Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Building Bright Futures (BBF) has announced a new round of grant recipients for the Vermont Early Childhood Fund (VECF), totaling nearly $1.2 million for projects focused on Vermont children and families. The Innovation Grant ($150,000 to $200,000) has the goal of creating innovative, replicable solutions to address some of Vermont’s most persistent barriers to serving children and families. The Innovation Grant recipients are: The Janet S. Munt Family Room in Chittenden County; Northwestern Medical Center in Franklin County. Several organizations received the Opportunity Grant ($10,000 to $80,000), which has the goal of supporting easy-to-achieve solutions with direct results.

Vermont Business Magazine Secretary of Administration Kristin Clouser today released Vermont’s revenue results for November 2023. Education Fund revenues exceeded their November target. However, after several strong months the vital Personal Income Tax was off by over 10 percent, setting back the General Fund. The Transportation Fund likewise failed to achieve its monthly consensus cash flow target, as supporting revenue components all under-achieved. The State’s General Fund, Transportation Fund, and Education Fund receipts were a combined $219.8 million, missing the $225.8 million monthly consensus target by -$6.0 million, or -2.7%. Year-to-date combined receipts are $19.2 million, 1.6%, above their $1,231.7 million target. General Fund revenues for November totaled $138.8 million, -$7.0 million, or -4.8%, below the $145.8 million monthly consensus cash flow target. 

Vermont Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas As Vermont’s Secretary of State, I take nothing more seriously than my non-partisan role as Vermont’s Chief Elections Officer and overseeing free, fair, accessible, and transparent elections. Vermont’s 2024 elections will be held with integrity and in accordance with state and federal law; my commitment to this and to democracy is ironclad. The Colorado case and similar state court cases pending throughout the country explore complex legal and constitutional questions and it appears that U.S. Supreme Court review is forthcoming.  As the various legal proceedings unfold, it is important to make clear that the Vermont Secretary of State has no role in making a legal determination about Donald Trump’s eligibility to appear on the primary ballot or to hold the office of President. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Afghan Alliance today announced the award of grants from the State of Vermont and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and opened its first office with the help of Senator Peter Welch, Governor Phil Scott, State Refugee Coordinator Tracy Dolan and community partners. The Vermont Afghan Alliance, a 501(c)3 and registered Vermont non-profit, formally launched in April 2022 by Co-Founders Wazir Hashimi and Dr. Dan Barkhuff with the mission of assisting Afghans in obtaining access to basic services and successfully resettling in the Green Mountain State. Through the ECSH Grant the Alliance will receive $250,000 a year for three years to provide direct and indirect services including, driving lessons, interpretation and translation assistance, legal rights training, community forums and assistance with case management. The grant assists the Alliance in hiring staff and opening an office. 

Vermont Business Magazine As millions of Americans hit the road for the Christmas holiday, many will reap the gift of lower gas prices, with nearly 100,000 stations offering gasoline at $2.99 or less. The national average price of gas is projected to be $3.09 on Christmas Day according to GasBuddy, the leading fuel savings platform saving North American drivers the most money on fuel. Prices over the holiday weekend will have dropped nearly 80¢ per gallon compared to what they were paying earlier this fall, when the national average reached $3.85 per gallon. Average gasoline prices in Vermont are $3.31 per gallon. This is 4 cents/g lower than last week. The national average price of gasoline has risen 1 cent per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.09/g today.

Vermont Business Magazine RuralWorks Partners, LLC, based in Middlebury, an impact investment firm committed to rural communities and environmental sustainability, has made an inaugural investment in TimberHP, a leading manufacturer specializing in wood fiber insulation solutions. This investment marks a milestone for both companies as they join forces to foster sustainable growth, create quality jobs, and further environmental stewardship in Madison, Maine and beyond. RuralWorks' investment in TimberHP reflects a shared commitment to sustainable practices, community development, and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. This partnership underscores the significance of investing in businesses that align with the ethos of both companies, emphasizing the importance of supporting impactful initiatives.

Vermont Business Magazine The Green Mountain Care Board (GMCB) on Wednesday approved OneCare Vermont’s FY24 budget with modifications directing more resources ($957K) to patient care through population health or primary care programs. GMCB also increased the potential for OneCare to earn more federal dollars on behalf of its network through its Medicare program.  GMCB voted to reduce OneCare’s budgeted administrative cost-per-person by holding the administrative ratio to OneCare’s 5-year historical average. GMCB required these funds, 6.7% of OneCare’s operating budget, to be reallocated toward population health or primary care programs that go to Vermont providers to support patient care. This adjustment aligns with GMCB’s multi-year effort to contain operating expenses and increase funding for programs that directly support patient care. OneCare will submit a revised budget by April 1, 2024, with a breakdown of how this additional funding is being reallocated. 

Vermont Business Magazine The US Environmental Protection Agency has completed required comprehensive site cleanup reviews, or Five-Year reviews, of two National Priority List Sites (Superfund Sites) across Vermont: Commerce Street Plume, Williston, Vermont; and Old Springfield Landfill, Springfield, Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont) Wednesday applauded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s announcement that Vermont’s Institute for Sustainable Communities (ISC) will receive $50 million provided through the EPA’s National Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking program, part of the Biden Administration’s ‘Investing in America’ agenda. As a National Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaker, the ISC will help small, in-need community-based organizations with support, coordination, and oversight to stakeholders over the next three years.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Board took its final vote on a regulation on trapping and hunting coyotes on Thursday, December 14.  Information on the regulation and a permit application to hunt coyotes with dogs are available on the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department’s website.  The new regulation establishes a season for hunting coyotes with dogs and is effective on January 1, 2024.  The season for hunting coyotes with the aid of dogs will be December 15 through March 31 each year. Legal hunting hours for taking coyotes with the aid of dogs will be one half hour before sunrise to one half hour after sunset.  The coyote dog training season will be from June 1 through September 15. 

Vermont Business Magazine As millions of Americans hit the road for the Christmas holiday, many will reap the gift of lower gas prices, with nearly 100,000 stations offering gasoline at $2.99 or less. The national average price of gas is projected to be $3.09 on Christmas Day. Prices over the holiday weekend will have dropped nearly 80¢ per gallon compared to what they were paying earlier this fall, when the national average reached $3.85 per gallon. As of today, average gasoline prices nationally are $3.06 per gallon and in Vermont are $3.31/g. Since the beginning of October, prices have fallen about 80 cents/g nationally and about 50 cents/g in Vermont (prices were about 10 cents/g lower in Vermont in September than the US average).

Vermont Business Magazine Earlier this week, with the support of the Gun Owners of Vermont, several Vermont manufacturers, its members clubs, and the many thousands of individual members, the Vermont Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs (VTFSC) joined a group of Vermont citizens and sporting-goods stores in filing a federal lawsuit challenging Vermont’s 72-hour waiting period law and its ban on standard capacity firearm magazines that are commonly owned in Vermont and across the nation. On Wednesday, the VTFSC filed a motion for an injunction to prevent the State of Vermont from enforcing these unconstitutional laws.