Current News

Vermont Business Magazine On January 27, 2020, the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (VAAFM) filed comments on United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Interim Final Rule establishing a Domestic Hemp Production Program. VAAFM acknowledged the complexity of developing a national hemp production program, but asked USDA to revise its rule to stay within the federal statutory mandate and avoid creating unnecessary restrictions that significantly increase costs and risks to producers.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced the appointment of Ward H. Goodenough, of Woodstock, as Windsor County state’s attorney, following David Cahill’s resignation this month. The outgoing state’s attorney was elected as a Democrat in 2018, so in keeping with precedent, the governor received nominations from the Windsor County Democratic Committee to fill the vacancy. The committee said it is confident that each candidate forwarded to the governor would be a capable appointee and maintain the level of service and integrity the office requires.

Vermont Business Magazine Opportunities Credit Union announced January 2, 2020 that Katharine Laud will be its President and Chief Executive Officer. Laud comes to Opportunities Credit Union with a background in banking and non-profit finance. Most recently, she was Associate Vice President for Finance and Administration at the UVM Foundation. Kate also serves as Vice Chair of the board of the US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants in Washington DC.

Opportunities Credit Union is a statewide, nonprofit community-based lending organization whose mission is to create wealth and promote economic development by bringing affordable capital and financial services to low-income and other traditionally underserved populations. Laud assumed the role of president at Opportunities Credit Union in September 2019.

Vermont Business Magazine As part of its commitment to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, VGS announced today it will partner with Energy Co-Op of Vermont, a member-owned cooperative, to offer its customers comprehensive energy solutions. VGS and Energy Co-Op of Vermont will work together to help customers find the right low-cost, low-carbon solution for their energy needs, including non-gas alternatives such as electric cold climate heat pumps, advanced wood heat systems, and other options in support of the state’s 90% renewable by 2050 plan.

Vermont Business Magazine As part of the ongoing and continual efforts in keeping Vermont snowmobiling a safe and enjoyable recreational sport for all, the Vermont State Police would like to send the following snowmobile safety reminders: Vermont law requires those born after July 1, 1983, who are 12 years of age and older to take and pass an approved snowmobile safety course before operating on the State Snowmobile Trail System (SSTS.) “Today’s Snowmobile Rider in Vermont” snowmobile safety course is available in both a classroom setting and an approved online snowmobile safety course.

Vermont Business Magazine New England Federal Credit Union has awarded a $1 million grant to COTS to increase housing options for families who are experiencing homelessness in Vermont. The public announcement was made Monday morning at COTS’ Main Street Family Shelter in Burlington. Nearly 1 in 4 people staying in a state-funded emergency shelter in Vermont is a child. In response to this, one of COTS’ strategic goals is to meet the emergency needs of those children, as well as invest in long-term strategies to end homelessness among families.

by Danny Monahan, Small Business Administration A small business in Wilder is putting the final touches on one of its most significant projects. Soon Vermod will finish construction of its 100th home. After Tropical Storm Irene struck Vermont in 2011, it was determined about 130 mobile homes were destroyed and more than 400 were damaged. During the aftermath, state and local officials recommended several proposals to assist Vermont mobile homeowners. One of the more ambitious plans was when several non-profit organizations teamed up to create the Modular Housing Innovation Project in 2013. It was a pilot program to construct 10 well-insulated and energy efficient modular homes to replace mobile homes.

by Jen Kimmich, Co-founder & CEO, The Alchemist and Sascha Mayer, Co-founder & CEO, Mamava We’re at a pivotal point in Vermont on paid family leave. We have a bill that has passed both chambers of the Legislature and today it is sitting on Governor Scott’s desk. As we wait to see what the Governor will do, it’s time to really reflect what this bill will accomplish, and what our future looks like once it becomes law.

Vermont Business Magazine The Addison County Chamber of Commerce announces their seminar schedule for 2020. The Addison County Chamber provides monthly seminars for members and the community each year focused around the challenges faced by small and medium sized businesses and non-profits. Typically, they include topics around marketing, human resources and organizational issues. This year’s schedule includes four seminars to support non-profits, in partnership with United Way of Addison County and non-profit consultant Sarah Audet.

Vermont Business Magazine Fuse, a marketing agency specializing in reaching teens and young adults, has been named one of the Best Places to Work in Vermont for the tenth consecutive year. The annual program is designed to identify and celebrate places of employment that benefit the state's economy, workforce and businesses. Fuse is based in Burlington.

Public Assets Institute Vermont lost jobs in 8 of the 12 months of 2019. There were 315,500 nonfarm payroll jobs in December—1,100 fewer than at the end of 2018. Vermont’s labor force also shrank last year. The numbers of people both working and unemployed were lower at the end of 2019 than in the previous December.

Vermont Business Magazine Green Mountain Transit (GMT) and Burlington Electric Department (BED), joined by Governor Phil Scott, Mayor Miro Weinberger, and other federal, state, and local leaders, today unveiled for the public GMT’s first two electric-powered transit buses (E-buses). The new E-buses, which cost a total of over $2 million including infrastructure, are scheduled to be in service this March. They are the first electric transit buses in Vermont and will help reduce carbon emissions in Burlington and Chittenden County while providing clean, quiet transit along GMT service area routes.