Rubber and petroleum products are Vermont’s biggest Russian imports.
Rubber (not Stoli) Vermont’s biggest import from Russia
Worker shortage grim and “the cavalry is not coming”
The chickens have come home to roost, the cavalry’s not coming – pick your metaphor to describe Vermont chronic worker shortage, but understand this – it won’t be improving anytime soon.
Biden plan to audit bank transactions over $600 concerns Scott administration
President Biden wants the IRS to audit every bank transaction of $600 or more.
Closed-lipped CCP frustrates foreign investors, Gordon Chang reports
The Chinese government doesn’t like sharing information – even with foreign investors in Chinese companies. Gordon Chang reports.
Montpelier city councilor named Burlington City Attorney
Montpelier City Councilor Dan Richardson will resign if Burlington hires him as its next city attorney.
Big Newport employer to close facility, hopes to employ most workers remotely
A large call-center employer in Newport reportedly will close its building soon. The company hopes to keep as many employees as possible working remotely, a development official said today.
Google unfairly drives up app prices, VT AG suit says
The States accuse Google of using its market dominance to unfairly restrict competition with the Google Play Store, harming consumers by limiting choice and driving up app prices.
Middlebury moves towards cannabis store
At Town Meeting this March, Middlebury voters ok’d the operation of cannabis retailers locally. The question remains: where and how will the “weed” be regulated in town?
Vermont gender pay gap lowest in US
Vermont has the smallest gender wage gap in the country.
VT employers must pay more, unemployed workers get raise
Vermont employers will pay higher unemployment insurance (UI) rates, while the maximum weekly benefit for unemployed workers will increase from $531 to $583 per week.
Scott pledges to refuse federal unemployment check extension
The Vermont unemployment rate is down to 2.6% and isn’t expected to climb much until more workers re-enter the workforce. Meanwhile – the federal government is paying $300/week to stay home.
Judge orders Newport store owner to pay $850 for mask violation
A judge yesterday ordered former UPS Store owner Michael Desautels to pay $850 in penalties for violating mask guidelines, as the Attorney General’s Office had requested.
Right to Life demands Planned Parenthood return $2.7 million in ‘paycheck protection’
New Hampshire Right to Life (NHRTL) yesterday filed a complaint asking the US Small Business Administration (SBA) to demand a return of the $2,717,300 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan unlawfully obtained by Planned Parenthood of Northern New England to subsidize its abortion clinics in New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont.
Worker shortage due to pandemic, pot, depopulation
Everyone thought Vermonters would flock to these relatively high-paying, benefits-producing jobs. Compared to the long, irregular hours and low pay of farm labor and the service industry, these jobs were gold. But now, some employers who invested millions in Franklin County operations are looking elsewhere. There just aren’t enough workers.
Litigation, pandemic sideline Montpelier hotel/parking garage project
The proposed 80-room Hampton Inn and 345-space parking garage located mostly on Capitol Plaza property has been sidelined primarily because of litigation delays as well as COVID-related economic concerns.
Stimulus checks prompt largest cannabis sales day of the year
DENVER, March 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Business intelligence from Akerna shows that Wednesday, March 17, St Patrick’s Day and the day that most qualifying Americans received their $1,400 stimulus checks was by far the largest cannabis sales day […]
Restaurants, law offices are state’s top Paycheck Protection recipients
Which Vermont industries received the most assistance from the SBA Paycheck Protection loan program?
Towns that say ‘yes’ to retail pot can’t say ‘no’ later
Many Vermonters may not know that under that new state law, once a community votes “yes” and a marijuana retailer sets up shop, that retailer can continue to sell marijuana in the community forever.
Small businesses in Vermont face state, national threats
But the pandemic has not been kind to Vermont small businesses, especially the large hospitality sector. In the fourth quarter of 2019, economic growth in Vermont surpassed the nation’s. But due to the pandemic and its State of Emergency restrictions, by April 2020 unemployment was 15.6% – almost a point above the national average.
