Current News

Vermont Business Magazine AM Best, the global rating agency for the insurance industry, has again affirmed the rating of A+ (Superior), with a Stable Outlook, for Vermont Mutual and its two fully reinsured subsidiaries, Northern Security Insurance Company, Inc. and Granite Mutual Insurance Company. This is the 9th consecutive year the Property & Casualty insurer has received the distinction.

Vermont Business Magazine April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and the Vermont State Highway Safety Office (SHSO) in conjunction with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) will be supporting state, county, and local law enforcement agencies in an effort to focus education and enforcement on distracted driving laws. The goal of the enforcement campaign from April 6-10 is to make Vermont’s roadways safer by increasing the awareness of the dangers of operating a motor vehicle while distracted. On Wednesday April 5, at 10:30 a.m., the SHSO, Chittenden County Sheriff’s Department, and Milton Police Department will hold a press conference at Milton High School to highlight the dangers of driving while distracted.

Vermont Business Magazine The University of Vermont issued the following statement: "Today, the university agreed to a voluntary resolution of the US Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights investigation into reports of antisemitism on UVM’s campus. The resolution reflects our ongoing engagement with students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the surrounding community. It also reflects numerous conversations with the Jewish community on campus and important local and national voices on the consequential and complex issue of antisemitism."

Vermont Business Magazine If you have other plans for today, you may just have to cancel them. Call in sick. Make up an excuse. Your dog ate your homework. Whatever you need to do is understandable, as it is the official day that Ben & Jerry's opens its doors across the globe and gives away ice cream all day. The company began the the giveaway many, many moons ago but has been unable to gather large groups of fans for the past few years. Let's just say: "Something came up." However, it's a sign that the world is getting back to normal as Ben & Jerry's joyfully hosts its Free Cone Day across the globe to thank fans for their on-going support.

Vermont Business Magazine The Southwestern Vermont Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Berkshire Bank, will host the second annual Women In Leadership Luncheon at the Inn at Manchester Celebration Barn in Manchester, Vermont on Wednesday, May 17 from 12pm to 2pm. Join women from around the region for a rich and candid lunch with conversations on careers and leadership. Learn how successful women advanced and built their careers with confidence. Find out what inspires them, the challenges they faced along the way, and how they have played a big role in their businesses, organizations and communities. The luncheon aims to not only celebrate and encourage women leaders in the Southwestern Vermont region, but to also create life-long connections, partnerships and friendships with those in attendance.

Vermont Business Magazine Dairy processors across the Northeast can now apply for the Existing Dairy Processor Expansion Grant through the Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-DBIC). With a total of $12 million in funding, this grant will fund specialized equipment to help processors increase the use of regionally sourced milk and expand regional dairy processing capacity. Dairy processors play a vital role in the health of our regional economy, and increasing regional processing capacity leads to a more resilient dairy sector.

Vermont Agency of Agriculture Food & Markets It's time to plan a trip and enjoy the 56th celebration of Maple Syrup in Vermont. This year's theme is "Maple - the Heart of Vermont." Let the Vermont Maple Festival launch you into the basics of maple and the host of ways it can be used. The Festival will kick off at noon on April 28th and includes a craft and specialty food show, Maple Exhibit Hall and contest, parade, sugarhouse tours, the Annual Sap Run, and more! Almost all of the events at the three-day festival are free to attend, and families are encouraged to come for events like a pancake breakfast, kids entertainment in Taylor Park, and the Kid's Center. Tap into all there is to see, learn, savor, and do, from April 28th-30th!

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports will host the 13th Annual Vermont Adaptive Charity Challenge presented by Killington Resort on Saturday, June 17. The event includes a choice of outdoor activities in the morning followed by an afternoon festival at the Skyeship Base Area at Killington Resort with live music, food trucks, a silent auction, and more. The event has drawn about 600 people to the Killington region in past years all in an effort to raise $300,000 for adaptive sports programs and athletes at Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports, a nationally recognized nonprofit that provides sports and recreational programs throughout Vermont to people with disabilities.

by Aubrey Weaver, Community News Service House legislators passed a bill that would legalize mobile sports betting last week, putting Vermont on the road to joining other states in legalizing the practice. And lawmakers don’t just want Vermont to join the club — they’re looking to its neighbors to figure a system out. One of the surrounding states that legalized mobile sports wagering back in 2019 was New Hampshire. Wendy Knight, Vermont liquor and lottery commissioner and chair of a Legislature-formed sports betting study committee, told the House Committee on Appropriations March 20 that the committee has been “picking their guidance and relying on New Hampshire a lot” when crafting Vermont’s legalization policy. A key difference between New Hampshire’s sports betting system and the proposed Vermont model is the number of operators — meaning mobile sports betting franchises — allowed to operate within the state. New Hampshire only has one operator, DraftKings, whereas the Vermont House bill allows between two and six operators through a competitive bidding process. Those could include DraftKings but might also include similar operators like Fanduel and Caesar’s.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health reported March 29, 2023, that COVID-19 case counts and hospitalizations were down from last week. COVID-19 activity remains in the "Low" range, according to the VDH. Hospitalizations fell to 22 last week (the lowest since last fall). Total cases fell to 201. There were 3 COVID-related deaths in the last week for a pandemic total of 941 as of March 27 (this is the most recent update). March is on track to have the fewest COVID-related deaths since the summer of 2021.

Vermont Business Magazine Fidium Fiber’s multi-gig-speed internet is now available for more than 7,000 residents and small businesses in St. Albans, Swanton, and Georgia. Fidium Fiber delivers multi-gig-speed internet without contracts, installation fees or data caps. All Fidium plans offer reliable, symmetrical speeds from 50 Mbps to 2 Gigs (2000 Mbps). Fidium Fiber also offers VoIP phone service plans, and features speeds that allow customers to seamlessly stream their preferred TV and entertainment.