Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Planned Parenthood of Northern New England (PPNNE) celebrated “Thanks, Birth Control” Day on Wednesday, a time to highlight the many ways that birth control improves people’s lives, including the ability to plan their families, finish their education, and pursue their dreams. This annual observance founded by the Power to Decide campaign is also an important opportunity to help share facts and dispel myths about contraception. A new survey released by the Power to Decide finds the Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade is fueling young adults’ concerns about birth control. Six in 10 of survey respondents ages 18 to 29 believe birth control will be more difficult to access now that Roe has been overturned.

Vermont Business Magazine Lawson’s Finest Liquids is debuting a 2022 World Beer Cup Silver Medal winner across the northeast just in time for cold weather and changing seasons. Fayston Maple Imperial Stout Aged in Mad River Distillers Rum Barrels is now available across the brewery’s entire nine-state distribution area of VT, CT, MA, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, and RI. The distribution marks the first time a barrel-aged, seasonal release from the brewery is available outside the company’s Waitsfield, VT destination Taproom. Each year, Lawson’s Finest Liquids releases specialty, barrel-aged beers to mark the holiday season. Fayston Maple Imperial Stout Aged in Mad River Distillers Rum Barrels debuted in Fall of 2021 before earning a Silver Medal at the prestigious World Beer Cup in 2022. The 10.5% ABV imperial stout is brewed with loads of roasted and black malts with a hefty dose of Vermont Maple Syrup.

VermontBiz In celebration of Veterans Day, Heady Vermont is organizing its fifth annual cannabis event for veterans on Sunday, November 20, 12-2 p.m. at Heady Vermont offices in Burlington.

Each year, Heady Vermont and a team of dedicated veteran volunteers welcomes vets to our office, listens to their stories and helps provide access to and education around cannabis for PTSD, pain, trauma and other areas. The goal of the Veterans Day Cannabis Event is to provide veterans with education and access to cannabis in a safe space.

Light refreshments will be provided, and vendors will be on hand to educate veterans about their THC and CBD products. Heady Vermont will also provide further resources for veterans, including area support organizations and local Veteran discounts, in an effort to help veterans gain more regular access to cannabis products and educational tools.

VermontBiz Mayor Miro Weinberger announced that tomorrow the BTV Winter Market will return to City Hall Park. A collaboration between Burlington City Arts (BCA) and Love Burlington, the BTV Winter Market is an outdoor market featuring a rotating group local artists, makers, and food vendors in a festive atmosphere that captures the spirit of the season.

“The BTV Winter Market creates a vibrant and joyful space for our community to celebrate this special time of year while supporting a broad spectrum of local artists and small businesses,” said Mayor Miro Weinberger. “We’re excited to grow on the success of last year’s season and this year’s summer market, and to welcome even more families, neighbors, and visitors to the downtown this holiday season.”

VermontBiz U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) announced that the Turning Point Center of Central Vermont, which supports all paths to addition recovery, will be receiving a $1 million grant from the USDA Emergency Rural Health Care Grant program. These funds will be used alongside a Leahy fiscal year 2022 Congressionally Directed Spending provision that he secured for $750,000 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for the renovation of an historic building that will become the center’s new home.

VermontBiz Bill and Judy Galdi started the Wall Doctor in 1986 quickly becoming a fixture in the community. Now, after 37 years Bill has decided to retire and has sold the Wall Doctor to Gordon’s Window Decor so as to ensure the continuation of service and quality that his clients have come to expect and deserve.

“Judy and I took great pride in creating a locally owned business. She would be happy to see it passing to the next generation and staying local. It will be exciting to see new ownership take our quality brands and customer service to the next level.” says Galdi.

“It’s really an honor that Bill felt that Gordon’s was the right choice for him and his clients.” says Kelly Clements, President of Gordon’s Window Decor. “I have always respected the Wall Doctor and am eager to bring it under the Gordon’s umbrella”.

VermontBiz Today, the Vermont Department of Labor released data on the Vermont economy for the time period covering October 2022. According to household data, the seasonally-adjusted statewide unemployment rate for October was 2.3 percent. This reflects an increase of two-tenths of one percentage point from the prior month’s revised estimate. The civilian labor force participation was 61.7 percent in October, a decrease of one-tenth of one percentage point.

VermontBiz U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Charles Grassley (R-IA), John Kennedy (R-LA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), and Thom Tillis (R-NC) released the following statements after the PROTECT Our Children Act of 2022, which would reauthorize the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force Program to combat child exploitation across the country, passed the Senate earlier this week:

“By providing the resources, officers, and technology law enforcement agencies need to counter the threat of cyber-crimes, we can build more barriers between predators and the victims they target,” said Sen. Cornyn. “I applaud my colleagues for reauthorizing this task force that prevents the perpetrators of these heinous crimes from committing future abuse, and I urge the House to pass this legislation as soon as possible.”

VermontBiz The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) recently issued seven ‘Water Quality Restoration Formula Grants’ to provide funding for clean water projects to address phosphorous and other water quality impairments in the Lake Champlain and Lake Memphremagog watershed basins.

These grants were distributed to newly formed regional Clean Water Service Providers (CWSPs) established under Vermont’s Act 76 of 2019. Each CWSP represents their respective tactical basin planning watershed and will operate within their assigned area. The grants, totaling in $7 million, were funded out of the Clean Water Fund, which is supported by revenue from Vermont’s Rooms and Meals and Property Transfer revenues, and unrecovered nickels from unreturned recyclables.

VermontBiz Governor Phil Scott and the Department for Children and Families (DCF) announced today the release of $20 million in Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding for households that heat with fuel oil, propane, kerosene, coal, electricity, and natural gas.

“We know many are feeling the burden of high inflation that is impacting the entire country, and the rise in home heating costs is a significant challenge,” said Governor Scott. “LIHEAP is an important benefit that helps vulnerable families, and I thank our congressional delegation, in particular Senator Leahy, for his work to secure additional LIHEAP funding this year. In Montpelier, we must work tirelessly to keep costs down for Vermont families.”

VermontBiz Today, Mayor Miro Weinberger announced and celebrated the completion of the Shelburne Street Roundabout Project in Burlington’s south end. The Project redesigned the existing rotary into a modern roundabout, provides designated crossing locations with rapid flashing beacons, new sidewalks, and shared-use paths. It was funded through the State of Vermont’s Highway Safety Improvement Program with $7.7 million in Federal Highway Administration dollars.