Current News

Vermont Business Magazine At its May meeting, the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board (VHCB) approved $2,930,630 in funding for seven conservation projects that will protect 1,682 acres in five counties, and $32,843,765 to support seven housing projects in six counties around the state. The awards for housing developments will enable the construction of permanently affordable rental homes for individuals, families, older residents, and households experiencing homelessness, in addition to providing project capacity funds for outreach activities to expand Champlain Housing Trust’s (CHT) Homeownership Equity Program Down Payment Assistance statewide.

Vermont Business Magazine Average gasoline prices in Vermont are $3.60/g, down 1.1 cents per gallon from last week's $3.61/g. The lowest price in the state yesterday was $3.39/g while the highest was $3.84/g, a difference of 45.0 cents per gallon. The national average price of gasoline has fallen 3.5 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.55/g today. The national average is down 12.0 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 2.2 cents per gallon higher than a year ago.

Vermont Business Magazine The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has announced seven grants totaling $1,113,735 to Vermont arts and cultural organizations, including the Vermont Arts Council, which has been approved for an $973,735 NEA FY 2024 partnership agreement to deliver arts programs, services, and activities throughout Vermont. The Vermont awards are part of more than $110 million in recommended NEA grants to organizations in all 50 states and US jurisdictions.

Vermont Business Magazine Surgery to remove malignant melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, is often lifesaving. But cutting away both the melanoma and up to four centimeters of the skin around it, which could harbor cancer cells, may cause long-term pain and scarring in patients. A clinical trial at the UVM Cancer Center, currently enrolling volunteers, asks the question: Would reducing the amount of skin removed around the melanoma improve patients’ post-surgery quality of life without increasing the risk of melanoma returning?

Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets This year's Open Farm Week is set for August 4th-11th. Join us as we celebrate the 10th anniversary of this cherished Vermont tradition! Register your farm now to get in on the fun! For a whole decade, farmers have been throwing open their barn doors and inviting Vermonters and visitors alike to experience the magic of Vermont’s farming heritage. It's been a decade of sharing stories, savoring flavors, and celebrating the hard work of our farming community. Open Farm Week is all about connecting people with the roots of their food—introducing them to the farms and the fabulous farmers who make it all happen. From cozy on-farm dinners to hands-on workshops and captivating tours, there's something special happening at every participating farm.

by Joyce Marcel, Vermont Business Magazine “We have a super-complex, nuanced and nerdy business,“ says Fluency CEO Mike Lane. “But we’re building a great business. That is really the goal here.“ Fluency Inc. is a privately held, self-funded, successful and still-growing company founded in Burlington in 2017 by former executives from Dealer.com. The company automates digital advertising for large clients, who then place their ads with large global companies like Google and Meta (parent of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp). As a co-founder of Dealer.com, Lane probably became a very wealthy man. But instead of sailing around the world on a private yacht, drinking cocktails and draping diamonds on supermodels, he, along with his close friend Eric Mayhew, Dealer.com’s senior director of advertising products; Brian McVey, Dealer.com’s former account executive; and Scott Gale, the company’s former software engineer, started Fluency.

Vermont Business Magazine Lund has announced the resounding success of the third annual ‘Lund by the Lake’ fundraising celebration, which took place last evening at Hula in Burlington. Set against the stunning backdrop of Lake Champlain, the event brought together supporters, donors, staff, and client families, all united in their commitment to creating a better future for Vermont families. We are delighted to share that we exceeded our $150,000 fundraising goal, thanks to the incredible generosity of our attendees and sponsors. This year’s event highlighted the profound impact of Lund’s integrated services on the lives of families across Vermont.

Vermont Department of Economic Development Vermont never ceases to amaze. April brought us a total solar eclipse and now May is dazzling us with Aurora Borealis. These pictures were taken in Montpelier by Daniel Dickerson, the Agency of Commerce and Community Development's Administrative Services Director. We are grateful to him for sharing. The end of the legislative session was a whirlwind and it’s not over yet with a likely veto session scheduled for June 17. We hope you will join us in early June for a Flood Recovery Symposium. Municipalities, businesses, and nonprofits are invited to Stratton Mountain on June 4, Vermont State University-Johnson on June 5, and the Vermont Statehouse on June 6. Federal agencies will be there as will representatives from state programs and philanthropic organizations. Attendees will learn how to combine resources to get projects done.

Leonine Public Affairs The Vermont legislature adjourned early in the morning on Saturday, May 11. Adjournment capped a week of marathon floor sessions as lawmakers hustled to finish their work and go home on time. Legislators have returned to their districts and legislative staff are preparing the finalized bills to be sent to Governor Phil Scott. The legislature generally sends bills to the governor in batches after adjournment, giving the administration time to review everything before the governor decides how to proceed. Once the governor receives a bill, he has five days, not including Sunday, to act. He can either sign a bill into law, let it become law without his signature, or veto it. The House and Senate will return to Montpelier on June 17 for a veto override session. The governor is expected to veto a number of bills. He has indicated he will likely veto the annual property tax “Yield Bill,” which sets property tax rates for the upcoming fiscal year.

Vermont Business Magazine Champlain Housing Trust is redeveloping the site of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) building on South Winooski Avenue in downtown Burlington. The demolition of the current building, scheduled for June, makes way for 38 new permanently affordable apartments, with five set aside for unhoused Veterans. The redevelopment, done in partnership with Evernorth and with significant support from and coordination with the City of Burlington, will include a new home for the VFW Howard Plant Post 782, and a space to be leased to the City of Burlington’s Community Justice Center (CJC). The new CJC space is larger than their current location and will allow staff to better meet the needs of the community.

Vermont Business Magazine Roundup of news from April 2024: Scott names Zoie Saunders Interim Education Secretary after Senate votes her down; Tax revenues for March edge ahead of targets, if only just; Vermont’s unemployment rate falls one-tenth to 2.2 percent in March; Vermont Flannel owners acquire Vermont Teddy Bear; Goddard College to close after 86 years of progressive education; Eclipse traffic and economic impact boost tourism; Senators Richard Mazza, Bobby Starr and Dick McCormack to leave the Senate; LtGen John Broadmeadow ’83, USMC (Retired) named 25th president of Norwich University; and more.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Historical Society will present a major exhibition of paintings, prints, and drawings titled “For the Love of Vermont: The Lyman Orton Collection.” It is a selection from the largest private collection of 20th century artwork by Vermont artists, collected over the past 45 years by Lyman Orton, best known as the proprietor of The Vermont Country Store. The artwork will be displayed at the Vermont History Museum at 109 State Street in Montpelier from July 3 through the end of this year, with a special pre-opening reception for Vermont Historical Society members on June 27.