Current News

by Luke Zarzecki, Center for Research on Vermont The red-roofed barns and buildings of Charlotte’s Nordic Farms stand out against the green landscape overlooking Lake Champlain while they belie the level of innovation happening inside lately. Birds flutter across fields conspicuously missing cows. Against one long barn new silver silos gleam in the sun. They don’t contain feed for animals. Instead they hold barley, stored until it can be processed into malt and delivered to craft beer brewers around Vermont. 

Vermont Business Magazine Stowe Area Realty has merged with Keller Williams Vermont in South Burlington. Brian Armstrong, CEO of Keller Williams Vermont, and Ken Libby, broker and owner of Stowe Area Realty, announced the merger and formation of Stowe Area Realty Group at KW Vermont on August 27. The merger brings together a team of residential and commercial agents with over 75 years of sales and marketing experience in the real estate industry.

An open house will be held Friday, Sept. 27, from 4 to 6 p.m., 1056 Mountain Road, Stowe.

Libby began his career in real estate in 1979 and became a full-time agent in 1992. A 50-year Stowe resident, Libby has served the community as police chief, a youth coach, active member of the Boy Scout program and mentor in the greater Stowe area.

​Vermont Business Magazine The first section of the Burlington Wildway, a new trail that connects the wild places of Burlington, Vermont, will open on Saturday, September 7th. 

Vermont Business Magazine Plug-in electric vehicles (EVs) representing a range of different manufacturers will be on display, and their owners will be available to discuss their experience with their cars, during Islands Electric Day on Saturday, Sept 21 in Grand Isle. The event, co-hosted by Vermont Electric Co-op and Drive Electric Vermont, will run from 10 am to 1pm at the Grand Isle School on US- Route 2. The event is part of the nation-wide Drive Electric Week.

Vermont Business Magazine Business Culture Consultants, a Certified B Corporation, has been recognized as a 2019 Best For The World: Changemaker in recognition of their significant improvement to their overall impact on their customers, communities, the environment, and governance. B Corps that earn the designation as a “Changemakers” set a gold standard for managing and improving your business’ social and environmental impact over time.

Flip Brown, Founder and Owner, states that “I am humbled an honored for my business to be receiving its second ‘Best for the World’ honor. I join such amazing companies as Patagonia, Eileen Fisher, and Dr. Bronner's, to name just a few, as well as fellow Vermont businesses Gardener's Supply and New Chapter in this category.”

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General TJ Donovan today joined a coalition of 26 public jurisdictions and health care providers in filing a motion for summary judgment, requesting that the US District Court for the Southern District of New York block the US Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) refusal-of-care rule. The rule seeks to expand the ability of businesses and individuals to refuse to provide medically necessary health care services on the basis of a business' or an employee’s own “religious beliefs or moral convictions.”

Vermont Business Magazine The City of Winooski is proud to announce that the Vermont Department of Transportation (VTrans) has awarded the City $400,000 through their Bicycle and Pedestrian Grant Program. Administered through the VTrans Municipal Assistance Bureau (MAB), the Bicycle and Pedestrian Program exists to improve access and safety for people walking and bicycling through the planning, design, and construction of infrastructure projects.

Vermont Business Magazine The Winooski School District (WSD) School Board approved a recommendation from the Capital Project Executive Committee to accept the Construction Management bid from ReArch Company.

Vermont Business Magazine Weekly unemployment numbers fell again last week to a very low level and the lowest in memory. Summer usually brings low claim levels. Initial claims for the week of August 31, 2019, totaled 205, down 57 from last week. Claims are 129 fewer than they were at this time last year. Altogether 2,768 new and continuing claims were filed, a decrease of 480 from a week ago, and 253 fewer than a year ago.

Vermont Business Magazine SunCommon, a Certified B Corp, has been named a Best For The World honoree in recognition of their environmental performance and sustainable business practices.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont State Treasurer Beth Pearce has been elected president of the National Association of Auditors, Comptrollers, and Treasurers (NASACT), a nonpartisan organization made up of state government finance leaders in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories.

Vermont Business Magazine For two years the White River Junction Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center has been a proud leader in healthcare equality. The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) released the 2019 Healthcare Equality Index (HEI), listing White River Junction VA Medical Center as Vermont’s only leader. This year there were 680 healthcare facilities nationwide that participated.