Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Average gasoline prices in Vermont are $3.22 per gallon, down 1.9 cents per gallon from last week's $3.24/g. The lowest price in the state yesterday was $2.97/g while the highest was $3.39/g, a difference of 42.0 cents per gallon. The national average price of gasoline has risen 10.0 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.34/g today. "As we enter the madness we tend to see in March with refinery maintenance hitting its peak, impacting how much gasoline can be produced as we make the changeover to the summer blends."

Vermont Business Magazine As Vermonters patiently wait for spring temperatures, the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) invites the public to report when Vermont’s lakes and ponds lose their ice cover. Also known as the “ice-out date,” this date marks when lakes or ponds become ice-free from shore to shore. Tracking ice-out dates helps DEC scientists decide when to begin seasonal water quality sampling efforts. When ice covers lakes, the water below separates into layers based on temperature and density. When the surface ice fully melts in the spring, the heavy cold water sinks and the water column fully mixes. 

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today made a formal request to President Joe Biden for a Major Disaster Declaration to help communities and public utilities in Chittenden, Essex, Franklin, Lamoille, and Orleans counties recover costs for repair of public infrastructure damage caused by damaging storms from January 9 – 13, 2024. If granted, a federal Major Disaster Declaration unlocks Federal Emergency Management Agency Public Assistance Program funding to reimburse municipalities and public utilities for 75% of eligible costs like power restoration, debris removal, road and public building repairs, and staff overtime responding to and cleaning up after the storm.

SBA Vermont District Office T.H.R.I.V.E. Emerging Leaders Reimagined is an executive-level training series designed to develop strong leaders and accelerate the growth of high-potential small businesses across the United States. Since its inception as E-200 in 2008, the series has trained more than 8,000 small business owners, creating over 11,000 jobs, generating nearly $1 billion in new financing, and securing over $4 billion in government contracts. The application is open for 2024 cohorts including one here in Vermont. 

Vermont Business Magazine If you would like to learn how to effectively hunt wild turkey gobblers in the upcoming spring hunting season, consider attending the turkey hunting seminar being offered by the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and volunteer instructors on Saturday, March 23. Learning to Hunt Spring Turkeys, designed specifically for new hunters, will be held on Saturday, March 23, from 9 am to 4 pm at the Waterbury-Stowe Fish & Game Club, 5365 Waterbury-Stowe Rd, Waterbury Center, VT 05677. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Language Justice Project, which started as a volunteer effort to disseminate crucial information to folks throughout the pandemic speaking languages other than English, will celebrate four years of operation on March 18th which was when their first video was posted on the Vermont Multi Lingual Corona Virus Task Force YouTube Channel in Somali. This video shared lifesaving details about what the virus was and how to take care of oneself. Four years later with three full-time members of staff and 17 contractors working in 18 languages, VLJP has produced over 2,045 videos with over 183,000 views on YouTube, and now boasts 800 subscribers. We are now foreseeing a funding crunch as our major funding will end at the end of this year and are exploring creative means of keeping this important work alive. 

Vermont Business Magazine Today, millions of Xfinity Internet customers are waking up to faster speeds at no additional cost. As the need for data increases in ever-connected households, Xfinity is ensuring customers can stream, surf, and share on a network and service they can rely on today and in the future. Starting today, new and existing customers can take advantage of the following speed increases: Connect: 75 Mbps to 150 Mbps; Connect More: 200 Mbps to 300 Mbps; Fast: 400 Mbps to 500 Mbps; Xfinity Prepaid: 50 Mbps to 200 Mbps

by Don Tinney, Vermont-NEA My fellow 13,000 members and I know that last night’s rejection of nearly a third of all school budgets isn’t a repudiation of our local public schools and the tens of thousands of Vermont students they serve every day. Rather, it’s a reasonable reaction to completely unrealistic spikes in property taxes driven by events over which our dedicated local school boards have no control. We know that local communities are struggling, and most can’t afford year-over-year property tax increases of the sort proposed this week. For years, we have advocated for a simpler and fairer way to pay for our schools than the regressive property tax: an education income tax that will raise more money from those most able to afford it. 

Vermont Business Magazine The UVM Health Network’s program for patients who need help affording prescriptions, navigating insurance coverage, and accessing eyeglasses and medical equipment is supporting more patients and families than ever before. In 2023, the Health Assistance Program (HAP) helped 6,368 patients obtain life-saving medication, and helped hundreds more enroll in health insurance and other state and federal programs, or access other critical health resources through the team’s advocacy and support. For patients who qualify, all co-pays and costs are waived for both brand-name and generic prescriptions – totaling 87,000 prescriptions in 2023. Overall, HAP covered $7.5 million in costs last year that would have come out of lower-income patients’ pockets for medication.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, US Senators Peter Welch (D-Vermont), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) sent a letter to U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Gary Gensler raising concerns of potential greenwashing in ExxonMobil’s acquisition of Pioneer Natural Resources (Pioneer) and Chevron Corporation’s acquisition of Hess Corporation, despite both companies’ public commitments to key climate goals. The Senators urged the SEC to clarify its investigative practices during mergers for firms that make climate pledges. This comes as the SEC is reportedly considering issuing a ruling in the coming days that could roll back proposed greenhouse gas emissions disclosure regulations for large companies and corporations. 

by Norah White, Community News Service House lawmakers are discussing a new bill that would prohibit people from flying drones less than 100 feet above private property with the intent to conduct surveillance. “Hovering over someone’s house technically qualifies as stalking,” Rep. Josie Leavitt, D-Grand Isle, one of the sponsors of the bill, H.284, said in an interview. The goal of the bill is to protect the privacy of homeowners, a concern Leavitt said came up recently in talks with constituents.

Vermont Business Magazine Neagley & Chase in 2024 commemorating 40 years of helping commercial customers execute a wide array of building projects. Neagley & Chase, based in South Burlington, is one of northern New England's most respected and diverse construction firms. Started by Mark R. Neagley in 1984, the company provides high-quality construction services that range from historic renovations to large commercial and institutional facilities. In its 40 years, Neagley & Chase has completed numerous projects in industry sectors, including manufacturing, food & beverage, office, education, municipal wastewater, housing, and historic preservation. The company has won numerous awards for its work in sustainability, historic preservation, and construction.