Current News

Vermont Business Magazine On October 25, 2022, the Vermont Declaration of Inclusion initiative reached the milestone of exceeding 50% of Vermont residents residing in municipalities that have adopted a Declaration of Inclusion. The 73 towns and cities that are home to 52% of the population (334,963 Vermonters) have each pledged themselves to welcome and treat all members of marginalized communities who visit, reside, or do business there, fairly and equitably. The Declaration of Inclusion Initiative is an ongoing effort to raise consciousness about the importance of diversity, equity, and justice and the positive effect that diversity can have on our economy.

Vermont Agency of Agriculture Food & Markets Are you looking for technical assistance related to dairy food safety? Or are you wanting to develop a dairy food safety plan but don’t have the necessary resources? The Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-DBIC), hosted by the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets, is currently accepting applications for the second round of the Dairy Food Safety and Certification Grant. This funding opportunity offers support to dairy farmers, processors, and/or producer associations in all Northeast states to improve the safety of dairy products. Awards will range from $10,000 - $40,000 with a 25% required match commitment.

Vermont Business Magazine The Board of Directors of the Okemo Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce recently approved a new organization-wide membership development campaign, “OVRCC 350”, with a goal to reach 350 members in the next two years. The chamber currently has approximately 300 members. This effort is engaging the whole Okemo Valley Chamber organization in retaining and recruiting new members, involving not only the Executive Director, Member Services Director, Membership Committee, and Board of Directors, but also the entire OVRCC Membership. This plan was developed with feedback expressed from board and committee members and ongoing efforts of the organization. This work will begin right away and run through the 4th Quarter of 2022 with additional campaigns to be scheduled for 2023.

Vermont Business Magazine Mascoma Community Development (MCD) is proud to announce an award of $55 million in New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) authority from the US Treasury's Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) Fund. The NMTC program allows MCD to direct capital to underserved communities through financing high-impact, mission-focused projects nationwide with a primary focus on New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, New York, and Massachusetts. Mascoma Bank has branches in Vermont.

by Jennifer McDonald & Jared Carter With November approaching, there is increasing misinformation from opponents of Article 22 – the Reproductive Liberty Amendment. Most recently in this publication, Christina Nolan, a former US Attorney for the District of Vermont and Republican Senate candidate, published commentary asserting that Article 22 is “extreme” and may “require abortion in Vermont up to the point of delivery, for any reason…” First, let us re-iterate what medical professionals have repeatedly stated: there is no such thing as abortion up to the point of delivery. This is a political argument, not a medical one or legal one.

by Mike Vlacich, New England Regional Administrator, US Small Business Administration This year we will celebrate National Veterans Small Business Week Oct 31 to Nov 4. During NVSBW we will recognize the achievements of our veterans across New England and we will celebrate the strength and resiliency of the veteran business community. It’s not that surprising that there are so many veteran-owned businesses across the country. Veterans make great entrepreneurs. Building a successful small business requires hard work and dedication—traits that are in no short supply among service members, veterans, and military spouses. Resilience, poise, adaptability – not only do these traits define our Nation’s service members and veterans, but they are also critical ingredients for successful entrepreneurs.

Vermont Business Magazine Common Good Vermont is pleased to announce the launch of its Fundraising & Development Certificate Program. Applications are now open and will be accepted through December 16, 2022. The program runs February 16 through September 21, 2023 and is designed for leaders, executives, and staff members of small to mid-sized nonprofit organizations. Participants will gain the knowledge and skills needed to build a development plan and improve fundraising capacity.

Northeastern Vermont Development Association A BONUS round of funding for the Downtown and Village Center Tax Credit Program is available for projects that improve building safety and enhance the historic character of commercial and community buildings in designated communities. The credits support general rehabilitation work, facade improvements, code compliance work, and flood mitigation projects. Applications for this bonus round are due Jan. 16, 2023.

Vermont Agency of Transportation This weekly report is a list of planned construction activities that will have traffic impacts on state highways throughout Vermont for the week of October 31, 2022. Please remember to drive safely in all work zones. Lives depend on it.

Ledyard Financial Group (Ticker Symbol: LFGP) has announced a regular quarterly dividend of $0.41 per common share. The dividend is payable June 2, 2014, to shareholders of record as of May 9, 2014.

Ledyard Financial Group, Inc, headquartered in Hanover, New Hampshire, is the holding company for Ledyard National Bank. Ledyard National Bank, founded in 1991, is a full service community bank offering a broad range of banking, investment, tax and wealth management services in the Dartmouth-Lake Sunapee Region. Ledyard National Bank has eight offices with locations in Hanover, Lebanon, Lyme, New London, and West Lebanon, New Hampshire and in Norwich, Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine A shared love of beer, travel, art, and the great outdoors united three partners – Tim Brady, Amy Brady, and David Hiler - to open Whetstone Station Brewery in Brattleboro in 2012. The spirit of exploration and discovery through rail travel underpinned the concept behind the establishment housed in a former train station building. A decade later, they've rebranded to Whetstone Beer Co. and reimagined packaging to celebrate their love of adventure and respect for the environment with fully recyclable cans and labels with a surprise inside: a keepsake peel-off sticker on every can. The custom labels, imagined by Whetstone Beer Co co-owner Tim Brady, were developed over a year-long process with a USA label manufacturer. They are the first to incorporate a built-in, removable sticker within a fully recyclable beer can label.