Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Three times each year, New England Federal Credit Union (NEFCU) conducts its Shred Fest events to help prevent identity theft by destroying documents and hard drives with sensitive personal information. All Shred Fests are free and open to the public. Document destruction services are provided by SecurShred, a local company specializing in secure information management solutions.

Vermont Business Magazine Mack Molding, a leading custom plastics molder and supplier of contract manufacturing services based in Arlington, announced Tuesday that Greg Cebular has been named president of its wholly-owned subsidiary, Mack Prototype. Within this role Cebular will report directly to Mack Molding President Jeff Somple. Cebular succeeds Ric Perry, a rapid prototyping industry veteran who is retiring after more than 25 years with the business.

Vermont Business Magazine Funded by a new $2.7 million grant from the US Department of Energy (DOE), Dartmouth Engineering Professor Geoffroy Hautier will lead a three-year, multi-institutional effort to identify qbits, a basic unit of quantum information, in order to transform and advance quantum computing. The team aims to build a database of viable qbits, which can store information in their spin, by analyzing defects in solids.

Vermont Business Magazine NBT Bancorp Inc (NASDAQ: NBTB) reported Monday net income and diluted earnings per share for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021. NBT Bank has branches in Northwest Vermont. Net income for the three months ended June 30, 2021 was $40.3 million, or $0.92 per diluted common share. Net income increased $15.6 million from the second quarter of 2020 primarily due to the estimated impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on expected credit losses in 2020, which resulted in a second quarter 2020 provision for loan losses of $18.8 million. Net income increased $0.5 million from the previous quarter primarily due to lower provision for loan losses and higher noninterest income, partly offset by higher noninterest expense.

Vermont Business Magazine Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) Tuesday announced a $2.1 billion bipartisan agreement on an emergency security supplemental to address the fallout of the January 6 insurrection, the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan, and expenses incurred on the Capitol complex as a result of the COVID pandemic.

Vermont Business Magazine At meetings in May and June, the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board committed $1,694,200 in state funding and $842,000 in federal funds to protect agricultural and recreational land, forestland, and natural areas and to restore a historic community building with a general store and three apartments.

Vermont Business Magazine US Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont), Charles Schumer (D-NY), Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) Tuesday introduced a bill to reauthorize the Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership. Established in 2006 to recognize and promote the importance of the historical, cultural, recreational and economic resources of the Champlain Valley, the CVNHP is slated to sunset on October 12, 2021. Their bill would authorize the partnership for the next 15 years.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont has the highest rate of vaccination against COVID-19 in the United States. But cases are increasing, with cases on the rise here and across the nation. Still, the Vermont vaccination rate is highest in the nation. Governor Scott and Health Commissioner Mark Levine do not believe that a return to mitigation measures is necessary in Vermont, even as the CDC is recommending some indoor mask wearing in some hot spots in the US. Governor Scott and Health Commissioner Mark Levine do not believe that a return to mitigation measures is necessary in Vermont, even as the CDC is recommending some indoor mask wearing in some hot spots in the US. These are mostly in the Midwest and South. However, Dr Levine is suggesting that Vermonters who travel to higher COVID regions should get tested when they get back to Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine The Delta Dental Institute recently released its 2020 Community Impact Report, highlighting the investments the Delta Dental companies and their foundations made in 2020 to advance oral health, address health inequities and disparities and respond to COVID-19. Delta Dental Plan of Vermont donated $286,821 to 27 Vermont communities, impacting the lives of 5,729 individuals in Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine To kick off World Breastfeeding Week (August 1-7) and National Breastfeeding Month (August), Mamava, the category creator of freestanding lactation spaces, announces a Lactation Pod Giveaway contest. One winner will receive a Mamava Lactation Pod (maximum value: $25,700), plus lactation room supplies from Medela (valuing $1,500). Organizations in need of a lactation space are invited to submit a simple nomination form. Finalists will be selected based on mission, need, and potential for breastfeeding impact. The final winner will be decided by the community via online voting.

Vermont Business Magazine A new grant program will offer eligible Vermonters the chance to obtain a college degree tuition free. Yes, really. The grant, called 802Opportunity, pays for up to two years of free tuition to the Community College of Vermont. Any Vermonter with a family Adjusted Gross Income of less than $50,000 per year can qualify.

Vermont Business Magazine A pioneer in entrepreneurial education for women, Mercy Connections’ Women’s Small Business Program was the first—and remains the only—community-based program in Vermont focused on launching women-owned and operated businesses. The Fall 2021 semester of “Start Up” will run from August 24th through mid-December with classes being held online via Zoom. The online format provides access to women from all over Vermont, and beyond.