Current News

by Mike Donoghue, Correspondent, Vermont Business Magazine With the three primary criminal defendants awaiting sentencing in federal court in Vermont for their part in the massive EB-5 investment scandal in the Northeast Kingdom, now attention turns to trying to confirm reports whether key state officials knowingly sat on Vermont's largest fraud case and chose not to make it public for at least one year. Defense lawyers Brooks McArthur and David Williams, on behalf of William Stenger, are hopeful that some, if not all, records, including FBI and IRS reports and interviews that are currently under seal, will be made public before their client is sentenced later this year.

10-year Vermont DOC employee to oversee budget, human resource and contract management

Vermont Business Magazine Matt D’Agostino will soon assume the post of Interim Deputy Commissioner for the Vermont Department of Corrections (Vermont DOC), bringing ten years of Corrections experience and financial experience to the role.

D’Agostino currently serves as the Vermont DOC financial director and is a member of the department’s senior staff. In this new role, D’Agostino will continue overseeing the budget, as well as human resource management and managing more than $30M in contracts to include a $20M health care system.

D’Agostino has worked for Vermont DOC since 2011, starting as a financial manager before taking his current role as financial director in 2013. He holds a degree in finance from Rutgers University.

The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets (VAAFM) has announced and released a Request for Proposals for a consultant to help the Agency build upon work initiated by Agency staff relating to inclusion, diversity, equity and accountability. Since the summer of 2020, VAAFM staff have engaged in internal discussions focused on individual and collective learning; internal Agency policies, practices, and culture; and the Agency’s approaches to serving and interacting with constituents, partners, and the public.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health today reported 187 cases of COVID-19. The VDH also reported today six more deaths from Friday, for 310 statewide. There are 36 people hospitalized (down six from Friday) and 7 in the ICU (down eight). Vermont began offering Pfizer vaccine booster "third shots" to those 80 and over starting Friday (September 24). This is only for those who already received two doses of the Pfizer vaccine. Shots for those 75+ begins Monday.

by Danny Monahan, Small Business Administration Vermont District Office Active sitting sounds like a contradictory term. An oxymoron along the lines of open secret or bittersweet. Besides how can one be sitting down and still moving? Yet it is the entire concept of QOR360, a small business in Burlington that designs ergonomic chairs. Before he was an inventor, Osler was a surgeon for 30 years with the University of Vermont Medical Center. When he retired from operating on patients, Osler moved on to become a research epidemiologist with the University of Vermont. That is when the pain started.

Vermont Business Magazine Agency of Natural Resources Secretary Julie Moore invites the public to join her on Thursday, October 7 from 4 to 5 pm to discuss a variety of environmental topics. The meeting will start with a conversation about the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding, where Secretary Moore will talk about ANR’s plan to invest approximately $100 million in ARPA funding in a variety of water infrastructure projects.

Vermont Business Magazine With the clock ticking ahead of the October deadline when State grants for past due utility payments will end, VGS is urging its customers who have had difficulty paying their bills during the Covid-19 emergency to apply for financial assistance available through the Vermont Public Service Department. The Vermont COVID-19 Arrearage Assistance Program (VCAAP II) provides grants to eligible Vermonters who may have past due balances that may result in disconnection. VCAAP II residential assistance is available for up to $10,000 and businesses can receive up to $50,000 in assistance.

Vermont Business Magazine Emerge Vermont, the state’s premier organization for recruiting and training Democratic women to run for office, announced today that former Vermont Speaker of the House Gaye Symington is the recipient of the 2021 Governor Madeleine M. Kunin Achievement Award. The award, bestowed in honor of Governor Kunin, is given annually to a Democratic woman in Vermont with significant political achievements.

​Vermont Agency of Transportation This weekly report for September 27, 2021, is a list of planned construction activities that will have traffic impacts on state highways throughout Vermont. Please remember to drive safely in all work zones. Lives depend on it.

Vermont Business Magazine The Chill Foundation Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Ben Clark will become the new Global CEO of Chill. Created in 1995 by Burton Snowboards’ late founder Jake Burton Carpenter and his wife, current Burton owner Donna Carpenter, Chill inspires young people to overcome challenges through boardsports.

Vermont Business Magazine Vail Resorts and Toyota have announced a multi-year strategic partnership across the 33 mountain resorts in Vail Resorts' US portfolio, including iconic destinations like Vail Mountain, Breckenridge Ski Resort, Park City Mountain, and Stowe Mountain Resort. Vail also owns Mount Snow and Okemo resorts in Vermont. In addition to providing safe and fuel-efficient transportation for guests staying in resort lodging and mountain operations teams, as Vail Resorts' first-ever Mobility Partner, Toyota will provide best-in-class activities that enhance how guests experience the mountains, including interactive events and ski and ride terrain features.

Vermont Ski Areas Association Autumn in Vermont is hard to beat. Fall foliage, brewfests and flannels make for the quintessential New England experience. Many of Vermont's ski areas will be hosting brewfests and Octoberfests as well as providing scenic chairlift rides for leaf peeping.