Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Division for Historic Preservation has announced the reopening of most of the State Historic Sites, which had closed to preserve public safety and property of the State in response to the severe flooding.  After a thorough assessment of the integrity of the historic structures and archeologically sensitive grounds, the following State Historic Sites will reopen: July 28, Friday - Bennington Battle Monument in Bennington and President Calvin Coolidge Historic Site in Plymouth; July 29, Saturday - Hubbardton Battlefield in Hubbardton; August 1, Tuesday - Mount Independence in Orwell; August 2, Wednesday - Chimney Point in Addison; August 5, Saturday - President Chester Arthur Historic Site in Fairfield.

Vermont Business Magazine Berkshire Bank, a leading, socially responsible community bank with financial centers in New England and New York, announced more than $845,000 in Foundation philanthropic investments during the second quarter of 2023. These investments contributed to helping the communities Berkshire Bank serves.  Berkshire has branches in southern Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine Fidium Fiber is expanding service coverage of its all-fiber internet network in Salisbury. Construction has already started in some locations, with additional build-out scheduled for the coming weeks. Through this expansion, hundreds of homes and small businesses in the community will have access to Fidium’s multi-gig speed fiber internet service.

Vermont Business Magazine On Wednesday evening, Senator Bernie Sanders hosted a statewide telephone town meeting on Vermont’s flooding disaster with Senator Peter Welch, Representative Becca Balint, and Governor Phil Scott, as well as federal and state agency leaders playing a critical part in the response and recovery process. Nearly 12,000 Vermonters from across the state joined the town meeting by phone, while thousands more listened in by livestream. More than 3,000 Vermonters have applied for Individual Assistance through FEMA; FEMA has visited over 6,800 homes and more than 350 businesses; FEMA has approved more than 680 Individual Assistance applications so far, totaling $4.7 million in aid to Vermonters; SBA has approved $770,800 for a total of 16 loans to homeowners;464 FEMA staff are in Vermont assessing damage and assisting with sign-ups, 14 teams are going door-to-door to help residents sign up for FEMA.

Vermont Business Magazine Teams from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience are going door-to-door to contact survivors of the severe storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides that began July 7. They are notifying Vermont businesses damaged by the storms that they are eligible to apply for SBA low-interest disaster loans. Team members will be wearing SBA Disaster Assistance shirts or jackets, have Federal ID cards with their name, photo and SBA logo on them, and will not hesitate to produce their IDs if requested. Survivors will be asked for their names, and the names of the owners of the damaged properties but will not be asked for any personally identifiable information such as Social Security numbers or date of birth by these outreach teams. That information should only be provided when applying online or when visiting a recovery center.

Vermont Business Magazine Casella Waste Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CWST), a regional solid waste, recycling and resource management services company, on Thursday reported its financial results for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2023. Solid second quarter financial results, driven by the Company's operating efficiency programs and execution against its growth strategy. The Company raised its revenue, Adjusted EBITDA, net cash provided by operating activities, and Adjusted Free Cash Flow guidance ranges and updated its net income guidance range for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023 (FY 2023).

Vermont Business Magazine Residents can bring their flood-related hazardous materials to the State of Vermont hazardous materials collection site at the former Middlesex Police Barracks at 1078 U.S. Route 2 in Middlesex or to local collection locations and events. Please check online before you go to a collection location as information may change. Collections will begin as early as Saturday, July 29, 2023. Businesses with hazardous materials can bring up to ten (10) 5-gallon containers of flood-related hazardous materials to the State of Vermont collection site in Middlesex, Vermont, or call local collection locations and events to ask if they are accepting hazardous waste from businesses.  

by Matt Dunne, Founder and Executive Director, CORI Today is one of the most significant days of the year for communities across our Rural Innovation Network. The exact date changes from one year to the next, but the impact never wavers: It’s deadline day for communities applying for a 2023 EDA Build to Scale Venture Challenge grant.

Vermont Business Magazine According to a new report – commissioned in 2020 by Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Chairman of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Chairman of the Committee on the Budget, and released yesterday by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) – the gap in retirement account balances between middle- and high-income older households more than doubled from 2007 to 2019. While the median account balance for high-income older households nearly doubled from $333,000 to $605,000 over that time, the median account balance for middle-income older households stagnated at about $64,300 – nine times less than the median balance of high-income older households.

Vermont Business Magazine Stowe Area Association (SAA), the region's official destination leadership organization, is proud to announce a new strategic vision in response to the growing need to balance the local visitor economy with the well-being of the community. Known outwardly as Go Stowe, SAA is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit business association dedicated to enhancing the visitor experience while supporting member businesses. SAA plays a vital role in destination marketing and stewardship, considering the needs of visitors, the environment, and the local community. The visitor economy significantly contributes to Vermont's annual $3.2 billion tourism economy.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Labor announced today that Federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) benefits are now available to Vermonters in Orleans County, in addition to the eight counties first announced on July 20, 2023, and July 26, 2023. Under DUA program guidance, individuals in Orleans County have until Monday, August 28, 2023, to file a DUA application. 

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) spoke on the Senate floor late last night to call for additional support for Vermont’s farmers as they recover from catastrophic flooding. The office of Governor Phil Scott estimates that 10,000 acres of farmland have been damaged by flooding. That number is expected to grow as more farmers report crop losses and property damage.  In his remarks, Sen. Welch urged Vermont farmers to document and report crop losses and property damage. He also urged his colleagues to rally in support of Vermont farmers and secure the resources needed to help Vermonters recover fully from the July 2023 storm.