Vermont Business Magazine

Twenty-two businesses named as Best Places to Work in Vermont

Thu Jan 26 2012

Vermont Business Magazine and the Vermont Chamber of Commerce have announced the top twenty two Best Places to Work in Vermont 2012. The awards program was created in 2006 and is presented in partnership with the Society for Human Resource Management, Vermont State Council, (SHRM), the Vermont Department of Labor and the Vermont Department of Economic Development and Best Companies Group.

Quarterly dividend declared by Ledyard Financial Group

Fri Jan 27 2012

Ledyard Financial Group (Ticker Symbol: LFGP) announced today a regular quarterly dividend of $0.31 per common share. The dividend is payable March 2, 2012 to shareholders of record as of February 10, 2012.

John Fischer named Interim Deputy Commissioner of Education

Fri Jan 27 2012

John Fischer, Director of Integrated Support for Learning, High School and Adult Division at the Vermont Department of Education, has been named Interim Deputy Commissioner, the department announced today.

Vermont nonprofits convene at State House February 9

Fri Jan 27 2012

More than 100 nonprofit leaders from across the state will convene at the Vermont State House on Thursday, February 9th for the third annual Vermont Nonprofit Legislative Day.

Vermonters urged to claim tax credit to lower taxes or receive refund

Fri Jan 27 2012

Thousands of working Vermonters are potentially missing out on a federal and state income tax credit that, if claimed, could result in a lower tax bill and a sizeable refund check. Last tax season, more than 45,000 Vermonters claimed the federal and state Earned Income Tax Credit or EITC for a combined average refund of more than $2,000. Today, State Treasurer Beth Pearce, the Internal Revenue Service and other officials gathered to promote awareness of the credit.

Bad mortgages in Vermont still creeping up

Fri Jan 27 2012

Bad mortgages, those described as foreclosed or delinquent, rose slightly in Vermont last month to 9 percent. This continues to rank Vermont 14th best in the nation and second best in the East.

Nickelodeon president to speak at UVM’s May Commencement ceremony

Fri Jan 27 2012

Cyma Zarghami, president of the Nickelodeon television network and an alumna of the university, will deliver the address to graduates at the University of Vermont’s 2012 Commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 20.

State and local agencies team up for the sixth homeless point in time count

Fri Jan 27 2012

The Vermont Balance of State Continuum of Care (CoC) and The Chittenden County Continuum of Care are again joining efforts for the sixth statewide Point in Time Count on January 26, 2012. The Continuums of Care are comprised of homeless & human service organizations as well as housing agencies and other partners that strive to eliminate homelessness throughout Vermont. These efforts will be supported by the Agency of Human Services, the City of Burlington the Vermont State Housing Authority, and United Ways of Vermont.

Weekly unemployment claims fall under 1,000

Fri Jan 27 2012

There were 876 new regular benefit claims for Unemployment Insurance in Vermont last week. Claims continued to subside after a spike over the holidays and are back under 1,000 for the first time this year. By comparison, new claims last summer were running under 500. In this latest report, new claims decreased 341 from the week before and are 39 above last year's total.

CCV's Rutland facility doubles in size

Fri Jan 27 2012

On Thursday, February 2, 2012, the Community College of Vermont (CCV) will welcome Governor Peter Shumlin, the CCV Board of Trustees, and friends and community members to a ribbon cutting ceremony starting at 3 pm at the College's newest academic center at 60 West Street in Rutland, Vermont.

Broadway artists host benefit for Weston Playhouse

Fri Jan 27 2012

Broadway headliners Alexander Gemignani (Les Miz, Sweeney Todd) and Sherie Rene Scott (Aida, The Little Mermaid) and award-winning composers Stephen Flaherty (Ragtime, Seussical) and Polly Pen (Bed and Sofa, Goblin Market) are among the artists to appear in “Celebrating the American Musical,” a 90-minute concert benefitting Vermont’s esteemed Weston Playhouse Theatre Company at New World Stages on Tuesday, February 28 at 7:30pm.

Ski Vermont Specialty Food Days begin today at Jay

Fri Jan 27 2012

Vermont Ski Areas Association, the Agency of Agriculture and the Vermont Maple Foundation have once again teamed up to promote Vermont specialty foods at resorts this winter by offering skiers and riders samples of a variety of treats at scheduled Ski Vermont Specialty Food Days. Many of the dates are in conjunction with large events happening at the ski areas.

Robert Royce: The first rope tow

Fri Jan 27 2012

FRIDAY, JANUARY 27: SKI LIFT Everyone who enjoys skiing owes a debt of gratitude to a man they probably haven't even heard of — Robert Royce of Woodstock, Vermont. This week in 1934, Royce set out to solve the problem of how to get back up the hill for another run down the snow covered slope. Using 900 feet of rope, a tractor wheel fitted to an old Ford car, and some ingenuity, he made the first rope ski tow in the U.S.

Utilities offer safety advice in face of possible ice event and power outages

Thu Jan 26 2012

Vermont utilities are advising customers in the eastern and central parts of Vermont of the potential for ice damage that could cause downed trees and limbs, and lead to power outages late this evening and into Friday. Customers across the state could see power outages late tonight and into Friday. Utility forecasts include the threat of up to a half inch of ice in eastern and central Vermont, combined with sleet and snow, which could cause power outages.

Middlebury College, Norwich University to compete in Solar Decathlon 2013

Thu Jan 26 2012

Senator Patrick Leahy (D), Senator Bernie Sanders (I) and Congressman Peter Welch (D) Thursday said the selection of Middlebury College and Norwich University to compete in Solar Decathalon 2013, accounting for ten percent of the entire field of 20 schools selected by the U.S. Department of Energy, burnishes Vermont’s already prominent place on the renewable energy map.

Featured Stories

Governor Shumlin's FY 2013 Recommended Budget
Although the General Fund (GF) budget gap of $51 million addressed in the FY 2013 Governor’s Recommended Budget was less than the gap previously estimated (October 2011) - FY 2013 is the fifth consecutive fiscal year requiring the resolution of a GF budget gap. Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin presented his fiscal year 2013 budget to the Legislature January 12, 2012.
Weekly unemployment claims fall under 1,000
There were 876 new regular benefit claims for Unemployment Insurance in Vermont last week. Claims continued to subside after a spike over the holidays and are back under 1,000 for the first time this year. By comparison, new claims last summer were running under 500. In this latest report, new claims decreased 341 from the week before and are 39 above last year's total.
Vermont Law School raises record $15.3 million in capital campaign
Vermont Law School has surpassed its goal of $15 million for the Campaign for Vermont Law School, with total gifts and commitments currently totaling $15.3 million.

The funds will support student financial aid, a new Center for Legal Services, programs that improve national environmental and energy policies, and educational initiatives that produce highly skilled lawyers at home and abroad.
IBM, VELCO to build next generation communications network for Vermont energy grid
At the 2012 DistribuTECH conference, IBM (NYSE:IBM) and the Vermont Electric Power Company (VELCO) today announced an agreement to build an intelligent fiber optic and Carrier Ethernet communications and control network across the State of Vermont.
Vermont 100+ 25th Anniversary: GMCR is the new number one
In January 1987, Vermont Business Magazine ran its first Vermont 100, predicated on 1986 revenues. Since then there have been only three companies that have been Number One: National Life Group, C&S Wholesale Grocers and Fletcher Allen Health Care. This year another will join that exclusive list and it comes as no surprise that it is Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Inc, which nearly doubled its revenues in just the last year. Indeed, over the course of 25 years, GMCR is the fastest growing company as well. VBM is also celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.