Current News

Vermont Business Magazine On January 4, 2019 the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (VAAFM) began accepting applications for registration to grow and process industrial hemp for the 2019 registration year. The registration process is now online. Hemp growers and processors have separate registration applications and the forms provide VAAFM the opportunity to collect information about the hemp industry in Vermont, which supports VAAFM’s research as part its Industrial Hemp Pilot Program. The fee to register is $25.

Vermont Business Magazine Long Falls Paperboard (LFP) and Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation (BDCC) announced today the sale of the Brattleboro paperboard plant, formerly owned and operated by Neenah Paper, Inc. On December 31, 2018 LFP completed a complex financial transaction to acquire the business. This project has had support from numerous local, regional, and statewide partners. Neenah Paper, Inc bought the assets of the former FiberMark in 2015 for $120 million. Neenah reported in February that it received $5 million in cash for the Brattleboro plant.

Vermont Business Magazine The Paramount Theatre will present two screenings of David Giancola’s latest film, “Axcellerator” on Friday, January 25th, at 6 PM and 8:30 PM. Tickets are $8 for adults and $6 for children. “Axcellerator” director, David Giancola, commented on the upcoming premiere, “Something rare and unique is about to happen in Rutland, Vermont. A bit of Hollywood is coming to The Paramount Theatre in Rutland on Friday, January 25th with the World Premiere the sci-fi adventure “Axcellerator.” The public is invited to join the film’s cast and crew with screenings at both viewings and an After-Party at The Franklin Conference Center in Howe Center. The independent feature was filmed primarily in Rutland, Killington, and Londonderry at locations that include the Magic Mountain Ski Resort, The Rutland Free Library, The Killington Mountain Lodge, The Diamond Run Mall, and the streets of Downtown Rutland.”

Vermont Business Magazine Norwich University officials announced a partnership with Respond Software to integrate its Respond Analyst tool, the first fully autonomous virtual analyst with decision automation, to augment students’ experiential learning with this new operational and academic experience.

This partnership is designed to keep Norwich students educated in relevant technologies that they can be ready to operate upon graduation in the longstanding Norwich tradition of experiential learning. The goal of the partnership is to develop student cybersecurity competencies with hands-on experience, as well as to introduce students to next generation cyber security tools incorporating artificial intelligence and advanced data analytics.

Vermont State Police Everett Simpson, the man suspected of abducting a woman and child in New Hampshire and then sexually assaulting the woman at a Vermont hotel, was taken into custody following a car chase Sunday evening outside Philadelphia.

Simpson, 41, most recently of St. Johnsbury, faces extradition to Vermont following his arrest by the Upper Darby Township (Pennsylvania) Police Department. He is expected to face federal charges in the District of Vermont related to car theft, kidnapping and sexual assault. The prosecution is being coordinated by the U.S. Attorney's Office in Burlington.

Everett Simpson, VSP photo

Vermont Business Magazine Now in its third year, International Awards Associates (IAA) proudly announces the winners of its 2018 Vega Digital Awards. Hark has won Centauri recognition, and the winning work was created by Hark for Otis Spunkmeyer and Northfield Savings Bank.

Vermont Business Magazine Norwich University announced a $20,000 grant from the George and Carol Olmsted Foundation to support the Peace and War Center’s Overseas Cultural Immersion Trip. This is the fifteenth year in a row that Norwich has received support from the Olmsted Foundation for students to travel abroad. Since 2005, approximately 67 students have benefitted from this grant and have travelled to: Tanzania, Macedonia, Kazakhstan, Vietnam, Croatia, Senegal, El Salvador, Chile, Turkey, Georgia and Israel.

“Our Board of Directors was extremely pleased to sustain its overseas travel grant to Norwich this year, especially after hearing about the great success of last year’s program,” said Olmsted Foundation President and CEO Bruce K. Scott. “The program at Norwich is superb. It helps expose cadets to the world and will make them better officers in the future.”

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food, & Markets (VAAFM) seeks proposals from qualified organizations or individuals for the Dairy Education in School Communities (DESC) initiative. This program utilizes support from the Vermont Dairy Promotion Council to enhance educational outcomes through dairy-related programming and fostering a stronger connection between Vermont dairy farmers and students. VAAFM hopes to meet this mission by partnering with teaching professionals to develop dairy related educational programing that will align with Vermont standards while enriching school experiences for students in preK-12^th grade.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, the Vermont Supreme Court handed down a unanimous decision in favor of ACLU client Gregory Zullo, who challenged an unlawful 2014 stop by Vermont State Police in Wallingford. The Court ruled that the stop of Zullo and seizure of his vehicle violated Article 11 of the Vermont Constitution, and that the state is not immune from liability for those violations. The Court remanded the case back to the lower court for further proceedings.

Vermont Business Magazine Weekly unemployment claims spiked again last week as the holiday layoff escalated. For the week of December 29, 2018, there were 1,503 claims, 388 more than they were the previous week, but 67 fewer than they were a year ago. The holiday season usually sees wild swings in claims, as retailers in particular hire and layoff workers in spikes in November and December.

Vermont Business Magazine After nearly 80 years, the apartments on the top two floors of Montpelier’s 1875 Federal-style French Block building will finally re-open its doors to the community. Downstreet Housing & Community Development and Housing Vermont partnered to restore the building to its former glory while creating much-needed housing apartments in the heart of downtown Montpelier.

Vermont Business Magazine Southern Vermont’s highest peak will debut its new high-speed Snow Bowl Express quad Saturday, January 5. The new lift is the highlight of Stratton Mountain’s $10 million capital plan. First chair will spin at 10 am and those who ride the new Snow Bowl Express will also be able to get first tracks on one of Stratton’s new trails, Mike’s Cut Through.