Current News

by tim

Vermont Business Magazine Agreement provides targeted pay enhancements, recruitment and retention bonuses, and seeks to expand efforts to resolve the Department’s staffing crisis. The Vermont Department of Corrections (DOC) on Friday announced a new agreement between DOC and the Vermont State Employees’ Association, Inc., designed to expand the Department’s Stability and Sustainability Plan, provide targeted pay enhancements for security staff and senior officers, and continue DOC’s 50/50 Work-Life Balance Schedule of 12-hour shifts for seven of 14 days in a pay period. The agreement expands upon the July 2022 agreement that increased compensation for facility staff and transitioned scheduling to decrease mandated overtime.

by tim

Vermont Nature Conservancy After a decade at the helm, Heather Furman will be stepping down as Vermont state director of the Nature Conservancy (TNC) on June 2. Furman has been a high impact leader in Vermont’s conservation arena for the past 25 years, previously serving as executive director of Stowe Land Trust, co-founder of the Climbing Resource Access Group of Vermont, and holding various positions in state and federal government prior to joining the Nature Conservancy. Under Furman’s leadership, the Vermont chapter significantly expanded its scope and impact with notable contributions including launching new freshwater and policy programs, adding tens of thousands of conserved and restored acres to public and private ownership, and pioneering innovative climate focused forest carbon initiatives.

by tim

Vermont Business Magazine Recognizing the power of the arts to educate and inspire, the Vermont Arts Council and the Vermont Community Foundation are pleased to announce another allocation of funding to support the state’s creative sector through a philanthropic partnership established three years ago. The funding will help artists follow their inspiration and create new work. It will also support arts organizations, municipalities, and schools that strive to provide equal and abundant access to the arts in Vermont.

by tim

Vermont Business Magazine The Sticky Brand and Vermont Green Football ClubSticky Brand, one of America's fastest-growing custom sticker companies, is proud to announce a season-long partnership with Vermont Green Football Club, the newest sports team in Vermont. This partnership was formed during the inaugural season, and Sticky Brand's ecological consciousness and social justice values align perfectly with Vermont Green FC's mission to create positive role models while bringing the highest level of soccer to Vermont. Vermont Green's mission is to create an equalizer sport that supports all backgrounds, and Sticky Brand is excited to be a part of this movement. This sponsorship adds to Sticky Brand's growing list of partnerships, including the Vermont Lake Monsters, VMBA, and POW.

by tim

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Warden Service is actively investigating an illegally shot deer in the town of Pomfret. On April 26, game wardens responded to reports of an adult female deer (doe) shot out of season on Cloudland Road. The doe was found alive and was euthanized due to its injuries. A necropsy found that the doe had been pregnant with twin fawns. As the investigation continues the Vermont Warden Service is asking the public for any information on this incident.

by tim

Vermont Business Magazine Suburban Propane Partners, LP (NYSE: SPH), a nationwide distributor of propane, renewable propane, fuel oil and related products and services, as well as a marketer of natural gas and electricity and investor in low carbon fuel alternatives, is celebrating Earth Month 2023 with a series of nationwide initiatives cleaning up open spaces, beachfronts, parks and more. On Wednesday, April 26th, volunteers from Suburban Propane’s customer service center (CSC) in St Albans City joined representatives from the Franklin County Industrial Development Corporation (FDIC) to help clean up the industrial park near the CSC at 62 Industrial Park Road, in honor of Earth Month.

by tim

Vermont Business Magazine Today the Vermont Senate gave preliminary approval to H.230, the gun violence prevention bill, on a vote of 21-9. This bill seeks to reduce gun violence and prevent deaths by suicide by instituting a negligent storage provision, expanding eligible petitioners for Extreme Risk Protection Orders to family or household members and creating a 72-hour waiting period for firearm transfers. Data show that unsecured guns pose safety risks - in particular to youth - and that waiting periods are associated with reduced rates of both homicide and suicide by firearm.

by tim

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee on Friday joined the Scoopers of Ben & Jerry’s Burlington Scoop Shop as they announced that they are organizing a union and that Ben & Jerry’s has agreed to sign the Fair Election Principles, a code of corporate conduct for union elections to ensure that every worker can exercise their right to join a union without intimidation or harassment.

by tim

Vermont Business Magazine S.5, as amended by the House, was passed by the Senate on Thursday. S.5, An act relating to affordably meeting the mandated greenhouse gas reductions for the thermal sector through efficiency, weatherization measures, electrification, and decarbonization, is known as the "Affordable Heat Act." Governor Phil Scott today issued the following statement today: “From the start of this conversation, I have clearly, and repeatedly, said I agree we need to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, including in the thermal sector. However, I strongly believe the right approach is to help people make the transition, not financially punish those who cannot afford to do so... For these reasons and more, I will veto S.5"

by tim

Vermont Department of Labor Every day in the United States approximately 14 people lose their lives to work related injuries. On April 28th, 2023, Workers Memorial Day, the Vermont Department of Labor remembers and honors the family members, friends, and coworkers who are behind these somber statistics. The Vermont Occupational Safety and Health Administration (VOSHA) investigates several such fatalities each year. These deaths, as well as other incidents resulting in serious injury, are sober reminders of the need to focus on the safety and health of everyone who goes to work each day.

by tim

Vermont Business Magazine Jay Peak will operate its aerial Tram to round out the last weekend of daily lift operations before reopening for the weekend of May 6-7 for two final days of skiing and riding on the Jet Triple Chair. While early May lift operations at Jay Peak is a long-standing tradition, the resort attributes this late-season push to favorable snowmaking temperatures early in the season and a natural snowfall total to-date of 355 inches; just 4 inches shy of its season average. On Saturday, May 6th, the resort will also host its Green Up Day celebration, and considering terrain and resort services, outside of lodging and lifts, will be limited, encourages visitors to contribute to statewide efforts to freshen up Vermont’s roadsides for the summer season. Local noodle experts Miso Hungry will graciously offer complimentary onigiri rice balls for participants who turn in a bag of collected litter. They will also give green-uppers each a voucher for free Miso at a later visit to its repurposed Tram cabin Noodle Shop.