Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Enosburgh residents will soon be able to enjoy a much-desired community playground for children ages 2 through 12 at the Enosburgh recreation fields thanks to a recently launched crowdfunding campaign. The campaign is sponsored by the Vermont Department of Housing and Community Development’s Better Places program and offered through the crowdfunding platform developed by Patronicity. The campaign is led by the Town of Enosburgh. If the campaign reaches its $10,000 goal by October 31st, 2023 the “Bring a Community Playground to Enosburgh!” campaign will receive a matching grant of $20,000 from DHCD’s Better Places program.

by Emily Bradbury “There’s something larger going on here than bagging greens,” said Karin Bellemare, owner of The Roots Farm Market in Middlesex. “There's a community connection. We’re in an old-school general store, but new…maybe the next phase of the general store? It may seem kind of ‘new-age’, but there are different ways of doing business that are rooted in kindness and respect for the earth and other human beings. That’s what I’m working to cultivate here.”

Vermont Agency of Transportation This weekly report is a list of planned construction activities that will have traffic impacts on state highways and interstates throughout Vermont for the week of September 4, 2023. Most crews will be off for Labor Day on Monday and resume work on Tuesday. Please remember to drive safely in all work zones. Lives depend on it.   

Vermont Business Magazine The who's who of Vermont's ski and snowboarding world will gather at Killington’s new K1 Lodge on Saturday, October 14th to celebrate the Induction of the class of 2023 into the Vermont Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame. The event, hosted by the Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum in Stowe, will also honor the recipients of the Paul Robbins Journalism Award and First Tracks. One of the highlights of the event will be the premier of short biographical films created for each inductee shown before their acceptance speeches.

Vermont Business Magazine While the Vermont Legislature has been debating creating a mandatory paid family and medical leave program, Governor Scott launched on July 1st of this year Phase 1 of a voluntary paid family and medical leave program, potentially pre-empting any action by the legislature to mandate such a program. Phase 2 includes open enrollment for all Vermont businesses on July 1st, 2024, and the Administration is seeking to engage with employers who might be interested in extending this coverage to their employees at an affordable cost. 

The Vermont State Police has arrested a suspect on murder charges arising from the deaths of two people whose bodies were found Friday night inside a home in Whitingham. The victims are identified as Michael Garvin, 52, and his mother, Lucy Garvin, 79, both of whom lived in the home at 2173 Vermont Route 8A where the incident occurred. Through investigation, the Vermont State Police identified a suspect and learned that Michael Garvin’s truck was missing. Members of the Brattleboro Police Department located the vehicle Friday night, conducted a traffic stop and ultimately detained the driver, 54-year-old Christopher Ellis. 

Northeastern Vermont Development Association Funding is still available! The $20 million dollar Business Emergency Gap Assistance Program through the Department of Economic Development is for businesses, nonprofits, and landlords that suffered physical flood damage. The grant funds are to help businesses reopen their doors, bring employees back to work, and help displaced Vermonters return to their rental housing. It's not too late to apply. 

Vermont Business Magazine VMEC invites your business to join CONNEX™ Vermont, our newest service offering, an online platform that connects all Vermont Manufacturers, Buyers, and Suppliers in a Single, Searchable Supply-Chain Solution. It's easy and FREE and you have great support from the VMEC staff who can explain its many benefits. Join VMEC in September and October for an hour-long introductory session where we can answer all your questions and even help you get your account set up. All sessions will be presented via Zoom and are FREE.

US Small Business Administration Vermont A small business virtual meeting, Pride and Prosperity: Business & Financial Wellness Power Hour, will be held at noon Sept. 7 during Pride Week. The Pride Center of Vermont, the Small Business Administration, the Inclusive Entrepreneurship program at Mercy Connections, the Center for Women and Enterprise, and the Office of the Vermont State Treasurer are partnering to host a conversation about the LGBTQIA2S+ business community’s needs and wants around business support and financial wellness. 

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont residents affected by July’s severe storms, flooding, mudslides and landslides now have until Oct. 12, 2023 to apply for FEMA assistance. This does not mean you should delay applying – the sooner you apply, the sooner FEMA can process your claim. If you had storm-caused expenses and live or own a business in Caledonia, Chittenden, Lamoille, Orange, Orleans, Rutland, Washington, Windham or Windsor County, FEMA assistance can provide grants and U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) loans for temporary housing, home repairs and other disaster-related needs. Governor Scott had requested the extension.

The Vermont State Police has completed an investigation into an assault on a medical professional Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023, by an inmate at Southern State Correctional Facility in Springfield. According to the investigative findings, 28-year-old Cory Munger was receiving assistance from Clinical Case Manager Lorene Gendron at about 9:30 a.m. when he placed her in a choke hold, struck her in the head, and held a pen to her throat. Correctional officers immediately intervened, deploying OC spray and taking Munger to the ground. During the incident, Ms. Gendron also was knocked to the ground and sustained injuries including a concussion. Ms. Gendron, 62, is a nurse with Vermont Department of Corrections health provider Wellpath.

Vermont Business Magazine The Public Service Department (PSD) issued a request for proposals (RFP) from a Contractor or team of Contractors to conduct a thermal sector (heating) potential study. The results will be used in the implementation of Act 18 (the Affordable Heat Act) which became law on May 11, 2023. The Act established the framework for the Clean Heat Standard, which is intended to achieve proportional greenhouse gas reductions in Vermont’s thermal sector to meet the requirements of the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2020.