Current News

by Olga Peters, Vermont Business Magazine Supporters of a self-governance pilot program modeled after West Virginia’s say it would allow towns to take a more flexible, creative, and responsive approach to their daily business.

If passed, S106 (its counterpart is H241) would establish a 10-town self-governance pilot program. This program would grant the participating municipalities more local authority. The initiative is being spearheaded by the Vermont League of Cities and Towns, but had its genesis in Brattleboro.

First, why would municipalities crave such a bill? It could expand their ability to create local solutions to local problems. In most cases, before making a change on the local level, municipalities need to turn to the state for permission or go through the process of creating an ordinance.

For example changing a road’s speed limit.

by Olga Peters, Vermont Business Magazine A new dental clinic, called the Windham County Dental Center, focusing on providing care to low-income Vermonters, will soon open in Brattleboro thanks to a collaboration between the United Way of Windham County and Brattleboro Memorial Hospital.

Going on nine years, the United Way of Windham County has offered Adult Dental Care Day. The all-day event gives people without dental insurance – or the ability to pay – access to a dentist. Last year, 71 medical and non-medical volunteers provided care to more than 100 Windham County residents. According to the United Way of Windham County, combined, the following dental offices provided over $53,500 of pro bono dental care: Connecticut Valley Oral Surgery, Deerfield Valley Dental Care, Dental Health, Estey Dental, Professional Dental Care, Dr. Suzanne West, and West River Family Dental.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont’s Killington Resort, the largest mountain resort in Eastern North America and a POWDR company, today announced the 2019 Cooler in the Mountains Concert Series featuring Wild Adriatic, Hayley Jane and the Primates and more.

Vermont Business Magazine On April 6, almost 400 students in grades 5 through 12 brought history to life at the Davis Center at the University of Vermont (UVM) during Vermont History Day, organized by the Vermont Historical Society. Local historians, educators, and other professionals judged the entries and chose winners in 10 categories, along with handing out 16 special prizes. Vermont History Day is an exciting education program that encourages students to develop research and critical thinking skills through the study of history. Vermont History Day is affiliated with National History Day. 

Outright Vermont On Saturday, 200 students from 50 middle and high schools in 72 towns across Vermont are coming together for the 13th annual Queer and Allied Youth Summit in Chester. The Youth Summit, co-hosted by Green Mountain Union High School (and in Windsor County for the first time), is themed “Coming OUT soon!” emphasizing the power and complexity of visibility within LGBTQ+ identities, and the importance of creating our own narratives.

by Bruce Edwards, Vermont Business Magazine Whether hemp and marijuana are able to replicate Vermont’s successful craft beer industry will depend on a number of factors, some of which are out of the state’s control. 

by Bruce Edwards, Vermont Business Magazine Shayne Lynn is at the forefront of one of the most sought after medicinal products to come along in quite a while: CBD. That’s short for cannabidiol – a non-intoxicating cannabis extract made from hemp used to treat a variety of medical issues.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets (VAAFM) on April 19 released a set of proposed rules that set the stage for growing the Vermont hemp industry and the state’s economy.

by Bruce Edwards, Vermont Business Magazine The University of Vermont offers a non-credit course in cannabis science and medicine. Program Director Monique McHenry, PhD, responded to e-mailed questions about the program and its future. 

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott took the following action on bills between May 1 and May 10, 2019.

Vermont Business Magazine A local small business that makes traditional Nepalese food is being recognized for its financial success and community involvement. Sherpa Foods, founded and owned by Nurbu Sherpa, has been named the 2019 Vermont Microenterprise of the Year by the Small Business Administration. By SBA standards, a microenterprise is a sole-proprietor business with five or fewer employees. Sherpa Foods specializes in making momos, a Nepalese dumpling, and momo sauce, a Himalayan style hot sauce.  Sherpa says all of his company’s food is made locally and with fresh and natural ingredients.

Vermont Business Magazine Weekly unemployment numbers fell steeply last week by more than 300 claims. Claims had spiked to nearly a 1,000 in April. Claims for the week of May 4, 2019, totaled 380, down 283 from last week. Claims were 53 fewer than they were at this time last year. Altogether 4,255 new and continuing claims were filed, a decrease of 839 from a week ago, and 326 fewer than a year ago. For most weeks of 2017 and 2018 claims were lower than the year before, but have been up and down in 2019. Vermont, like the nation as a whole, is locked into a historically low period of unemployment and a tight labor market.