Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced a six-week holiday campaign to raise funds for Vermonters and businesses impacted by this summer’s flooding through ongoing sales of Vermont Strong license plates and limited-edition socks. Since the “Vermont Strong” license plates were reintroduced in August, $715,000 in proceeds have been donated, with half going to individual needs via the Vermont Community Foundation and half to help businesses through the State’s Business Emergency Gap Assistance Program (BEGAP). During the press conference, Scott also addressed public safety; debris cleanup from the flood; the economic impact from the summer storms; heating system repair for those who lost it; the FEMA trailers in Montpelier; and the $200 million state pensions shortfall.

Vermont Business Magazine The Northeast Kingdom will be home to new resources for technology innovation, thanks to a grant secured by Vermont State University’s Do North Co-working in partnership with the Northeastern Vermont Development Association (NVDA and several other partners. More than $750,000 in funding from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) Build to Scale Venture Challenge Grant will infuse the team’s launch of the InnovateNEK initiative, which is also receiving funding or in-kind contributions from the state, the Town of Lyndon, the Town of St. Johnsbury and the two partners themselves.

Vermont Manufacturing Extension Center Today, Monday, November 20, is the last opportunity for you and your company to take advantage of the CONNEXVT FREE YEAR OF FULL NATIONAL ACCESS offer! This valuable online platform connects all Vermont manufacturers, buyers, and suppliers in a single, searchable supply-chain solution. If you sign up by the end of business today, using promo code vmec1year, you will have access to the national database of over 20 other states who've also joined the CONNEX Marketplace, a database of 140,000+ U.S. manufacturers and suppliers.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) on Saturday eleased the following statement calling for the conditioning of U.S. aid to Israel amidst the growing crisis in Gaza and the West Bank: "Hamas is a corrupt terrorist organization which began this war by slaughtering 1,200 innocent Israeli men, women, and children and taking over 200 hostages. Hamas has made clear, before and after October 7, that its goal is to destroy Israel. Under those circumstances, Israel absolutely has the right to defend itself."

The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets is inviting Vermont agricultural and forestry businesses to apply for Trade Show Assistance Grants (TSAG). These grants provide businesses with funds to exhibit and sell their Vermont products at trade shows targeting out-of-state buyers. These matching grants can partially offset the expenses associated with exhibiting at trade shows.

Vermont Business Magazine Technology for Tomorrow (T4T) kicks off its Microsoft TechSpark partnership with a Roundtable Conversation on Friday, Dec. 1 at the South Burlington Public Library. Guests include TechSpark U.S. Program Manager Michelle Schuler, Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale and Vermont nonprofit leaders. T4T, a nonprofit based in Williston, is the Vermont organization selected for the inaugural Microsoft TechSpark Fellow Program to foster inclusive economic opportunity, job creation, and innovation in the state. Microsoft announced the expansion of its TechSpark program earlier this year to tackle digital inclusion in four focus areas: digital access, digital skills, computer science education, and digital transformation with local-based organizations. 

by Christine McGowan, Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund Efficiency is the lens through which Phil Gervais sees business. After 15 years working with multinational corporations around the world to find greater efficiency in infrastructure, computerization, and administration, Phil returned home to Enosburg, Vermont to help his son, Josh, and his business partner, Matt Gregoire, open Vermont Natural Forest Products.

Vermont Business Magazine Archer Aviation Inc, a leader in electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, and BETA Technologies, an electric aerospace company developing electric aircraft and charging systems, have announced an industry-first agreement to accelerate the roll out of an interoperable fast-charging system across the electric aircraft industry. Archer is utilizing two of BETA’s Charge Cube systems at Archer’s flight test facilities, as well as a number of BETA’s Mini Cube mobile charging systems, which Archer plans to rapidly deploy as needed. BETA’s charging system utilizes the Combined Charging Standard (CCS) – a multimodal, interoperable standard employed by the top OEMs. BETA’s charging systems are already in use at 14 locations across the eastern U.S., and development work is underway to install them at another 55 locations along the East and Gulf Coasts, as well as at Archer’s facilities in California.

by Lynn Dickinson, VSCS Board Chair, St. Albans The optimization plans at Vermont State University (VTSU) chart a path toward financial sustainability by 2027, something that has eluded its legacy institutions for far too long. When we set about this work nearly four years ago, we knew that it would be a multi-year process, informed by input from stakeholders at all levels of the organization, including faculty, staff, and students. We knew fundamental change was required from the familiar ways that we were used to and we would need to update our academic programs to be more relevant to our students and to increase efficiencies in our operations.

Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies The BIPOC community is the fastest-growing demographic in the state, with a 112% increase over the last decade. Tino and Weiwei are actively working to build generational wealth for BIPOC-identifying individuals, but their approach is not financial—it's social. They are opening doors, sharing resources, and nurturing a network that will leave a lasting impact on the BIPOC community for generations to come. Today, we introduce Tino and Weiwei, the Co-Executive Directors of the Vermont Professionals of Color Network. It wouldn't be a stretch to call them motivational speakers, this episode left us moved.

Vermont Institute of Natural Science With shorter days, the Vermont Institute of Natural Science announces that we will be open for our winter hours, November 1, 2023 through April 1, 2024. We will be open daily from 10 AM to 4 PM, and will be closed on November 23, Thanksgiving Day and December 25, Christmas Day. Winter is a special and beautiful time on the VINS Nature Center grounds. A Forest of Lights will be opening on Friday, November 24, 2023 at 5:00 – 7:00 PM! Now our second year we are sure to offer a magical experience for all. As thousands of lights transform VINS into an enchanted realm. Experience the VINS Forest Canopy Walk as you take in the lights of the season. New additions this year include a twinkling Snowflake Tunnel, the Blue & White Icicle Tower, and the Fairy Lighting Hideaway.

Vermont Business Magazine United Way of Northwest Vermont (UWNWVT), an organization dedicated to improving lives in Chittenden, Franklin and Grand Isle counties, has launched a new giving program to help small businesses make a big impact in the communities where they live, work, and play. Starting at $1 a day, small businesses can improve lives in Northwest Vermont by joining United Way’s 365 Small Business Circle. The 365 Small Business Circle has three annual membership levels: 365 Partner at $1 a day, 365 Plus Partner at $3 a day, and 365 Leader at $5 a day. Each level has corresponding benefits and opportunities to promote your business and your partnership with United Way.