Essex-Charlotte ferry to resume Monday
At a Feb. 1 meeting of the Essex County supervisors, Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-NY21, said her office had been in touch with the ferry company and reopening the Essex route was a priority. She said the company would be eligible for another round of stimulus — a previous allocation had helpedAlong with reduced business, Stefanik said the company had also had trouble finding adequate help needed to run all its boats. it maintain its routes last year.
Construction jobs down 25% last year, worst in 50 states
“Down 25 percent from the end of 2019, Vermont had the largest drop in construction employment out of all states,” Construction Coverage’s Brian Medina reported.
Door-to-door public transportation the ‘new normal’
The successful new normal transit system provides door-to-door service.
Frustrated landowner says he will clear cut proposed Hardwick cell tower site
Days after public outcry prompted AT&T to petition the Public Utility Commission to dismiss its bid for a tower on Buffalo Mountain, landowner Gary Bellavance posted to a forum: “I’ve decided to clear cut Buffalo mountain.” The Bellavance property, he said, spans 40 acres of the Mountain. He wrote “What bothered me most was the fact that people can tell you what to do and how you need to manage your land. This is land I pay taxes on.”
Auditor: state-funded ‘job incentives’ go to Chittenden County businesses that would not have left VT
At least three-quarters of the businesses taking government ’employment incentive’ money to stay in Vermont would not have left the state regardless, a study by Vermont Auditor Doug Hoffer concludes. Furthermore, prosperous, well-employed Chittenden County derives more employment benefit from these programs than the rest of the state combined.
Torti to leave Lake Champlain Chamber
Tom Torti, longtime president of the state’s largest business organization, is stepping down. He will be replaced by longtime Lake Champlain Chamber executive Cathy Davis. Torti released the following statement today: On […]
Today’s mask mandate will spur retail business activity, Scott predicts
By Guy Page July 24, 2020 – Gov. Phil Scott doesn’t think the universal mask mandate he announced today will make Vermonters less willing to patronize businesses in-person. The opposite will be […]
News roundup – debates, bus/truck emissions, failing dairy farms, etc.
GOP Lt. governor candidates debating now Guv pledges zero emissions in trucks, buses UVM dings online students for $2600 facilities fee 25 dairy farms close since pandemic began No quarantine needed if […]
Seven VT employers get $5-10 mil from feds’ Paycheck Protection Program
….and an op-ed by former U.S. Senate nominee Lawrence Zupan on zealots tearing down statues by Guy Page July 7, 2020 – Seven Vermont employers received between $5 million and $10 million […]
Vermonters crowd-source legal support for Rutland gym owner
By Guy Page May 22, 2020 – A crowd-sourced funding page for Club Fitness, the Rutland gym embattled in a legal tussle with Vermont Attorney General TJ Donovan, had raised $3,060 as […]
Guv reopens manufacturing
GOVERNOR PHIL SCOTT ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL ECONOMIC RE-OPENING STEPS Increases Safety Protocols, Allows More Employees Back to Work As modeling indicates continued progress in slowing the spread of COVID-19, Governor Phil Scott today announced a […]
State House rally prompts Guv comments on economic recovery, abortion funding
by Guy Page, Vermont Daily April 22, 2020 – Earlier this week, Jim Sexton of Essex Junction announced a protest gathering on the State House lawn today. In many ways it didn’t […]
Scott pulled plug on troubled UI upgrade – “then this pandemic hit”
Multi-state, three-year effort failed due to lack of collaboration by lead state Idaho By Guy Page April 22, 2020 – Distressed by the State of Vermont’s failure to promptly process pandemic-related unemployment […]
Vermont economy reopening begins tomorrow; college campus closure vote delayed
By Guy Page April 19, 2020 – Saturday, President Donald Trump announced at a press briefing Vermont and Texas will be the first two states to reopen for business, beginning this Monday. […]
