Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that Kory Lee George, age 31, of Monkton, was arrested yesterday on firearms violation charges. The defendant appeared today before United States Magistrate Judge John M Conroy in Burlington. He was ordered detained pending a bail hearing on September 6, 2019.

The federal Criminal Complaint filed today charges George with possession of two firearms, a semi-automatic pistol and a shotgun, after being convicted in Vermont courts of felony offenses.

An affidavit submitted with the Criminal Complaint, signed by a Vermont State Police Detective with the Vermont State Police’s Major Crime Unit, alleges that both firearms were stolen.

The pistol, a 9mm Berretta, allegedly was stolen the night before David Auclair was shot to death in Hinesburg on July 11, 2019.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont State Police will hold its Annual Awards Ceremony at 10 am Friday, September 6, 2019, in the House Chamber of the Vermont State House in Montpelier. Governor Phil Scott, Commissioner of Public Safety Michael Schirling and Colonel Matthew T Birmingham, director of the state police, will honor members of the agency and others for acts of heroism and community service. They also will recognize 28 sworn and two civilian members of the state police who are receiving promotions.

“I am pleased and proud to recognize the members of the Vermont State Police and the public who have provided exemplary service to the people of Vermont,” Scott said. “I know I speak for all Vermonters when I say how appreciative and grateful we are for these dedicated public servants.” 

Vermont Business Magazine The Winooski School District (WSD) School Board has approved a recommendation from the Capital Project Executive Committee to accept the Construction Management bid from ReArch Company. ReArch Company, based in South Burlington, will provide pre-construction services including cost estimating, constructability review, phasing logistics and project scheduling during the multi-phase, 18-month construction project. Winooski voters narrowly approved a $57.8 million school renovation bond last May.

(Pictured from left: Johnny Illick, ReArch Vice President of Development; Sean McMannon, WSD Superintendent; Alexander Yin, WSD Board Member, at Back-to-School BBQ on 8.22.19)

Vermont Business Magazine Fall is the time of year small companies are motivated to get down to business. With the summer behind us, and the holidays fast approaching, it is a great time to do the heavy lifting that propels our companies to the next level. Often business growth is accompanied by a need for financing and the Lamoille County Revolving Loan Fund provides needed capital as a supplement to commercial loans, or as stand-alone financing for small projects.

Businesses in Lamoille County are eligible to apply for micro loans from $2,500 to $10,000 or small business loans up to $50,000, for a term of 3 to 5 years. The fund is intended to supplement existing or private sources of funding when those funds are limited.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Innovation Commons (The Commons) announces a new partnership with Microsoft for Startups (MFS), specifically designed to benefit Vermont entrepreneurs. The Commons is committed to increasing entrepreneurship and growth-stage companies in Vermont through knowledge, capital, and mentorship making this partnership a natural fit. This program will support Business to Business (B2B) companies, accelerating their growth through access to free Microsoft technology and mentorship.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont), Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, on Wednesday announced that the Vermont Department of Health will soon receive its third State Opioid Response (SOR) grant of $4,020,896 from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Vermont now has been awarded a total of $10,140,700 from SAMHSA through SOR grants since the inception of the grant program.

This funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration provides flexible funding to states to support prevention, treatment and recovery efforts to combat opioid addiction.  Leahy secured this funding in the Department of Defense and Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act of 2019. Confirmation of the grant comes one day after Leahy announced that Vermont also will receive a three-year, $9.5 million federal grant to prevent opioid-related overdoses.

Vermont Business Magazine The Bennington Regional Chamber of Commerce welcomed over 16,300 visitors to the 2019 Southern Vermont Garlic and Herb Festival, smashing the previously recorded record for the festival of 15,000. This farmers’ market-style festival is known world-wide for it’s cascading rows of 200 plus garlic vendors, kids activities, food trucks, beer & wine garden, and regional live bands. It is considered to be one of the best garlic-themed festivals in the world by Reuters.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA) announced today that it will expand its parental leave policy to offer six weeks of fully paid parental leave for its employees, effective immediately.

Vermont Business Magazine The Small Business Innovation Research Road Tour is coming to the University of Vermont from 7 am to 3 pm September 16 at the Dudley H Davis Center. The SBIR Road Tour is a national outreach effort connecting entrepreneurs working on advanced technologies with Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs, the country’s largest source of early stage funding.  Also known as America’s Seed Fund, the SBIR and STTR programs provide more than $3 billion annually to small businesses in a variety of technology areas.  

Vermont Business Magazine Rutland-based Casella Waste Systems, Inc (NASDAQ: CWST), a regional vertically integrated solid waste, recycling and resource management services company, announced today that it has completed the acquisition of solid waste hauling and transfer assets in Albany, NY and Cheshire, MA from select subsidiaries of Republic Services, Inc. The acquired assets are expected to generate approximately $30 million of annualized revenues. 

“This acquisition is an exciting opportunity for us to extend our operations into two adjacent market areas, and will provide a great opportunity to drive further growth, operational synergies and landfill internalization,” said John W. Casella, Chairman and CEO of Casella Waste Systems, Inc.  “We are pleased to welcome Republic’s hardworking and dedicated employees to our team, and we are committed to maintaining the same excellent service standards for our new customers in these markets.”

Vermont Business Magazine The Copley Health Systems, Inc Board of Trustees has announced that, following a national search, Joseph “Joe” Woodin has been selected to serve as Copley Hospital’s next president and Chief Executive Officer. Woodin will take over leadership of the hospital in mid-October (exact start date currently being finalized), replacing Interim CEO Jeffrey White, who has lead the hospital since the departure of Copley’s previous president and CEO Art Mathisen in May. To those who know Vermont’s healthcare systems, Woodin is a familiar name thanks to his 17 year tenure at Gifford Health Care and Gifford Medical Center in Randolph, Vermont, where he served as president and CEO for 16 of those years.