Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Smugglers’ Notch Distillery continues their assistance to Vermonters to battle the Covid-19 virus with a $2,700 donation of SND Hand Sanitizer to folks in their local community. These bottles are being distributed through The United Way of Lamoille County to people who are experiencing financial strain, housing insecurity or homelessness, and elders in the community.

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General TJ Donovan today joined a bipartisan coalition of 37 attorneys general in suing Google for anticompetitive conduct in violation of Section 2 of the Sherman Act. The coalition alleges that Google illegally maintains its monopoly power over general search engines and related advertising markets through a series of anticompetitive exclusionary contracts and conduct. As a result, Google has deprived consumers of competition that could lead to greater choice, innovation, and better privacy protections. Furthermore, Google has exploited its market position to accumulate and leverage data to the detriment of consumers.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health is reporting 136 new cases of COVID-19, or about double from the last two days. Most of the cases are reported in Chittenden County. There are 22 hospitalized statewide, but no new deaths, which are holding at 105. Vermonters who are Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) represent 6% of the state’s population but 18% of COVID-19 cases. BIPOC Vermonters with COVID-19 have significantly higher hospitalization and chronic disease rates, relative to white non-Hispanic people with COVID-19.

Vermont Business Magazine Schneider Electric Buildings Americas, Inc. (Schneider Electric), a nationwide provider of electricity solutions for buildings and data centers with its principal place of business in Carrollton, Texas, will pay $11 million to resolve criminal and civil investigations relating to kickbacks and overcharges on eight federally-funded energy savings performance contracts (ESPCs), the Department of Justice announced today. Under the contracts, Schneider Electric was to install a variety of energy saving upgrades such as solar panels, LED lighting, and insulation in federal buildings.

Vermont Business Magazine The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that on December 17, 2020, David Hughes, 39, of Rutland, Vermont, was sentenced in United States District Court in Rutland, Vermont, to serve 96 months in prison after his guilty plea to one count of possession of child pornography.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont’s Pico Mountain, part of the POWDR adventure lifestyle company, will kick off the 2020-21 winter season at 8:30 am on Saturday, December 19, 2020, welcoming Pico season pass and day ticket holders who have met Vermont quarantine requirements. On Opening Day, the first 70 guests in line at the Golden Express Quad will receive a voucher to be exchanged for a YETI Rambler Mug in Pico’s base lodge retail shop. The resort plans to run the Golden Express Quad and Summit Express Quad opening weekend.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Community Foundation announced today that—in partnership with many of its generous fundholders—$169,711.94 in Spark Connecting Community grants has been awarded to 64 nonprofit organizations for local projects in communities across the state, including some nonprofits that serve residents in multiple counties. Of the total funding awarded, $77,950 was made possible by Giving Together, a program at the Community Foundation that shares grant proposals with fundholders and donors to give them the opportunity to co-fund projects.

Vermont Business Magazine The Champlain Housing Trust has announced that it is launching a technical assistance program to support community-based housing nonprofits achieve their goals and strengthen their operations. The new program, called TA\CHT, will be led by outgoing CEO and longtime housing leader and practitioner Brenda Torpy.

The services will focus primarily on the needs of Community Land Trusts both in Vermont and across the nation as a response to the country’s housing crisis and need for community-based solutions. Services range from start up support for new organizations or programs, to supporting staff and board leaders, and fundraising assistance.

Vermont Business Magazine In an ongoing effort to identify and support the most vital water quality projects in the region, the Rutland Regional Planning Commission (RRPC) will assist the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation in collecting and cataloging water quality data from area municipalities in the Rutland Region between now and August 2020.

Vermont Outdoor Business Alliance With the holiday and winter season upon us and 2021 just around the bend, Vermont outdoor businesses are working with customers in creative ways to find the perfect gift and the right gear. Recreation businesses, non-profit organizations, and state agencies are preparing trails, access points, and infrastructure to ensure safe experiences for winter activities such as hiking, fishing, alpine and Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, and fat biking.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, Burton has named Selema Masekela to its Board of Directors, a group of trusted advisors who provide valuable guidance to the world’s leading snowboard company, which is privately owned by Donna Carpenter. Burton is headquartered in Burlington, Vermont. Selema is revered in the action sports community because his genuine love of snowboarding, surfing and skateboarding shines through everything he does. At the same time, he speaks truthfully about where our industry falls short and uses his voice to advocate for those who are underrepresented. These are ideal qualities to have on the Burton Board of Directors since we look to all members for honest guidance on our overall vision and strategy.

Vermont Business Magazine During the week of Christmas and on New Year's Day, Chittenden Solid Waste District (CSWD) facilities will operate on revised schedules.