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Vermont Business Magazine Green Mountain Power’s (GMP) microgrid in Panton is the focus of a segment for PBS NOVA’s Climate Across America initiative, which examines responses to the climate crisis. GMP’s microgrid functions as a grid within the larger grid, allowing those customers within it to stay powered up even when the larger grid is damaged. It is the first distribution circuit, all-renewable microgrid in the country, and it runs on solar energy and utility scale batteries. The segment was produced for NOVA by a team from Vermont Public. Vermont has seen an increasing amount of severe weather over the last decade due to climate change, with storms that are more damaging. Three of the worst storms in GMP history, in terms of outages, happened just this winter. Meteorologists say this type of severe weather is part of a growing trend for the state.

Vermont Agency of Agriculture Food & Markets The VAAFM Farm Agronomic Practices (FAP) Program invests state funds in soil-based agronomic practices to improve soil quality, increase crop production, and reduce erosion and surface runoff from agricultural fields. Grant applications are currently open for spring conservation practices planned to be installed prior to June 30, 2023, including manure injection, conservation tillage, no-till pasture and hayland renovation, and rotation of cropland into hay. Funding is limited and available on a first-come-first-served basis, so apply now! Applications are due at least 30 days prior to implementation for all spring conservation practices.

by Mike Donoghue, Vermont Business Magazine Correspondent The former president of Jay Peak resort is asking the federal court to strike a $250,000 restitution order in his EB-5 fraud case because he says newly provided evidence shows Vermont officials failed to act when told about serious investment problems for a proposed bio-medical facility in Newport. Defense lawyers for William Stenger of Newport say in newly filed court records that state documents finally made available last month clearly confirm earlier beliefs that Vermont authorities were alerted in early 2015 about financial concerns by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Department of Financial Regulation officials at the time, including then-Commissioner Susan Donegan and her deputy, Michael Pieciak, should never had allowed for the resumption of the marketing for a biomedical research facility planned for Newport, according to defense lawyers Brooks McArthur and David Williams of Gravel & Shea law firm in Burlington.

by Joyce Marcel, Vermont Business Magazine In a small state like Vermont, knowing people is the key to being successful. And that, in a nutshell, is the business philosophy of Tony Blake, a founding partner of V/T Commercial Real Estate in Burlington. A colorful raconteur, Blake, now 70, began his career in the restaurant business. In other words, he has long been attuned to meeting people and making them feel met. “If you think about restaurants, they’re really a public type of business,” Blake said in a recent interview. “A successful owner-operator needs to be visible. He needs to be agreeable to the customer. He has to say, ‘Hey, how are you? Nice to see you. How’s your meal, good? Can I get you anything?’ “You need to make them feel like, ‘Yeah, he remembers me. He knows me'."

Vermont Business Magazine ANTIQUES ROADSHOW, PBS’s most-watched ongoing series, will air three all-new Vermont-based episodes from Shelburne Museum on April 24th, May 1st, and May 8th at 8/7C PM on PBS. The 20-time Emmy Award nominated series came to Vermont in July of 2022 as part of its five-city production tour. 2,893 guests attended the all-day appraisal event where they received valuations of their antiques and collectibles from specialists from the country's leading auction houses and independent dealers.

Vermont Business Magazine Residents of the Upper Valley Region of Vermont are encouraged to attend the first Youth Opportunity Regional Forum April 20 from 6-7:30 pm at Oxbow High School to join together with fellow youth, community members, businesses, and educators to share successes, challenges, and ideas for the future. Free pizza will be served. The “Vermont Youth Opportunity Initiative” emerged through The Vermont Proposition Initiative which was coordinated by the Vermont Council on Rural Development in 2021 through input from thousands of Vermonters. A Youth Opportunity Advisory Group of statewide leaders and youth members has developed a statewide engagement process to hear from thousands of Vermonters and then review findings to make action recommendations to the Future of Vermont Action Team.

Vermont Business Magazine Hundreds of students from across Vermont gathered at the State House to demand bold climate action from lawmakers. Young Vermonters made it clear that they believe the state cannot afford continued delay on climate action if we want to ensure a livable planet for future generations. “Our role is important. We are not powerless. We are the powerful reminder of the next generation - of who exactly our leaders are failing. Who they must do better for. We will be present constantly to remind our leaders of this," said Miriam Serota-Winston, freshman at Montpelier High School.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee on Tuesday, April 18, will be joined by Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), chairman of the HELP Subcommittee on Children and Families, Ai-jen Poo, President of National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA), and Mary Kay Henry, International President of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) for a town hall at the US Capitol on the crisis facing care workers across America.

Leonine Public Affairs After the flurry of crossover activity there is usually a lull in legislative excitement as committees work through the bills they’ve been sent from the opposite chamber. Week 14 began with warm spring weather and a relative calm in the statehouse as lawmakers returned to Montpelier. The quiet start to the week turned out to be the calm before the storm though. As the Senate Appropriations committee discussed big-ticket Democratic priorities on Tuesday afternoon, it became clear the Senate does not seem inclined to support the House’s funding mechanism for the paid family medical leave insurance program. The showdown between the House and Senate over their competing priorities of childcare and paid family and medical leave has likely just begun.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Real estate is in a historic state of flux in Vermont. Housing is the principal focus among elected officials, while developers are trying to find a way through myriad issues just keep pace. Warehouse space is at a premium, while office space is going begging. The future of retail is evolving in the internet era, but does not entirely exclude a local storefront. There are tremendous federal and state monies earmarked for many levels of construction. This includes more than $250 million for housing. This profound amount of money is intended for nearly all levels of housing, from those who have none, to the disabled to lower-income workers, to families with good incomes who simply can’t find a house where they want to live. Along with uncertainty in the type of development, ongoing and much discussed issues persist: workforce, supply chain, inflation, interest rates.

by Joan Goldstein, Commissioner, Department of Economic Development The Department of Economic Development (DED) team continues to travel throughout the state, joining members of Governor Scott’s Administration to discuss American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding opportunities and meeting with communities to learn more about their challenges and successes. We will be in Caledonia County on April 24 and in Franklin County on May 15. Please participate if you can and let us know about projects we can help support. Eligible capital improvement projects may still apply for the Community Recovery and Revitalization Program (CRRP) and we look forward to announcing the second slate of approved applications in the days ahead.