Current News

Agency of Commerce and Community Development The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has extended the deadline for Vermonters to apply for disaster loan assistance for physical damages. Those in declared counties now have until November 25, 2024, to apply for federal disaster loans for physical damages due to severe storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides that occurred July 9 – 11. The disaster declaration covers Addison, Caledonia, Chittenden, Essex, Lamoille, Orleans, and Washington. Individuals and businesses are eligible for Physical and Economic Injury Disaster Loans from the SBA. Small businesses and most private nonprofit organizations in the following adjacent counties are eligible to apply only for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs): Franklin, Grand Isle, Orange, Rutland, and Windsor.

Vermont Business Magazine Average gasoline prices in Vermont are $3.18 per gallon, up 2.2 cents per gallon from last week's $3.16/g. The lowest price in the state yesterday was $2.92/g while the highest was $3.39/g, a difference of 47.0 cents per gallon. The national average price of gasoline has fallen 3.3 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.13/g today. The national average is down 6.2 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 39.7 cents per gallon lower than a year ago.

Vermont Business Magazine The Associated General Contractors of Vermont (AGC/VT) is proud to announce that it has been as a finalist for the prestigious Verdantix 2024 Innovation Award. This honor recognizes AGC/VT’s exceptional achievements in growth, engagement, Innovative Strategies, Technologies and Practices within the construction industry. The Verdantix Innovation Award is presented annually to organizations that demonstrate outstanding leadership and commitment to advancing Health, Safety & Quality within the international community. AGC/VT has been selected for their outstanding efforts in advancing safety culture, reducing incident rates, improving processes and delivering significant sustainability outcomes. AGC/VT reflects a diverse array of industries and company sizes, showcasing the breadth and depth of innovation taking place in the field of EHS.

Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets The Working Lands Enterprise Initiative is now accepting applications for the Business Enhancement Grant. This grant is open to Vermont working lands businesses and organizations, which include farms producing food and fiber, as well as forest products businesses. Some food businesses and organizations, as well as agriculture or wood processing and/or distribution businesses may be eligible if they meet certain requirements for local sourcing of raw ingredients or products. Applicants can apply for grants of $10,000 to $50,000. This year, there is no match requirement. Learn more and ask questions at an optional applicant webinar on October 24th from 11:00am–12:00pm. There will also be weekly virtual drop-in Q&A sessions throughout the application period. The application portal is open through December 12th.

by Senator Jane Kitchel, Danville As I reflect on my twenty years serving in the Vermont Senate, there are areas where we made great progress but complex challenges loom. I take pride in getting the State’s fiscal house in order – reserves have been built, we’ve addressed pension liabilities, and we produced a balanced budget every year. Legislation to enact one of the most robust childcare programs in the country survived a veto. We implemented tax policy changes that keep millions more in Vermonters’ pockets. We improved the State’s transportation infrastructure. And while the modest inflationary increase in DMV fees has been heavily scrutinized (e.g. $3.50 yr for a license), it finances Vermont’s transportation system and draws down federal dollars which save Vermont taxpayers' money. Since 2020, we’ve appropriated nearly $300 million for housing development resulting in over 5,000 new affordable housing units throughout Vermont. Yet political messaging has overshadowed this progress.

by Acey Sheehan and Gwen Matthews, Community News Service Earlier this fall, most registered voters in Vermont opened their mailboxes to find an election ballot — but how many have been returned so far and from where? University of Vermont’s Center for Community News, home of Community News Service, has built an interactive map to find out. Center data visualization engineer Ben Cooley pulled together figures from the Office of the Vermont Secretary of State to track the number and percent of registered voters in each town whose ballots have been received and tallied. As of Thursday, more than 11% of those ballots had already been returned and tallied statewide, officials said.

Vermont Business Magazine This weekly report is a list of planned construction activities that will affect traffic on state highways and interstates throughout Vermont for the week of October 21, 2024. Please remember to drive safely in all work zones. Lives depend on it.  

Vermont Business Magazine Join the membership of the Commission on the Future of Public Education for a community engagement session on Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, from 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. at the Randolph Union Middle High School Theater, 15 Forest Street, Randolph, VT 05060. To attend virtually please click here to join the meeting. This will be the first of many statewide input sessions over the course of the next year, and will be an opportunity to: Learn about the Commission, including its charge and timeline; Learn about the current Vermont education context; Provide input to the Commission as it begins its work.

Vermont Business Magazine United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest announced today that Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Jason Turner will lead the efforts of his Office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 5, 2024, general election. AUSA Turner has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont, and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of election day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff, and election fraud, in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington. 

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont will host a VERMONT WOMEN'S RALLY on the Statehouse Lawn in Montpelier on November 2, 2024 AT 10 A.M.  This event will be a sister event to the NATIONAL WOMEN’S MARCH in Washington, DC, on the same date. State parking lots will be open and free for public parking. Melinda Moulton is the Master of Ceremonies. Members of the Taiko Drummers will Awaken Montpelier and Greet Rally Goers. Singer-songwriter Patti Casey will open the Rally. Beverly Little Thunder and her daughter Lushanya Echeverria will speak together to honor the original Indigenous inhabitants with a land acknowledgement. Vermont Poet Laureate Bianca Stone will deliver a poem.

by Jay Lindsay It’s long been lore in the town of Springfield, Vermont, that it was “No. 7 on the list” of the top U.S. sites Hitler wanted to bomb during World War II. There’s some question about the origins of this list, or even whether it really existed. But there’s no question about the claim at the heart of the story: This small town and its thriving machine tool industry were vital to the war effort. Today, that industry is gone from Springfield, and there’s been long fallout from the loss of jobs and identity. For instance, the percentage of households receiving public assistance is nearly double the state average, according to Bob Flint, executive director of the Springfield Regional Development Corporation. But Flint also pointed to the $9 million already spent to clean up former factory sites in this town of 9,000, and the $5 million more that’s committed. The remediation is seen as a critical step toward commercial redevelopment at the sites.

The Vermont Business Roundtable Executive Leadership Series on October 30 is designed to create valuable professional development and networking opportunities for CEOs and their key team members and proteges, as well as influential leaders in the private, non-profit and public sectors. Future-of-work strategist Heather E. McGowan helps CEOs refine their approach to the future, using data to prepare both people and organizations through cutting edge research and global insights. Her previous work elevated her to become LinkedIn’s #1 global voice for education, and her most recent publications and presentations have helped businesses and industries across the country prepare for the future of workforce and leadership.