Current News

Vermont Business Magazine On Thursday, August 19th the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (VAAFM) was alerted that a live ‘Spotted Lanternfly’ was captured on a shipment delivered in Rutland. Recognizing the insects as unusual, at the time of delivery the insects were either killed or captured, and one live sample was delivered to officials for identification. At this time, no other evidence of the insects has been discovered by responding Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation (FPR) officials, or VAAFM staff.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Department of Corrections today is reporting 20 incarcerated individuals at Northern State Correctional Facility in Newport tested positive for COVID-19 in outbreak testing conducted August 27. One additional incarcerated individual tested positive from a test taken after they presented with symptoms. Seventeen of the 21 positive cases are in individuals who live in a general population unit where a currently COVID-positive staff member worked, and where four prior incarcerated positive cases were discovered.

Vermont State Police During the search for Erika Seyfried, members of the Vermont State Police Scuba Team located the body of a woman in the Saxtons River near the vacation home at 33 Gage St. in Westminster where she had been staying. Preliminary indications are that victim is Seyfried, and the death is accidental.

Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets Demand for employees in a wide range of occupations remains high in Vermont, as in the rest of the country. Vermont’s unemployment rate dropped to 3.1 percent in June, well below the national average, and employers are offering higher than average wages, signing bonuses and other perks to assist with recruitment. To further assist businesses as they look to hire, the Vermont Department of Economic Development has launched the New Relocating Worker Grant, which is now open and accepting applications.

Vermont Business Magazine On Saturday, September 4th Bennington, Vermont will transform into “Garlic Town, USA” once again in celebration of all things garlic and the Vermont harvest! Bennington has become world-renowned for its annual Garlic and Herb Festival held every year on Labor Day weekend. Two years ago, the festival saw crowds of over 16,000 patrons and 200 garlic-themed vendors. The Garlic and Herb Festival has been recognized as one of the top ten garlic festivals in the world, featured in Yankee Magazine and recently was awarded Vermont’s Time-Honored Top 10 Fall Event.

Vermont Business Magazine Beginning in 2020, Vermont’s Natural Resources Conservation Districts planted 34.25 acres of native trees and shrubs across the Lake Champlain Basin through the Conservation District-led Trees for Streams Program. Funded in part by the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP), the Trees for Stream Program supports the restoration of streamside habitat, or riparian buffers, to meet Vermont’s clean water goals.

Vermont Business Magazine This weekly report is a list of planned construction activities that will have traffic impacts on state highways throughout Vermont. Most construction crews will break at noon on Friday, September 3, in observance of Labor Day weekend. Please remember to drive safely in all work zones. Lives depend on it.

by Rob Roper Steve Klein, Chief Fiscal Officer for the legislature’s Joint Fiscal Office, recently made a presentation to the Pension Reform Task Force. The Task Force is charged with coming up with a plan to fix the state’s public pension crisis, the result of decades of underfunding and financial mismanagement that has led to a $6 billion and rapidly growing unfunded liability. Currently, just keeping the state pension system afloat consumes over 12 percent of all General Fund state spending and fixing the system will take even more money.

Vermont Business Magazine Mayor Miro Weinberger on Friday evening announced his initiation of the process, per City Charter, to terminate the appointment of Burlington International Airport Aviation Director Gene Richards, following findings by an independent investigator that he mistreated City employees and violated city practice regarding the use of City property. The Mayor has told Mr. Richards he no longer has confidence in his ability to run the airport and asked him to resign. Mr. Richards has declined.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Last week, Horizon Organics notified its Northeast organic milk suppliers that it would be dropping all of its eastern suppliers, including 27 dairies in Vermont. (NOFA-VT estimates they sell about 3 million gallons of milk per year to Horizon.) Horizon, based in Colorado, said they can get cheaper milk with fewer transportation issues closer to home. California and Texas are by far the largest organic milk producers.

Vermont Business Magazine Declaring that “The time to retire is when you are healthy enough to enjoy it”, The Vermont Soap Company today announced the retirement of its long time CEO Larry Plesent. Plesent took VT Soap from “a twinkle in daddy’s eye” to its status today as one of Vermont’s most iconic companies. Known for his hands on management style and a “there are no unimportant parts” holistic approach to life and work, Plesent was equally comfortable crawling around under equipment or shaking hands with bank Vice Presidents.

Vermont Business Magazine The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that Michael A. Gonzalez, 32, of Colchester, Vermont, appeared today in federal court after being charged with five counts of possessing and selling stolen motor vehicles. Gonzalez was ordered detained by United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J Doyle pending a detention hearing next week.