Current News

Vermont Business Magazine VGS announced today an ambitious and comprehensive strategy to transform the company and eliminate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050. The company outlined three key strategies to achieve the near-term goal of a 30% greenhouse gas reduction in customers’ homes and businesses by 2030: doubling energy efficiency savings with a $20 million upfront investment; significantly expanding renewable natural gas for customers; and strengthening partnerships to advance projects such as district energy in Burlington and Middlebury, and a net zero home pilot program. 

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Kids looking at colleges this fall received welcome news today from the University of Vermont: Tuition at all levels from undergraduate to graduate and for in-state and out-of-state students will not increase next year. As part of his commitment to making UVM more accessible and affordable, President Suresh Garimella announced this morning that tuition for the academic year beginning in fall 2020 would not increase over 2019 levels.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced over $1 million in state funding awarded to five groups for innovative technologies to separate and extract phosphorus from various waste streams as part of Stage Three of the Vermont Phosphorus Innovation Challenge (VPIC). VPIC was announced in February 2018 as an X-Prize style competition to harness creative solutions to address phosphorus pollution in Vermont. VPIC complements ongoing, essential work to install conservation measures and best management practices to reduce phosphorus losses from farms and in stormwater runoff from developed lands. These new technologies aim to make existing protections even more effective.

by Agency of Natural Resources Secretary Julie Moore Garbage. Trash. Waste. Rubbish. For many, these words trigger images of cans and baskets lined with oversized plastic bags filled to the brim with – as Templeton the Rat from Charlotte’s Web would say – a veritable smorgasbord of who-knows-what. The “stuff” that comprises trash is easy to forget because it is no longer wanted or needed, but have you ever truly thought about what’s inside those garbage bags?

Vermont Business Magazine The first phase of a unified electronic health record system (EHR) across all affiliates of the University of Vermont Health Network rolled out over the weekend, a significant step that will enhance the delivery of high quality care in the region by providing instant access to a patient’s most up-to-date medical information. Hospitals participating in the first phase of the project include the University of Vermont Medical Center, Central Vermont Medical Center, Porter Medical Center and Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital. It’s expected that the UVM Health Network’s other affiliates – Alice Hyde Medical Center, Elizabethtown Community Hospital and Home Health & Hospice – will move to Epic in the coming years.

Vermont Business Magazine Wednesday afternoon, affordable housing owners and developers, Springfield Housing Authority (SHA) and Housing Vermont (HVT) joined local elected officials, funders, and project participants to celebrate the start of redevelopment of the Woolson Block building. Renovations will return this historic property to its prominent origins and contribute to the economic vitality of downtown Springfield.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and others on Wednesday led all 47 Democratic senators in introducing the Senate companion to the House-passed Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act.  They called on Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to bring VAWA renewal legislation to the Senate Floor. The bill, whose chief sponsor is Feinstein, would reauthorize VAWA through 2024, preserves advancements made in previous reauthorizations and includes a number of additional improvements to the current law.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Natural Resources Council (VNRC) announced today the launch of the Vermont Brewshed Alliance. The initiative will engage craft breweries in protecting clean water. VNRC announced the news at Lawson’s Finest Liquids in Waitsfield, a founding member of the Brewshed. In part, the organization brings together many partners to protect clean water for drinking, swimming, paddling, fishing, wildlife habitat, and to improve flood resiliency in a changing climate.

Vermont Business Magazine was proud to honor the winners of its Rising Stars Class of 2019 at the Delta Hotel in South Burlington Thursday evening, November 7^th. Honored were 40 winners under the age of 40. Award recipients were selected by a panel of judges for their commitment to business growth, professional excellence and involvement in their communities. Governor Phil Scott was there to present the awards.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Win Smith, president and part owner of Sugarbush Resort in Warren, announced today in an open letter to the community, that his ownership group is selling the two-mountain resort to Alterra Mountain Group. Alterra, which is owned by investment company KSL Capital Partners and Aspen Snowmass resort in Colorado, also owns Stratton, which it acquired in 2017. Smith said between the rising cost of doing business and the increasing pressure of competition, his group decided the time was right to sell. He described the bittersweet sensation of walking your daughter down the aisle and trusting her with someone else. Financial terms of the proposed sale were not released.

Vermont Business Magazine The Good Food Foundation recently announced the 307 companies in the running for a 2020 Good Food Award, including 12 Vermont food companies. Celebrating its 10th year, the Good Food Foundation noted, “with a demonstrated commitment to environmental stewardship and growing their businesses in harmony with a better food system, these outstanding crafters represent the nation’s best in delicious, sustainable fare." The 12 Vermont businesses are: Champlain Orchards, Redfield – Estate Series and Honeycrisp; SILO Distillery, Semi-Dry Cider; Fat Toad Farm, Cinnamon Goat’s Milk Caramel and Original Goat’s Milk Caramel; Mount Mansfield Maple Products, Organic Coffee Infused Vermont Maple Cream and Organic White Chocolate Maple Bark Candy; Vermont Amber Candy Company, Pumpkin Seed Chipotle Toffee; Savouré Soda, Celery-Lovage-Cardamom Soda; Vermont Tortilla Company, Organic Stone Ground Corn Tortillas; Sugar Bob’s Finest Kind, Smoked Maple Sriracha; V Smiley Preserves, Raspberry Redcurrant Geranium Honey Jam; Small Batch Organics, Cherry Vanilla Bean Granola; SILO Distillery, Vodka; Stonecutter Spirits, Heritage Cask Whiskey.

Vermont Business Magazine The Peck Company Holdings, Inc (NASDAQ:PECK), a leading commercial solar engineering, procurement and construction company based in South Burlington, on Tuesday reported results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2019. Revenue for the quarter ended September 30, 2019 increased 194% to $11.7 million, compared to $3.9 million in the corresponding period in 2018. Higher revenue in the quarter was driven by increased projects. On a GAAP basis, operating income was $0.179 million or 1.5% of sales, compared to $0.543 million, or 13.9% in the prior year period. Adjusted EBITDA in the third quarter was $0.431 million, or 3.5% of sales, compared to the prior year period of $0.640 million, or 16% of sales.