Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Average gasoline prices in Vermont are rising and are $3.58 per gallon as of today, up 2 cents per gallon from last week, up 5 cents/g in a month, but down $1.42/g from a year ago.  The national average price of gasoline has fallen 1 cent per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.53g today. The national average is up 3 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands $1.45 cents per gallon lower than a year ago

Vermont Business Magazine The Agency of Education, in partnership with the Agency of Agriculture, has recognized five supervisory unions that have achieved the highest percentage levels of local purchasing through The Local Foods Incentive Grant program established in 2021. In its first year, the grant program provided $489,838.20 to 23 SU/SDs during the 2021-2022 school year to help increase the amount of local food purchased. Eligible schools received a grant equal to $0.15 per meal to assist schools with purchasing and sourcing locally produced foods and agricultural products.

Vermont Business Magazine Discover mudpuppies with the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the Fish & Wildlife Department (FWD) at the upcoming Clean Water Conversations virtual event from 12–1 pm on June 8, 2023. Native populations of mudpuppies can be found in Lake Champlain and its tributaries. The Lamoille River has one of Vermont’s largest mudpuppy populations. FWD is working to establish a new sub-population of mudpuppies through relocation. Staff mark relocated mudpuppies and fit some with radio transmitters to track their survival and movement.

Vermont Business Magazine At a ceremony in Washington, DC, on Tuesday, June 6th, NRG Systems, Inc, the global leader in wind and solar resource measurement and intelligence, was honored with the President’s “E” Award for their outstanding contributions to exporting and promoting American-made products in international markets. NRG Systems is one of only 24 companies selected to receive this accolade and the third Vermont company recognized for this achievement since the award was established by executive order 62 years ago.

VermontBiz Vermont’s annual, statewide Summer Free Fishing Day is this Saturday, June 10, and it will be highlighted by a free family fishing festival in Grand Isle as well as opening day of the state’s regular bass fishing season.

“Vermont’s Free Fishing Day gives resident and nonresident anglers the opportunity to go fishing without a license for the day in Vermont lakes and streams,” said Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Christopher Herrick.  “Free Fishing Day is a great opportunity for an experienced angler to be a mentor to friends who have not gone fishing before.  A day on the water could lead to a lifetime of great experiences and healthy local food.”

Vermont Business Magazine The Federal Nuclear Waste Policy (FNWP) Committee of the Vermont Nuclear Decommissioning Citizens Advisory Panel (VT NDCAP) will hold meetings on June 12th and June 19, 2023.  Both meetings, which will be held on consecutive Mondays, will run from Noon to 1:15 PM.  As permitted by ACT 1 of the 2023 Vermont Legislature, these meetings will be conducted solely as webcasts with concurrent teleconferences. The June 12th and June 19th FWNP Committee meetings will both discuss potential recycling and reprocessing options for spent nuclear fuel. 

Vermont Business Magazine As the opening of HUD’s Innovative Housing Showcase approaches, WheelPad L3C is celebrating the design, manufacture, and shipment of its latest accessible modular home, which will be exhibited at the event. WheelPad’s SuitePAD model home is en route to the National Mall in Washington, D.C., with expected arrival Tuesday.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department is reminding anglers and the public to avoid disturbing spawning sea lamprey that may currently be found in the Connecticut River and several of its tributaries. Each year sea lamprey spawn during the spring in the main stem of the Connecticut River as far upstream as Wilder Dam as well as in many of its tributaries, including the West, Williams, Black, and White Rivers. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Lakes and Ponds Program offers guidance to help property owners protect and restore lake side properties. The Shoreland Best Management Practices guidance contains multiple Best Management Practice documents. Each document highlights different activities that can improve water quality and the health of lakeshore habitat. Examples of activities include planting native trees and shrubs, installing rain gardens to absorb runoff, improving driveways and pathways, and creating no-mow zones.

by Bill Schubart With the second highest per capita homeless rate in the nation, the legislature ended, as of July, current state funding for providing hotel/motel shelter for 2800 homeless Vermont families, of which about 600 are children. To their credit 23 legislators demurred. Also in the final moments of this legislative session, the legislature passed H.217, in which a combination of revenue resources will inject $130M a year in new revenue into Vermont’s struggling childcare system. With some 5800 preschool children in Vermont, that’s $22,414 per child, an amount that will cover most, but not all, of the cost of their daycare.

Vermont Business Magazine 802 Credit Union has been chosen as the Greater Brattleboro’s best community bank or credit union by Market Survey of America’s Best of the Best voters. This prestigious accolade was bestowed upon 802 Credit Union through the annual community voting campaign, recognizing the exceptional commitment and dedication of the 802 Credit Union team to the local community.

VermontBiz The Vermont Association for the Education of Young Children (VTAEYC) invites nominations for Vermont’s 2023 Early Childhood Educator of the Year. Nominations are due by July 1 and may be made at vtaeyc.org/eceoy.

The prestigious annual award honors exceptional early childhood educators and spotlights the importance of high-quality early childhood education for Vermont’s children, families and communities. Presented by VTAEYC and sponsored by Let’s Grow Kids, the 2023 award comes with a $2,500 cash prize and all expenses paid to a national conference.