Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and partner organization, the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), have announced a sign-up for Land Management and Land Rental activities funded through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). While applications are accepted year-round, the application date for Fiscal Year 2023 is January 13, 2023. Through this RCPP project, Vermont DEC has secured over $3.75 million toward Land Management and Rental activities in cooperation with NRCS.

by Sarah Reeves, Executive Director of the Chittenden Solid Waste District It’s easy to drop a piece of cardboard into a blue recycling bin and think nothing more of it, other than remembering to set your bin on the curb for pickup or bringing it to a drop off center. The good news is that recycling is second nature to many Vermonters. The bad news is, if you were to pull the curtain back and observe the next steps in that cardboard’s journey, you’d likely be surprised by how old and inefficient the facility is that sorts these materials into streams that can be made into new products. As a result, CSWD’s Board has determined that a new and improved facility is in the public’s interest. To meet this demand, in June the Board authorized placing a question on the November ballot, asking Chittenden County voters to approve authorization for the District to issue general obligation bonds ($22 million) to fund the construction of, and equipment, for a new Materials Recovery Facility (MRF).

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health has launched a first-of-a-kind program to support healthcare professionals with timely information on disease diagnosis, testing, treatment and patient education resources — improving public health response statewide. The Clinician Support Initiative provides access to a vast collection of images and clinical information about public health threats, including hMPXV (human monkeypox virus), COVID-19 and Lyme disease. Available on the web or through an app, these tools help improve the speed and accuracy of diagnosis and facilitate the timely reporting to public health for diseases of public health significance. These resources are being made available to Vermont healthcare professionals in partnership with VisualDx, a healthcare informatics company based in Rochester, NY. A phased rollout is currently underway, and all Vermont medical professionals can expect access by the end of the year.

Vermont Business Magazine Dynapower, a global leader in power conversion and energy storage solutions, has partnered with Alphastruxure and Montgomery County, Maryland to provide energy storage that will help provide uninterrupted power to the county's fleet of electric buses using on-site generation including renewable resources. The Brookville Smart Energy Bus Depot uses an integrated system of solar, microgrid energy storage, and electric charging stations which will eventually power 70 electric buses (50% of the Brookville bus fleet) with 4.14 megawatts of charging capacity. Transitioning these 70 buses at the depot from diesel to electric, powered by the on-site clean energy microgrid, will reduce lifetime emissions by 62 percent

Vermont Business Magazine The Local, a wine and beer shop located in Middlesex, announces its opening day this Thursday, November 3. The Local is based in Middlesex’s Camp Meade complex, which also houses Red Hen Baking Co. and features an outdoor summer music series. The Local offers a world-class selection of carefully chosen wines. Designed to be approachable, accessible, and demystify the wine shopping experience, The Local offers quality wines at all price points from vineyards and bottlers that prioritize sustainability.

Vermont Business Magazine Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont), US Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), and US Representative Peter Welch (D-Vermont) Wednesday announced that Vermont will be receiving $25.4 million in funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). This includes: $19,146,884 from the traditional LIHEAP block grant funding; $5,716,220 in new supplemental funding from the Continuing Appropriations Act; and $571,341 in funding appropriated for Fiscal Year 2023 from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

Vermont Business Magazine The Burlington Electric Department (BED) today, joined by Mayor Miro Weinberger, ARC Industries Founder and CEO Robert Monteith, and leaders from Burlington International Airport (BTV) and the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund, announced a partnership with ARC Industries to pioneer ARC’s new, leading-edge wind turbine – The Orb – at BTV in pursuit of Burlington’s goal of becoming a Net Zero Energy City by 2030. The Orb will be ARC’s first-ever deployment of its new energy technology and will provide BED with the opportunity to pilot a potential means of further diversifying its renewable energy offerings in Burlington’s urban environment. The Orb is a low-profile, rooftop wind turbine that will produce enough electricity for about 1.5 homes. The $20,000 cost of The Orb is being shouldered by Massachusetts-based ARC, with BED taking care of the installation. At the end of the one-year pilot program BED would have the option of buying the unit.

Vermont Business Magazine US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the Biden-Harris Administration is investing $1,096,655 in Vermont Livestock Slaughter & Processing through the first round of the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program (MPPEP). This is part of $223 million in meat and processing programs nationwide. Vermont Livestock Slaughter & Processing connects hundreds of farmers in Vermont and the Northeast with the customers they supply. Meat processing is currently a bottleneck in the region with many producers having to wait significant periods for the service. With their MPPEP investment, they will maximize their capacity and position the company for succession planning to an employee-owned model.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Chamber of Commerce welcomed three new Directors to the Board: Chris Karr of The Karr Restaurant Group, Killington, Steve Gagner of 14th Star Brewing, St Albans, and Steve Boyer of Sonnax, Bellows Falls. The Vermont Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors is dedicated to economic progress and the Vermont business community. Their collective expertise ensures that the work of the Vermont Chamber of Commerce is rooted in the diverse perspectives of those with lived business experience.

Vermont Business Magazine A $1.25 million grant from the US Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs will fund the launch of Project RESILIENCY at the University of Vermont. With a goal to train specialized and interdisciplinary leaders in the education of children and youth with or at risk for emotional and behavioral disorders, the project will fully fund five doctoral scholars in the newPhD in Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Health and Inclusive Education (SHIE) program over the next five years. The PhD in SHIE will prepare future leaders in higher education through a rigorous pedagogical, theoretical, and methodological program anchored in community-engaged, equity-oriented, trauma-informed, and evidence-based practices.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Transportation (AOT) is pleased to announce the 26th year of funding to support projects on municipal roads that improve water quality and result in maintenance cost savings. The grant funds are provided by AOT in partnership with the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources. The Vermont Better Roads Program promotes the use of erosion control and maintenance techniques that save money while protecting and enhancing water quality around the State. The application scoring of the Better Roads Program is intended to be in line with the State’s Clean Water Act (Act 64) and the Municipal Roads General Permit (MRGP). In an effort to prioritize funding for projects that are providing significant water quality improvements, applicants must indicate whether or not the projects that they intend to construct will be in full compliance with the MRGP.