Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Today, Representative-Elect Becca Balint, D-VT, announced she has hired Megan Garcia as Chief of Staff, and David Scherr as State Director. The Chief of Staff will be based in Washington, D.C. and manage Balint’s D.C. staff and legislative agenda. The State Director will be based in Vermont and will lead the Vermont staff and all outreach and constituency services. Megan Garcia is currently the Deputy Chief of Staff and Legislative Director for Rep. David Cicilline (RI-1). David Scherr was raised in Norwich, Vermont. Scherr is the General Counsel for the Vermont Cannabis Control Board. Previously, Scherr served as an Assistant Attorney General and Chief of the Community Justice Division in the Vermont Attorney General’s Office.

Vermont Business Magazine Today marks 50 years of Vermont Law School, now named Vermont Law and Graduate School, which was incorporated on Dec. 5, 1972. The first classes were held in the summer of 1973 in the old South Royalton schoolhouse that would become the iconic Debevoise Hall, the centerpiece of campus still. Vermont Law and Graduate School was the first law school established in Vermont and remains the only one in the state. From its first class of 113 law students VLGS has grown into a nationally recognized law and graduate school, with an extensive catalog of in-person, hybrid, and online courses. The school’s renowned environmental programs and the first-of-its-kind restorative justice program draw students from around the world.

Vermont Business Magazine New England should have adequate electricity supplies under mild and moderate weather conditions this winter, according to ISO New England, operator of the region’s electric grid. Prolonged periods of very cold weather continue to pose power system reliability risks, but ISO New England will use procedures and plans, including a rolling three-week energy supply forecast, with the goal of mitigating these conditions should they materialize. The ISO does not anticipate calling for controlled power outages this winter and would resort to this drastic step only to prevent a collapse of the power system that would take days or weeks to repair. In the event controlled power outages are needed, the ISO would coordinate this action with local utilities, which would then take the necessary actions to lower electricity demand in their areas.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Transportation (AOT) and the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD) today announced that the Better Connections grant program is open to applications. The program grants approximately $270,000 bi-annually in planning funds to help cities and towns (outside of Chittenden County) build more livable, walkable, and welcoming communities. Interested parties are required to submit a pre-application form electronically and schedule a pre-application interview by January 30, 2022. Grant applications are due by February 17, 2023.

Vermont Business Magazine Join the SBA Vermont District Office for a virtual workshop at noon Dec. 6 about COVID Economic Injury Disaster Loan repayment. Topics include: Creating a Capital Access Financial System account; Making payments and tracking EIDL account; Q&A. Registration is required, but participants are encouraged to log on five minutes before.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Air National Guard will conduct night flying from Tuesday, Dec. 6 to Friday, Dec. 9 with one afternoon and one evening takeoff period per day. The night flying operations will typically conclude by 7:00 p.m. each day. “We are required to periodically train at night to ensure proficiency in all conditions,” said Col. Daniel Finnegan, 158th Fighter Wing Commander. “We appreciate the community’s support of this necessary training which ensures we are able to fulfill our state and federal missions when called upon.”

The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets is inviting Vermont agricultural and forestry businesses to apply for Trade Show Assistance Grants (TSAG). These grants provide businesses with funds to identify, plan, exhibit, and sell their Vermont products at out-of-state trade shows or virtual shows targeting out-of-state buyers. These matching grants can mitigate the financial risks associated with exhibiting at trade shows, which provide excellent opportunities to network with wholesale buyers. Funding may be used to reimburse up to 50% of the following expenses: travel; marketing assets and booth design; registration fees; booth fees; furnishings; utilities; shipping/freight; and other marketing costs (samples, printing, etc.). Applicants may include up to five trade shows in their yearly trade show marketing plan, requesting a total of between $2,000 and $5,000 in eligible reimbursements for shows that take place between April 1, 2023 and March 31, 2024. Businesses may not apply for funding to support attendance at trade shows they have already attended five or more times.

Vermont Outdoor Business Alliance The holiday season is off to a strong start with events showcasing Vermont’s world - class sports scene and outdoor industry. World Cup skiing was on display at Killington Resort over the Thanksgiving weekend, with a record-breaking 21,000 spectators witnessing the highest level of performance while patronizing businesses in the region. On November 10, the sector demonstrated its depth at VOBA’s Outdoor Economy Sessions where 100 representatives rekindled ties and brainstormed opportunities for business development, workforce, and marketing, as well as how to approach justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion and recreation infrastructure.

Vermont Business Magazine Democratic members of the Vermont House of Representatives on Saturday selected their leadership slate for the coming 2023–2024 biennium during a public Democratic Caucus held at the State House in Montpelier. Rep. Jill Krowinski of Burlington was elected by the 104-member caucus to return for her second term as Speaker of the House. Representative Krowinski’s nomination as Speaker must come before the tri-partisan House of Representatives for full confirmation on the first day of the 2023 session, Wednesday, January 4, after she is sworn in for her seventh term.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Secretary of State Jim Condos has announced the date and towns included in the post-election audit of 2022 Vermont General Election results, which will occur on Tuesday, December 6 at the Pavilion Auditorium in Montpelier, starting at 9am.

Vermont Business Magazine On Tuesday, December 6th from 4 pm – 6 pm Downstreet Housing & Community Development (Downstreet) will host a grand opening celebration of Foundation House, the new Recovery Residence in Barre City. The celebration will begin at the Barre Elks Lodge (10 Jefferson Street in Barre). The project involved the reconfiguration, historic restoration, and weatherization of the three-story building at 31 Keith Avenue, originally constructed in the early 1900s. Recovery Residences provide stable, supportive, sober living environments that promote recovery from SUD and other associated challenges; Foundation House is the only Recovery Residence for women in Central Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (VBSR) has recognized Democratic Vermont State Representative Tim Briglin from Thetford (Windsor-Orange 2) with their 2022 VBSR Legislator of the Year Award. Rep. Briglin will be honored as Legislator of the Year during the 2022 VBSR Legislative Breakfast on December 9 when VBSR will also announce its 2023 legislative agenda.