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Healthy Living Market, Lawson’s Finest Liquids and Union Mutual are finalists for Deane C Davis Award

Wed, 06/02/2021 - 3:16pm -- tim

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont is home to different types of businesses, ones that are good to their employees, customers, the environment and the Vermont community. Every year, Vermont Business Magazine and the Vermont Chamber of Commerce honor a Vermont business that demonstrates an outstanding history of sustained growth while displaying an acute awareness of what makes Vermont unique. The Deane C Davis Outstanding Vermont Business of the Year Award, named for the former Vermont governor and established in 1990, boasts three finalists again this year. They are: Healthy Living Market of So Burlington, Lawson’s Finest Liquids of Waitsfield and Union Mutual of Montpelier.

2nd Circuit: VT can’t exclude students at religious high schools from tuition program

Wed, 06/02/2021 - 3:07pm -- tim

Vermont Business Magazine In a Petition for a Writ of Mandamus ruling Wednesday (A.H. v. French), the US Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit struck down a state prohibition on tuition funding for religious students and religious schools who brought a lawsuit against state officials. The court’s opinion comes after it previously issued a mandate that stopped local school districts from excluding the students, who attend religious schools, from the state program. The writ would compel the Vermont Agency of Education to allow state tuition for religious schools while the case winds its way through the courts.

Hoffman: Unemployment benefits common sense

Wed, 06/02/2021 - 1:27pm -- tim

by Jack Hoffman at Public Assets Institute Nearly half of the governors—23 and counting—have decided to end federal supplemental unemployment benefits for workers in their states. Evidently, they never heard the old adage: Don’t cut off your nose to spite your face. In these bizarre times, I guess we have to be grateful that Governor Scott was raised with more common sense. Vermonters received $1.3 billion in state and federal unemployment payments in 2020, according to the latest data from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis. It was a huge amount — more than the previous 11 years combined.

Scott appoints Howard Kalfus to Vermont Superior Court

Wed, 06/02/2021 - 1:21pm -- tim

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today appointed Howard A Kalfus as Vermont’s next Superior Court judge, filling a vacancy created when the Governor appointed then-Judge William D Cohen to the Vermont Supreme Court. Kalfus was appointed Vermont’s fifth-ever Judicial Bureau hearing officer in 2011. In addition to his duties as the Judicial Bureau’s presiding hearing officer, he has been specially assigned to the Superior Court in every county.

VCRD Executive Director Paul Costello leaving post

Wed, 06/02/2021 - 12:46pm -- tim

Vermont Business Magazine After 21 years at the helm of the Vermont Council on Rural Development, Paul Costello is stepping down from his role as Executive Director. Over these years Costello has engaged communities throughout the state to help them set priorities and connect to resources, led a dozen policy council efforts to advance local opportunities, developed a score of statewide summits to build unity and common purpose to answer key rural needs, and worked in myriad ways to bring people together for the common good of their communities and for Vermont.

Sharon Academy gets $1.9 million from USDA modern arts and science wing

Wed, 06/02/2021 - 12:27pm -- tim

Vermont Business Magazine Today, Acting State Director for USDA Rural Development in Vermont, Cheryl Ducharme, announced a $1.9 million loan to The Sharon Academy in Sharon, Vermont, to fund the construction of a new science and arts wing. The addition will house modern classroom and laboratory space for students 7-12.

Pattie McCoy: Government overreach gone too far

Wed, 06/02/2021 - 12:16pm -- tim

by House Minority Leader Pattie McCoy (R-Poultney) Being first sometimes means coming in last. Vermont has sure had a lot of "firsts" over the years--the first state to abolish slavery; the first state to allow civil unions for same-sex couples; the first state to allow the importation of lower-cost prescription drugs from Canada; and so on. These are good firsts. But not all "firsts" are created equally.

Steve Cannon talks leadership and a culture of excellence on VBM’s Business Forum June 9

Wed, 06/02/2021 - 11:37am -- katie

Vermont Business Magazine Former Mercedes Benz USA President and CEO Steve Cannon—now the top exec at AMB Sports & Entertainment—will share his insights on leadership and building a culture of excellence at the Vermont Business Magazine's Business Forum in June.

This webcast, hosted by best-selling author Jon Gordon, will broadcast at 12PM Wednesday, June 9. Registration is free.

Stephen Cannon, among the Atlanta Business Chronicles 2019 Most Admired CEOs, serves as the chief executive officer of AMB Sports and Entertainment, assuming the day-to-day leadership of Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the Atlanta Falcons Football Club, United Soccer Properties and PGA TOUR Superstore. AMBSE serves as a for-profit holding group under the Arthur M. Blank Family of Businesses. Prior to joining AMBSE in 2016, Cannon served as president and chief executive officer of Mercedes-Benz USA and was responsible for leading operations that generated record sales with annual revenues exceeding $20 billion.

Bennington Writing Seminars hosts acclaimed authors with virtual Writers Reading series

Wed, 06/02/2021 - 11:32am -- tim

Vermont Business Magazine From June 3 - 11, critically acclaimed, award-winning authors and faculty of the Bennington Writing Seminars will host Writers Reading, an evening reading series during the MFA program's summer residency, which is being conducted remotely this term. All readings are free, open to the public, and will take place virtually via Zoom and begin Thursday.

Scott vetoes non-citizen voting bills

Wed, 06/02/2021 - 10:57am -- tim

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine For those betting against a veto session this year, you will need to find your Venmo password. Governor Phil Scott yesterday vetoed two bills that would allow non-citizen voting in Montpelier and Winooski. Up to this point Scott had only vetoed one bill. That bill was related to raising the age of who legally would be considered a juvenile. That bill probably needed more work to tighten up the language and process and probably would not have triggered a veto session. But the vetoes of the voting rights bills have guaranteed that lawmakers will return to Montpelier at the end of this month.

Efficiency Vermont announces 2nd annual appliance recycling offer

Wed, 06/02/2021 - 10:10am -- tim

Vermont Business Magazine An Efficiency Vermont program aimed at helping customers lower energy costs while reducing the number of inefficient appliances plugged into Vermont’s electric grid makes its return, back by popular demand. The offer is available to Vermonters with secondary refrigerators and freezers, as well as old window air conditioners and dehumidifiers.

Schubart: The elegant clarity and broad misunderstanding of nonprofit governance

Wed, 06/02/2021 - 9:42am -- tim

by Bill Schubart The Vermont Nonprofit sector is a major contributor to Vermont’s economy and to the well-being of Vermonters. Its 6000 organizations represent about 20 percent of Vermont’s overall economy and employ about 14 percent of its workforce. Nonprofit missions range from the dominant healthcare and education sectors to arts and culture, the environment, journalism, housing, hunger/food systems, equity, poverty and more. As such, nonprofits have a vital role to play in the quality of life for many Vermonters. The traditional role of government in assuring the well-being of its citizens is often subcontracted to the nonprofit sector, especially in areas like alleviating hunger, homelessness, or poverty.

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