Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont recently announced the three commissioners of its Truth and Reconciliation Commission, a group tasked with examining issues of racism, discrimination, and eugenics in state laws and policies, both historically and today. As members of a marginalized community with homelands in what is now known as Vermont for more than 12,000 years, the Abenaki Alliance supports the intention of the Commission and stands with the commissioners as they embark upon a journey of research, review, and policy recommendations over the next three years.

Vermont Business Magazine On Wednesday, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) will host its annual Cancer Action Day, where dozens of advocates will convene at the State House to meet with lawmakers and urge them to end the sale of menthol cigarettes and all flavored tobacco products. Advocates and lawmakers will also have a chance to enjoy local Vermont ice cream with the pressing reminder that flavors belong in candy and ice cream – not tobacco. This year is particularly meaningful, as it marks the first-time advocates have been able to return to the State House since the start of the pandemic.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA) Board of Commissioners announced last week that its annual award of federal housing tax credits will support the construction of 112 homes in perpetually affordable apartment buildings in four communities across the state. The sale of this year’s tax credits to investors is expected to yield over $28 million in funds covering an estimated 60 percent of total project development costs. These housing construction projects will take place in a uniquely challenging environment. Elevated development costs, interest rates and housing needs among Vermonters heavily influenced project planning. The cost of developing a unit of rental housing in Vermont has increased 36% since 2018. They will be located in Putney, West Rutland, St Johnsbury and Burlington.

Vermont Business Magazine The latest season of America’s favorite treasure hunt, Antiques Roadshow, concludes with three brand new hours of exciting local finds filmed in Vermont last summer at Shelburne Museum. Antiques Roadshow came to Shelburne Museum on July 12, 2022, with more than 3,000 visitors arriving to have their family heirlooms and flea market finds appraised in a day-long event. The day of filming resulted in three episodes in the Green Mountain State, which will premiere nationally on PBS stations on Monday, April 24, May 1, and May 8, at 8 p.m., including Vermont Public.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott and the Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD) today announced the second round of approved Community Recovery and Revitalization Program (CRRP) grant applications for projects that spur economic recovery. The program, administered by the Department of Economic Development (DED), aims to strengthen communities across the state by reversing the harm caused by the COVID-19 pandemic through assistance with capital investments that will help businesses, nonprofits, and municipalities to recover, retain existing jobs, and grow the economy. Twenty-three projects have been reviewed by an interagency committee and approved for round two funding, resulting in a proposed award amount of $9,541,195, which is expected to support $92,206,478 in total project costs.

Vermont Business Magazine Average gasoline prices in Vermont as of Sunday were $3.56 per gallon, up 8.2 cents per gallon from last week's $3.48/g, according to GasBuddy. The lowest price in the state yesterday was $3.35/g while the highest was $3.69/g, a difference of 34.0 cents per gallon. The national average price of gasoline has fallen 0.8 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.64/g. The national average is up 22.8 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 46.4 cents per gallon lower than a year ago.

Vermont State Police On Saturday, at approximately 3:38 pm, troopers from the Williston Barracks responded to the area of Route 7, south of Church Hill Road in the town of Charlotte, for a report of a crash involving a motorcycle and a passenger car. Medical personnel arrived on scene and determined that the operator of the motorcycle, Timothy Williams, 34, of Essex, VT, was deceased on the scene. One occupant of the involved passenger car reported minor pain and was transported to the UVMMC for evaluation as a precaution. Initial investigation and witness statements gathered on scene indicated that Williams was traveling northbound on Route 7 well in excess of the posted 50 MPH speed limit when his motorcycle struck the back of vehicle #2, also traveling northbound.

Vermont Business Magazine The National Life Group Do Good Fest will be headlined by the Plain White T’s, a two-time Grammy nominated American Rock Band, the company recently announced. It also revealed Vermont favorite, All Night Boogie Band, will lead the line-up, with other bands to be announced soon. National Life is once again partnering with Star 92.9 to present the National Life Group Do Good Fest on the company’s back lawn in Montpelier. The event will be held on Saturday, July 15.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Medical Society, the Vermont Academy of Family Physicians, the American Academy of Pediatrics Vermont Chapter, and the Vermont Psychiatric Association, applaud the Vermont Legislature for their recent passage of two “shield laws,” S. 37 and H.89. If signed, these two pieces of legislation will protect patients who seek, and Vermont health care clinicians who provide reproductive health care services and gender-affirming care. The bills now also include protections for medication used to terminate pregnancy, which is necessary, as these medications are currently the subject of federal lawsuits that would revoke their FDA-approval status.

Vermont Agency of Agriculture Food & Markets The Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund's business management coaching program just launched Business Sense, a six-module training series for entrepreneurs and small business owners. The series provides essential tools and informational resources in areas such as financials, operations, sales and marketing, human resources, leadership, and governance. Business Sense aims to help businesses thrive. The first two modules, Financial Literacy and Business Operations, have been released and the remaining four modules will be launching soon.

Vermont State Police Following a three-day manhunt, police on Sunday evening, April 23, 2023, Vermont State Police arrested Henry Lovell in Hyde Park. The arrest came at about 6:35 p.m. after the Lamoille County Sheriff’s Department received a tip from a member of the public who saw a man matching Lovell’s physical and clothing description walking along a road in Hyde Park. The location was about one mile from an area where law enforcement had reason to believe Lovell was and had deployed resources in an attempt to locate him. A Vermont State Police trooper and an officer with the Morristown Police Department were in the immediate vicinity of the roadside location mentioned in the tip. They responded, located Lovell by the side of the road, and took him into custody without incident.