Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Last week, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont) joined Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) in writing to JPMorgan Chase (JPM) CEO Jamie Dimon, criticizing his company’s about-face on nearly two decades of climate and environmental commitments and raising questions about whether JPM has been misleading investors and the public. Over nearly two decades, JPM made several “binding commitments” on climate and environmental issues. In 2006, the company joined the Equator Principles, a set of bare minimum industry standards that help financial institutions address environmental, social, and governance risks in their work. JPM also committed to meeting the goals of the 2015 Paris Agreement and the Climate Action 100+. 

Vermont Business Magazine NPR is joining Vermont Public and the other members of the New England News Collaborative to establish a regional newsroom that boosts their joint ability to deliver multimedia journalism that helps people engage more meaningfully in their communities. The move builds on the success of the NENC, founded in 2015 with support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and NPR’s four existing regional newsrooms. The regional newsroom model allows groups of stations to plan coverage together, share resources and dig into the most important stories in their regions – in close partnership with NPR. The NENC becomes the fifth regional newsroom, joining those in Texas, California, the Gulf States and the Midwest. The NENC is composed of 10 stations in six states from Connecticut to Maine, including Vermont Public. 

Northeastern Vermont Development Association  Vermont Emergency Management (VEM) is making it easier for municipalities to participate in the FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) for property buyouts and there is an unprecedented amount of funding available. Municipalities should fill out the simple, non-binding pre-application form by August 16, 2024 in order to ensure properties are appraised based upon their pre-flood value. Properties that apply later, under future funding rounds, will be appraised based on post-flood value.

Vermont Business Magazine On July 18th, 2024, at approximately 1731 hours, Troopers from the St. Albans Barracks were dispatched to a reported single vehicle crash in the area of 2352 Morey Road in the town of Highgate. Troopers responded to the scene and located a 2003 Subaru Outback with substantial damage due to rolling over multiple times. Preliminary investigation determined that the operator was Savannah Lambert, age 31, of St Albans. Lambert succumbed to the injuries sustained from the crash. Lambert was not wearing her seatbelt at the time of the crash. There were two juveniles in the vehicle at the time of the crash. Both were restrained in child safety seats and suffered no injuries. 

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Labor today reported that the seasonally adjusted statewide unemployment rate for June was 2.1%. This reflects no change from the prior month’s revised estimate. Vermont is tied for the second lowest rate in the nation with North Dakota. South Dakota has the lowest rate (2.0%), while Nevada and California have the highest rates (5.2%). The comparable United States rate in June was 4.1%, an increase of one-tenth of one percentage point from the revised May estimate. The civilian labor force participation rate was 65.7% in June, an increase of one-tenth of one percentage point from the prior month’s revised estimate. Due to a global technology outage, there will be a delay in updating the VTLMI.info website. Information will be updated once available.

Vermont Business Magazine On Monday night, workers at the Starbucks coffee shop in Essex voted 16 to 6 to join Starbucks Workers United. The Essex partners join a growing nationwide movement of 10,500 baristas at 460+ stores working together to bring collective bargaining to the workplace, including protections for core issues like partner equity, living wages, fair scheduling practices, and employee expectations. The organizing campaign has won election after election in stores nationwide.  

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Weekly unemployment claims rose slightly last week. For the week ending July 13, 2024, new claims were 305, mostly back to their usual summer lows. Service claims remain somewhat elevated, but Manufacturing claims are at their typically low level after a spike in June. The Vermont Department of Labor said because of the timing of the report, these claims are not affected by the July 10 floods that hit central and northeast Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation is holding a second public meeting to present plans for improvements to North Hero State Park, located in North Hero, Vermont. The meeting will be held from 5:30 pm to 7 pm on August 8, 2024, at Knight Point State Park. The revisioning of North Hero State Park proposes improvements to the day use experience, including accessibility, safety, and stormwater management improvements, while removing infrastructure and revegetating areas that supported previous campground operations.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Brewers Festival is THIS Weekend, July 19-20! Burlington, VT - This weekend, more than 6,000 craft beer enthusiasts are set to experience the 31st Vermont Brewers Festival at Waterfront Park from July 19th-20th. Organized by the Vermont Brewers Association (VBA), which has been hosting this event since 1991, this year’s event will showcase 32 Vermont Breweries, along with 11 breweries from out-of-state and Canada. Attendees will have the opportunity to sample over 200 different beers over the two days, including many exclusive and collaborative beers. All proceeds of the Vermont Brewers Festival go to support the Vermont Brewers Association, a 501c6 non-profit founded in 1995 to promote and strengthen the culture of craft brewing in Vermont through marketing, education, and advocacy for Vermont made beer. 

Vermont Business Magazine Wednesday, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont) toured flood damage from the remnants of Tropical Storm Beryl, which impacted communities across Vermont. Senator Welch heard from residents and local community leaders in Hardwick about the challenges of recovering from last week’s flooding while still rebuilding from the July 2023 floods. Senator Welch also surveyed flood damage at the wastewater treatment facility and a local farm, where the Lamoille River took out a bridge leading to one of the region’s leading providers of local produce. 

VT DMV Enforcement and Safety responded to a report of a commercial motor vehicle versus pedestrian crash with injuries at the Casella transfer station in East Montpelier. Upon arrival, Zebulon Maynard, 42 of Duxbury, VT had been transported from the scene by EMS. During the investigation it was learned that Ryan Myers, 35 of Colchester, VT, was operating a 2018 Western Star roll-off container truck and was backing into the transfer station. 

Vermont Business Magazine Over the next four days, the American Red Cross will host emergency disaster supply distribution sites in several communities across Vermont. At these sites, Red Cross volunteers will be handing out water and clean-up kits. These kits contain: bucket, cleaner (typically bleach), mask, gloves, garbage bags, brush, mop, brooms, squeegee and handles. All Red Cross assistance is provided free of charge and made possible by the generosity of the public.