Auditor: Business incentives program a waste

Doug Hoffer, the state auditor, has been criticizing the Vermont Employment Growth Incentive Program, or VEGI, for more than 20 years. Hoffer wrote about the program in 1999, back when it was called Economic Advancement Tax Incentive, or EATI. Back then, he was working for his predecessor in the auditor’s job, the late Ed Flanagan. Hoffer campaigned on the issue in 2010. Now that he’s the state auditor, Hoffer’s still working to modify VEGI, saying it’s impossible for the state to prove the job-creation pro … (read more)

MIDDLEBURY — Addison County’s largest employer on Friday announced a new staff leave policy, with the hope of minimizing the risk sick employees might pose to the campus community and to provide a financial cushion for those who may need to be quarantined … (read more)

The Agency of Commerce and Community Development this week launched the Restart Vermont Regional Marketing and Stimulus Grant Program. The program will provide $500,000 in grants to organizations for efforts and activities related to economic recovery, co … (read more)

SHOREHAM — One of the founders of WhistlePig Rye Whiskey in Shoreham this week was announced as the winning bidder for the former Green Mountain College property in Poultney, an asset he plans to maintain and operate for educational purposes. Raj Peter Bh … (read more)

Of the many business sectors that reported COVID-19 losses to the state this summer as part of grant applications, lodging stands out. Average monthly losses during the height of the pandemic, which were used to calculate the emergency economic recovery g … (read more)

The Addison County Economic Development Corp. next week will host a video chat for business owners and other employers called “Conversation with Child Development Division.” The Child Development Division of the Department for Children and Families would … (read more)

The Vermont office of the Small Business Administration has a lot going on in its efforts to help the business community. Here are some items of interest: 2020 Vt. Employee Ownership Conference Aug. 18 Learn about the unique benefits and challenges of emp … (read more)

ADDISON COUNTY — Lumberyards and building contractors seem to have experienced a surge in business in Addison County since the stay-at-home mandate was loosened in June. And building supply stores can’t seem to keep up with demand for one product in parti … (read more)

MIDDLEBURY — Mackey Auto Group of Saratoga Springs, N.Y., has closed on its purchase of Middlebury car and truck dealership Denecker Chevrolet. The business, which as Denecker Chevrolet called itself Vermont’s largest franchised Chevrolet dealership, will … (read more)

MIDDLEBURY — Aqua ViTea, the Middlebury kombucha maker, this week announced that it was rebranding its bottles and cans to make it clear the level of alcohol its drinks contain. Prioritizing alcohol transparency, the new Aqua ViTea labels will display a “ … (read more)

Middlebury College was among the Vermont educational institutions and nonprofits whose donor databases were hit by hackers earlier this year. Donors to the college and other nonprofits have been asked to keep a close watch on their personal information af … (read more)

ADDISON COUNTY — More than 750 Addison County employers have received Payroll Protection Program (PPP) loans totaling between $43 million and $74 million for the retention of more than 5,700 jobs, according to data released by the U.S. Small Business Admi … (read more)

More than $542 million has flowed into Vermont since March, when the federal government started supplementing Vermonters’ unemployment checks with $600 a week to help them through the COVID-19 pandemic. With those payments due to stop at the end of July, … (read more)

MIDDLEBURY — Co-operative Insurance Companies has a new president and CEO. The board of the Middlebury company appointed Lee Dowgiewicz to the top managerial spot effective July 1. He joined Co-op Insurance in September 2019, and replaces retiring CEO Mar … (read more)

Art Woolf is a columnist for VTDigger. He recently retired as an associate professor of economics at the University of Vermont. Vermont’s unemployment rate fell to 9.4% in June, down from its 16.5% peak at the height of the economic shutdown in April and … (read more)