Vermont Business Magazine On January 29th, Lamoille Housing Partnership (LHP,) Lamoille County Planning Commission (LCPC,) and Stowe Land Trust (SLT) hosted a Housing Needs Summit that featured a data report of the Lamoille Valley’s housing landscape, and a panelist discussion that identified opportunities and challenges to address the region’s housing needs.
Vermont Business Magazine The US Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has ordered Hermitage Club Realty LLC – a real estate company based in Wilmington, Vermont – to pay a former employee $22,693 in back pay and bonuses with interest, and $20,000 in compensatory damages. Hermitage Club Realty LLC terminated the employee on December 18, 2017, after informing the company of what he reasonably believed were illegal real estate referral fees, and after filing a formal complaint with Vermont regulators. An OSHA investigation determined that the employee’s actions were protected activity, and his discharge violated the whistleblower provisions of the Consumer Financial Protection Act (CFPA).
Vermont Business Magazine Weekly unemployment claims fell slightly again last week. For the week of January 26, 2019, there were 528 claims, 48 fewer than they were the previous week, and 61 fewer than they were a year ago. The holiday season usually sees wild swings in claims, as retailers in particular hire and layoff workers in spikes in November and December and then claims quiet down in January.
by Vermont Governor Phil Scott and New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu Last month, we introduced a bi-state family and medical leave insurance program – the Twin State Paid Family Leave plan – that would build a public-private partnership to provide access to paid family and medical leave for all residents of the Granite and Green Mountain states. As the Governors of two New England states, where affordability and quality-of-life are top priorities, we strive to be innovative and fulfill the expectations of the people who have elected us.
Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Creative Network and the Vermont Arts Council released results of a six-month study that examined and documented the creative assets in the Northeast Kingdom (NEK). The outcome of the study is an action plan to support and expand those assets to bolster the economy throughout the region.
Vermont Business Magazine Cere’s Natural Remedies, Vermont’s original CBD Store based in Burlington, today announced it has acquired Vermont based Tretap beverage company, creator of 100 percent organic sparkling water beverages from sustainably harvested maple tree water. The move will align the wellness based missions of both brands and create a new line of high quality hemp derived CBD infused beverages. Both companies have grown in popularity by building reputations for high quality organic wellness based products and innovative cultures that cater to a wide range of health minded consumers.
Vermont Business Magazine The US Department of Labor has awarded a $900,000 grant to ReSOURCE YouthBuild as part of an $85 million national grants award to YouthBuild programs in 32 states. ReSOURCE offers the only YouthBuild programs in the state of Vermont. ReSOURCE YouthBuild students, ages 16-24, have the opportunity to graduate with their high school diploma, learn construction skills, and earn construction certificates in OSHA10 and NCCER.
Vermont Business Magazine Over the last three years, the State investment in clean water has more than tripled, and its completed more than 1,400 water quality improvement projects. The newly-released Clean Water Investment Report and Clean Water Project Dashboard give all Vermonters insight into where and why dollars have been spent.
Vermont Business Magazine Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), joined by other leading Judiciary Committee senators, on Tuesday reintroduced legislation to combat anticompetitive practices used by some brand-name pharmaceutical and biologic companies to block entry of lower-cost generic drugs. The Creating and Restoring Equal Access To Equivalent Samples (CREATES) Act would deter pharmaceutical companies from blocking cheaper generic alternatives from entering the marketplace.
by Brandon Arcari, Vermont Business Magazine Students at Middlebury College are celebrating a win after a seven-year student-led campaign calling on the school to divest from fossil fuels succeeded January 29. Middlebury’s Board of Trustees unanimously voted that Tuesday to fully divest the approximately $55 million of its $1.056 billion dollar endowment invested in the fossil fuel industry, over the next 15 years, as part of its Energy2028 plan.
Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing (VDTM) announced its schedule of 2019 Stay to Stay Weekends, exploratory vacations for people who are interested in moving to Vermont. The Stay to Stay Weekends will take place in four communities during 15 separate weekends from February through November: Bennington/Manchester, Brattleboro, Burlington, and Rutland. For its 2019 Stay to Stay program, VDTM has included a ski weekend option for skiers, riders, and winter recreation enthusiasts interested in exploring a permanent move to Vermont. The Stay to Stay Ski Weekends will take place in three communities that have partnered with local ski resorts: Mount Snow, Bromley and Killington.
Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Electric Cooperative (VEC) has successfully met, and in some cases exceeded, the first round of statewide renewable energy and fossil fuel reduction requirements under Vermont’s Renewable Energy Standard (RES).