Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General Charity Clark has led a coalition of state Attorneys General in filing public comments on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) latest vehicle emissions settlement regarding “defeat devices” installed in a group of RAM truck models. These devices cause the vehicles to emit much higher levels of air pollution than permitted by the State’s vehicle emissions regulations, giving rise to a series of consumer and environmental claims against the manufacturer, Cummins Inc. The EPA’s $1.5 billion proposed settlement with Cummins Inc. and the State of California does not include mitigation funds or other relief for many impacted states, including Vermont. Attorney General Clark has requested that the U.S. Department of Justice and California delay entering into the settlement so that Vermont and other states may join the negotiations.

Vermont Business Magazine Cetane Associates has announced that Dead River Company, based in Maine, has acquired Bourne’s, Inc, a full-service propane, heating fuels, and pellets delivery business located in Morrisville, Vermont. The transaction was completed on February 1, 2024. Financial terms were not released. Bourne’s Energy has a rich family history in the delivered fuels business. Established in 1947 by Robert and Julie Bourne in Morristown, Vermont, the business initially operated as a modest heating oil delivery service. Over the years, the business grew and evolved under Bob’s leadership, expanding its services to include repair work in the 1960s. In 1973, Bob’s son, Peter Bourne, joined the company, eventually taking ownership in 1988. Mike Bourne, Peter’s brother, became part owner in the 1990s, and the company would begin propane delivery operations in 1994. Bourne’s Energy has continued to grow, acquiring and integrating various businesses and diversifying its product range to include biodiesel, propane autogas, and wood pellets. 

Ben Kinsley, Campaign for Vermont Board Member We agree that the ‘Who Pays’ report showing that our state’s tax burden is flat, and even slightly regressive, for taxpayers with incomes in the top 40% is concerning. Middle class Vermonters are struggling to make ends meet and inflation, taxes, and other impacts on cost of living have not been kind to them. Learning that they also shoulder an outsized share of the tax burden adds insult to injury. It is also important to highlight, as the report authors did, that this distribution of tax burden is not because our income tax system is inadequately progressive, but rather that we have a number of other taxes that are quite regressive.

Vermont Business Magazine Funding is now available for organizations and projects across the state of Vermont through the Spark Connecting Community competitive grant program at the Vermont Community Foundation. Spark supports emerging grassroots projects that nurture community and build social capital—the connective tissue of our communities. Spark values community resilience and strength, increased civic engagement, and collaboration among organizations. The program will accept applications from hyperlocal, place-based projects or statewide/regional projects that support a community of individuals with a shared identity or interest. In 2024, Spark will prioritize place-making initiatives in under-represented counties in grantmaking. Spark awards grants of $500 to $5,000. First-time grant writers are encouraged to apply. Applications will be accepted through 5 p.m. on Tuesday, April 2, 2024.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont’s Killington Resort, the largest ski and snowboard resort in Eastern North America and a POWDR company, roars into spring with the Spring Pass and a jam-packed event series as the longest season in the East extends beyond the rest. The 2024 Spring Pass is available for purchase starting February 22, 2024 for $359*, providing skiers and snowboarders of all ages with unlimited spring skiing and riding from March 15 through the end of season, which goes as long as conditions allow. The Spring Pass also unlocks access to live music, events and up to a 40% discount on lodging stays beginning March 15 through the remainder of the 2023-24 winter season.    

NG Biomats, Inc. Elizabeth Cheng, a Taiwanese entrepreneur, came to Vermont in 2016 after selling a successful bilingual kindergarten business in Beijing, China. Instead of kicking back and enjoying the fruits of her labor, Cheng ventured into a brand-new space – marine biotech. Cheng set her mind towards making something out of what she thought were missed opportunities.

Vermont Business Magazine Hospitals in the region remain at or near capacity due to patients needing care for respiratory illnesses like Covid-19, flu, and RSV, along with persistent crowding from the crisis-level lack of options for people in Vermont who need long-term care. UVM Health Network staff in Vermont and Northern New York are working hard to provide the high-quality care patients deserve, and reminding the community that there are multiple options for accessing medical care. Patients have options when it comes to their care. When feeling unwell, the main options are primary care, urgent care, and the Emergency De

Vermont Business Magazine Professor of Psychiatry Julie Dumas, Ph.D. and C. Lawrence Kien, M.D., Ph.D., The Mary Kay Davignon Green and Gold Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics and Medicine have recently secured a $3.3M, five-year R01 grant from the National Institute on Aging (NIA): “Fatty Acid Modulation of Brain Functioning in Older Adults.” This award will enable the duo to delve deeper into the relationship between dietary fatty acids and cognitive health in older individuals. During the course of the grant, Dumas, Kien, and their team of researchers from Larner College of Medicine will concentrate on understanding the impact of substituting palmitic acid (PA), a saturated fat, with oleic acid (OA), a monounsaturated fat.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced nearly $43 million from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda for Vermont drinking water and clean water infrastructure upgrades. This includes $6.4 million to the Town of St. Johnsbury for the construction of a new water treatment plant. The funding is part of the over $50 billion investment in water infrastructure upgrades from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law—the largest such investment in American history. Today’s announcement will support essential water infrastructure that protects public health and treasured water bodies across the state. Almost half of this funding will be available as grants or principal forgiveness loans, ensuring funds reach underserved communities most in need of investments in water infrastructure. 

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott has made a formal request to President Joe Biden for a Major Disaster Declaration to help communities in Essex, Lamoille, Orange, Orleans, Rutland, Windham, and Windsor counties recover costs for repair of public infrastructure damage caused by rainfall and severe flooding on December 18 & 19, 2023. If granted, a federal Major Disaster Declaration unlocks Federal Emergency Management Agency Public Assistance Program funding to reimburse municipalities for 75% of eligible costs like debris removal, road and public building repairs, and staff overtime responding to and cleaning up after the storm.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health reported last week that COVID-19 cases again fell to their lowest level since early November and hospitalizations also were down for nearly the same timeframe, as the early winter spike has subsided. However, there were again 6 fatalities, which has been about the average since mid-December. The pandemic death total now stands at 1,124 as of February 10, 2024 (the most recent data available). Total reported deaths in January were 28, which is the highest monthly total in nearly a year, and 7 so far in February. The VDH reported February 14, 2024, that COVID-19 hospitalizations were down 10 last week to a statewide total of 28. COVID-19 activity remains in the "Low" range, according to the VDH. Reported cases last week were 210, down 44 for the week. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital (NVRH) Auxiliary is now accepting applications for the 2024 Scholastic Achievement Awards until 4 pm on March 14, 2024. Every year the NVRH Auxiliary recognizes five deserving college students in the hospital’s service area who are pursuing a career in healthcare. This year, for students entering college in the fall of 2024, there will be two $1,000 awards given to freshmen/first-time college students and three $2,500 awards given to students entering their third or fourth year. No award will be given to students entering their second year of college.