Just Now: Gov Scott hints at drive-in churches
Gov. Phil Scott just hinted that Vermont may soon allow drive-in church services. Moments ago at his press conference today, he noted that as the State “reopens the spigot a quarter turn […]
Vermont hospitals can handle virus peak, models show
By Guy Page April 13, 2020 – The State of Vermont’s latest computer modeling now shows Vermont hospitals will have enough beds to handle the hundreds of expected Covid-19 cases at its […]
Single-use plastic bag ban to continue
Reusable shopping bags not a significant transmission threat, Health Dept. says – although they’re banned in NH, MA and San Francisco By Guy Page April 7, 2020 – The July 1 ban […]
No ‘straight talk’ for big box shoppers
by Guy Page April 3, 2020 – The coronavirus this week hit Vermonters where they live – again – after the Berlin Walmart roped off access to the Straight Talk phone cards, […]
SEnate worries laid-off workers will stay idle to get $600 fed payment
PHOTO – Senate caucus this morning held on Zoom, uploaded to YouTube By Guy Page March 31, 2020 – A Senate committee will meet Thursday morning to address the looming problem of […]
State publishes wi-fi hot spot map
The State of Vermont has published a map showing public “hot spots” of wi-fi availability. Broadband Internet access is an important resource for remote learning and working from home but may not […]
C-19 brings eerie, unexpected Quiet to Main Street
by Guy Page MARCH 16, 2020 – It’s a quiet afternoon on Main Street in Montpelier. There are fewer people, cars, and places open for business, thanks to Covid-19. From a shortage […]
Lawmakers to consider sales tax on candy; Burlington mayor, legislator feud over idling enforcement
By Guy Page March 11, 2020 – The House Ways & Means Committee is scheduled to discuss a sales tax on candy tomorrow morning, according to its weekly agenda. According to a […]
GMTA proposes free bus fare, paid for by car owners
By Guy Page Fact One: The Feebate report, funded in the 2019 House Transportation Committee’s omnibus bill and published this October, describes how the State of Vermont could charge a higher registration […]
NEW WORKER RELOCATION GRANT PROGRAM SET TO LAUNCH
12-23-2019 – for immediate release. For information contact Nate Formalarie, Agency of Commerce and Community Development, 802-522-7323 | nate.formalarie@vermont.gov Montpelier – The Agency of Commerce and Community Development is preparing for the launch […]
Pre-Thanksgiving news reports, updates, corrections
VT pensions benefit from stock market; China trade war impacts VT lumber, granite; drugs news from Portugal; State police use drones to help Secret Service; Jewish gun rights group; TCI to Legislature?; […]
After New Year’s, VT House faces big work-related bills
Minimum wage, contractor licensing, paid family leave all on January 7 agenda (Photo credit: Vermont Department of Labor Facebook page) By Guy Page – November 25, 2019 – After the opening gavel […]
Truckers want marijuana victims’ compensation fund
by Guy Page – November 22, 2019 – With increases in both crashes and collision insurance claims in cannabis-legal states, the American Trucking Association wants state and federal government to take steps […]
Cannabis bribery, ‘scromiting’ front page news in pot-legal Massachusetts
November 15, 2019 – by Guy Page – Marijuana cultivation and sale became legal in Massachusetts in 2016. Now, municipal officials are being investigated for soliciting and receiving big bribes from legal […]
580 State of Vermont employees earn over $100,000
November 12, 2019 – by Guy Page – As of September 27, 2019, 580 employees of the State of Vermont annually earn more than $100,000. The 10 best-paid state employees are: Steven […]
Real estate prices in rural Orleans County go through the roof
Why it’s happening, and when and where else it’s happened before November 12, 2019 – by Guy Page – Don’t look now, but homes are selling for record prices in Orleans County. […]
Last Friday, employees at 200 Vermont companies didn’t get paid. What happened?
October 31, 2019 – Guy Page – On Friday, October 25, at 5:30 pm an East Montpelier woman employed by a local not-for-profit called the Vermont Daily Chronicle to report that she hadn’t received […]
