Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont’s annual, statewide Summer Free Fishing Day is this Saturday, June 11, 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 Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Public Safety is working with police agencies throughout the state to address staffing needs at the two state- operated dispatch centers. These centers serve more than 100 public safety agencies as 911 Public Safety Answering Points. The two centers, in Westminster and Williston, currently work 24/7/365 to answer emergency and non-emergency calls for 162 police, fire and EMS agencies statewide — from the Vermont State Police to local departments. Additionally, the centers serve as administrative switchboards for many agencies. At both locations, but especially pronounced in Westminster, there is a shortage of trained staff available to handle the current volume of calls. The situation is expected to become more acute in the coming months, as call volume typically increases during the summer, and additional staff departures are expected.

Vermont Business Magazine The Poultney Select Board recently adopted new branding developed by a working group of community volunteers and the Content Lab at Castleton University. The new brand includes official typefaces, a logo, a color palette, and a new town slogan: 'Heart of the Slate Valley'. You may see it soon on highway signs, letterhead, websites, social media and more! The logo was developed over the past year by the Goal 4 Working Group of the Town’s Recreation Economy for Rural Communities (RERC) planning project, with ‘Goal Champion’ Nic Stark, guiding the process.

Vermont Business Magazine Thanks to a $1.3 million allocation included by Vermont legislators in the final version of bill S.11, signed by Governor Scott today, June 8, the groundbreaking Vermont Everyone Eats (VEE) program now has the necessary funding to continue to leverage FEMA support in providing COVID relief support for Vermont restaurants, farmers, and meal recipients. Everyone Eats is an innovative, multi-sector COVID relief program providing economic support to local restaurants, economic benefit to farmers, and restaurant-prepared meals for food-insecure Vermonters negatively impacted by COVID. All three pillars of the program — restaurants, farmers, and eaters — continue to benefit significantly from the relief this program provides.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today signed into law S.11, An act relating to economic and workforce development, which contains a comprehensive package of workforce and economic development initiatives first proposed by the Scott Administration and passed by the Legislature this session. The bill invests $84.5 million of both state and federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to address Vermont’s workforce shortage and provide local businesses and municipalities with resources to grow in the years ahead.

Vermont Business Magazine Agilitas Energy, the largest integrated developer, builder, owner and operator of distributed energy storage and solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in the northeastern US, announced today it has raised $350 million of equity in a two-tiered investment from funds managed by CarVal Investors L.P. The investment will fund a national footprint build-out of Agilitas Energy’s large pipeline of renewable energy and battery storage systems. Agilitas is working with GMP on developing a battery storage project in Bristol.

Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) It is hard really to know where to start. I am here on the Senate Floor to talk about guns. In a world in chaos, we cannot forget about the chaos right here at home. Gun violence is killing our children. Nineteen students, and two of their teachers, in Uvalde two weeks ago. Twenty children, and seven others, in Newtown, Connecticut — nearly 10 years ago. Twelve students, and a teacher, at Columbine — 23 years ago. In between? Las Vegas — 58 dead. The Pulse Nightclub — 49 dead. Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School —17 dead. All victims of gun violence. And this is just a snapshot of the epidemic of gun violence in our country. I look back at my 48 years here in the Senate and say, when will we say enough?

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont utilities are reminding their customers that help is available for those struggling to pay existing and past bills. Vermonters financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic can apply for two grant programs for renters and homeowners to help with overdue utility bills. Customers may be eligible for tens of thousands of dollars through these programs, and should apply now before money runs out: Vermont Emergency Rental Assistance Program (VERAP); Vermont Homeowner Assistance Program (VT HAP).

Vermont Business Magazine For Pride Month, Out Leadership, the premier global network for LGBTQ+ business leaders and companies, unveiled the 4th annual State LGBTQ+ Business Climate Index for 2022. The Index is a ranking from highest to lowest of all 50 states as it relates to legal, political, emotional support, health, business and other parameters for LGBTQ+ Americans. Vermont ranked as #5 in the 2022 LGBTQ+ Business Climate Index. Vermont did well in all the subcategories except Work Environment & Employment. The top 10 states are New York (ranking #1), Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Vermont, Maine, Illinois, Oregon, California and Colorado, while the bottom 10 states are Montana, Texas, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, South Dakota, Tennessee, Oklahoma, and South Carolina (ranking last at #50).

VermontBiz Chris Tuff is known as "The Millennial Whisperer" because of the book he authored of the same name. However, the partner at Atlanta ad agency 22Squared speaks loud and clear when he talks about what managers of businesses large and small need to do to attract, develop and retain talented young people who are millennials and part of Generation Z.

"Take a vested interest in younger employees' lives and have the conversation about what motivates you, what excites you, what is it that you want to do in the world," Tuff advises leaders. "And when we start doing that, that is where your retention rate will skyrocket, your culture will get better and you will actually be able to retain your top talent."

Vermont State Police An autopsy was performed Tuesday, June 7, 2022, at the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office in Burlington on the adult man found deceased Monday on Greeley Road in Springfield. The autopsy determined the cause of death to be a gunshot wound to the head, and the manner of death is a homicide. The Vermont State Police has completed notification of next of kin and is able to identify the victim in this incident as Justin Gilliam, 38, of Springfield, Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine Housing Trust of Rutland County (HTRC) has relocated to 27 Wales St., Suite 201 in downtown Rutland. HTRC will hold an Open House and Annual Meeting on Thursday, June 30, 2022, 4-6pm. The open house and annual meeting are open to the public. Housing Trust of Rutland County’s Open House and Annual Meeting will include tours of the new location, a ribbon cutting, a brief presentation and election of Board Members for the next year. Their new space is the former home of the Rutland Herald and has been completely remodeled by owners The Belden Company. Hors d’oeuvres will also be available.