Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Fish and Wildlife is reminding hunters to wear fluorescent hunter orange. “Hunting is one of the safest outdoor activities, thanks to advances in education as well as science,” said Vermont Hunter Education Program Coordinator Nicole Meier.  “Our volunteer hunter education instructors stress that wearing orange during hunting season is important, and studies prove that wearing fluorescent hunter orange keeps hunters visible to other people in the woods, but it keeps them relatively invisible to deer. Every year we should strive to be the safest we can be by wearing at least a hunter orange hat and vest.”

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont’s Killington Resort, the largest ski and snowboard destination in Eastern North America, will kick off the 2024-25 winter season at 9 a.m. on Thursday, November 14th, 2024. This marks the first season as an independent resort and skiers and riders can expect big things in the coming years. Once again, Killington is the first resort in Vermont to open for the winter season. The first turns of the season on November 14th will be reserved exclusively for Killington Season Pass, Beast 365 and Ikon Pass holders. The resort will open to the general public on Friday, November 15th at 9:00 a.m. and will remain open 7 days a week, weather permitting. 

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott and the Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD) announced today just over $4 million in funding for 13 rehabilitation and revitalization projects in 12 of Vermont’s designated downtown and village centers. These awards will generate over $160 million in building improvements and public infrastructure around the state. Increased investment and program enhancements have been a critical lifeline for economic vitality, as well as for communities and businesses recovering from devastating floods. In the past 10 years, the state tax credit program has leveraged over $28 million in federal rehabilitation tax credits—resulting in the creation and rehabilitation of 338 housing units and support for over 100 businesses in 24 downtowns and 248 village centers.

Vermont Business Magazine Northfield Savings Bank (NSB)is partnering with Vermont Manufacturing Extension Center (VMEC) to support small and medium-sized manufacturers (SMMs) in the state of Vermont. NSB will contribute $60,000 over a two-year period ($30,000 per year) to create a "Maker's Fund" through VMEC. The fund will be used to provide a range of services, based on operational needs, to manufacturers with 20 or less employees to sustain and grow their businesses. VMEC will carry out the work designed to help the SMMs sustain and grow. The partnership began October 1, 2024, and will extend to September 30, 2026.

Vermont Business Magazine Central Vermont Economic Development Corporation (CVEDC) has announced its 2024 Central Vermont Business of the Year and 2024 Innovator of the Year awards, given recently at the nonprofit’s 48th Annual Meeting. The Annual Meeting boasted over 100 guests, filling every seat at the Capitol Plaza Hotel’s Governor’s Ballroom. Senator Peter Welch delivered the keynote address, thanking the business owners of Central Vermont for their dedication to their local economy, and to each other. The senator credited businesses like Union Mutual for remaining in place and keeping employees here, and small businesses like Bear Pond Books, Minikin, Bent Nails Bistro, and Namaste Indian-Nepali Kitchen for their dedication during difficult times.

Vermont Business Magazine Due to an unprecedented demand for free Medicare Open Enrollment counseling assistance this year, Vermont’s five Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) are no longer able to schedule Medicare beneficiaries for appointments for the remainder of this year’s enrollment season. During annual Medicare open enrollment, from October 15 – December 7, Medicare beneficiaries can review their plans and make changes. Vermont’s five AAAs administer the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (“SHIP”), offering free and confidential health insurance counseling. 

Vermont Business Magazine U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont) today released the following statement after the Biden Administration announced there will be no change to U.S. policy in Israel, despite humanitarian organizations, the United Nations, and press investigations showing a failure to end the humanitarian crisis and comply with international humanitarian law: “Accepting ‘small steps’ and empty promises won’t cut it when the devastation created by Israel in Gaza—using U.S. taxpayer funded bombs—is causing a calamity. Human rights and aid organizations made it well known to the Biden Administration this situation isn’t improving in a sustainable way. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is catastrophic and has only deteriorated since Israel began its bombing campaign."

Vermont Business Magazine The following statement is being issued by Kroll Restructuring Administration LLC regarding the Imerys Talc and Cyprus Mines Bankruptcy Cases. If you have a Talc Personal Injury Claim, your rights are affected by an upcoming vote on the plans of reorganization as part of bankruptcy proceedings of Imerys Talc America, Inc., Imerys Talc Vermont, Inc., and Imerys Talc Canada Inc., and potentially Imerys Talc Italy S.p.A and Cyprus Mines Corporation. Capitalized terms used but not defined here have the meanings ascribed to them in the Plans, which are available at IandCtalc.com.

by Lauren Milideo, UVM The Leadership for the Ecozoic (L4E) program, a partnership between the University of Vermont and Montreal’s McGill University, has always been a multifaceted effort, says grant principal investigator and UVM Prof. Joe Ament in the Community Development and Applied Economics (CDAE) department. The central focus is on training graduate students in ecological economics to facilitate research into a socially just and ecologically sustainable economic transition. With L4E applications now open for the next cohort of students and postdocs, Ament welcomes interested applicants and is eager to see what these emerging scholars will pursue in fields including ecological economics and his own focus, degrowth and the macroeconomy.

Vermont Business Magazine SBA celebrates and empowers service member, veteran, National Guard and Reserve member, and military spouse entrepreneurs during National Veterans Small Business Week (NVSBW). Events hosted across the country by SBA and its extensive partner network highlight information about the resources available to veteran, service member, and military spouse entrepreneurs.

Vermont Business Magazine Tomorrow will mark 30 days since the Biden Administration, through the Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense, expressed deep concerns about the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza, requesting urgent and sustained actions by the Netanyahu government to help innocent civilians. The situation for the people of Gaza has gotten worse in the past month, not better. “Under international humanitarian law, Israel has an obligation to provide and allow—not impede—the free flow and facilitation of humanitarian aid to Gaza. The Leahy Law and other U.S. laws are clear: all countries are held to the same standard, and all countries that receive U.S. security assistance must follow international humanitarian law. Israel is no different."

Vermont Business Magazine Comcast is connecting more than 400 additional homes in Greensboro to reliable, high-speed, symmetrical Internet by expanding its network. This expansion will enhance digital infrastructure, promote economic growth, and position residents and local businesses for success in an increasingly digital world. The company also completed construction of its previously announced project to connect more than 400 homes and small businesses in Westmore. These network expansions bring Internet, mobile, entertainment, and security services from Xfinity and Comcast Business to residents and businesses for the first time.