and the Vermont Chamber of Commerce and’ present the Deane C Davis Outstanding Business of the Year Award during the annual Vermont Chamber Business & Industry EXPO. The award is given to the Vermont business that has made exceptional accomplishments on a consistent basis and demonstrated success by:’

Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (VBSR) has announced the appointment of three new members to its Board of Directors.
‘The staff and current board of VBSR are pleased to welcome three talented and capable people to serve on the VBSR Board of Directors. These new leaders will help VBSR continue to be a vital and positive force for socially responsible business policy and practices in Vermont,’ said Andrea Cohen, Executive Director of VBSR. ‘These new board members will play a critical role in ensuring that the mission and goals of VBSR are successfully obtained. The 2014 Board is diverse in size, sector, and geographic region. VBSR has never been stronger or more relevant.’’
The three new board members are: Mike Burak, Jennifer Chiodo and Bret Hodgdon.
Mike Burak - Burak Anderson and Melloni PLC.

New unemployment claims spiked again last week as seasonal layoffs continue to drive the surge. However, despite the high number, it is actually fewer claims than a year ago. For’ the week of December 28, 2013, there were 2,234 new, regular benefit claims for Unemployment Insurance in Vermont. This is an increase of 928 from the previous week's total, and 273 fewer than they were a year ago.
Mathew Barewicz, economic and labor market information chief at the Vermont Department of Labor, said the unemployment claim pattern is typical this time of year in Vermont, he said, as the economy transitions from warm to cold weather labor requirements and also reflects temporary hires and layoffs.