Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Today Vermont Secretary of State Jim Condos, Vermont Humanities, and the Center for Cartoon Studies announced the release of a new comic book, titled Freedom and Unity, focused on civics education, local democracy and the Vermont election process. The comic, titled Freedom and Unity, A Graphic Guide to Vermont Democracy, is a collaboration between the Secretary of State’s office, Vermont Humanities, and the Center for Cartoon Studies, supported in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Federation of State Humanities Councils.

by Jennifer Nachbur, UVM Larner College of Medicine University of Vermont leaders, donors, faculty, students, staff, and development partners today celebrated the grand opening and dedication of the UVM's newest building - the Firestone Medical Research Building - with a formal ceremony, including special remarks, a ribbon-cutting and building tours. This new facility will ensure that UVM and the Larner College of Medicine can continue to foster not only the leading-edge research of today, but also the next generations of biomedical scientists, who will be educated in this building. This building represents an investment in the Larner College of Medicine's distinctive research strengths, will help ensure student success, and fulfills the University’s Land-Grant mission.

Vermont Business Magazine Cabot’s Triple Cream Vanilla Bean Greek Yogurt earned the Best Yogurt title and the Reserve Chairman’s award at the National Milk Producers Federation’s (NMPF) Annual Cheese & Yogurt Contest held earlier this week in Aurora, Colorado. The local cooperative had 9 top-three awards for its cheeses and yogurts. The annual contest recognizes the best cheese and yogurt products produced by NMPF’s member cooperatives. This is the first year that yogurt was included in the competition. Overall, the contest received 216 entries in 24 classes submitted by 13 NMPF member cooperatives.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Patrick Leahy last week led a group of 20 senators in writing to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to convey their support for the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Organic Livestock and Poultry Standards (OLPS) proposed rule. Senators Gillibrand, Brown, Blumenthal, Sanders, Shaheen, Smith, Booker, Tester, Baldwin, Hassan, Wyden, Feinstein, Van Hollen, Padilla, King, Casey, Luján, Collins, and Merkley joined Leahy in urging USDA to limit the timeframe for implementation to no longer than three years. The proposed rule makes progress on animal welfare by clarifying that enclosed, screened-in porches do not constitute outdoor access, and creating minimum indoor and outdoor space and enrichment requirements for organically raised chickens.

Vermont Business Magazine The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), part of the Agency of Natural Resources (ANR), recently updated the minimum qualifications for all Environmental Analyst positions. The DEC made the updates as it prepares to hire over 40 positions in the next few months. New staff will direct nearly $600 million in federal funds for water infrastructure and environmental remediation.

Vermont Business Magazine In continuation of its efforts to connect jobseekers with career opportunities and employers with talent, the Vermont Department of Labor will host five in-person and two virtual job fairs beginning November 1. Veterans & Community Job Fairs will be held in Essex Junction, Enosburgh, St Albans, and Colchester in partnership with local veterans’ organizations. All jobseekers are encouraged to attend, but veterans and service members will be provided early access in the first hour of the events to explore career opportunities. The Department prioritizes veterans in its delivery of jobseeker and career services. COVID-19 booster and flu vaccinations will also be made available for interested individuals by the Vermont Department of Health at events in Enosburgh and St Albans.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) highlighted the importance of dam removal. Agency of Natural Resources Secretary Julie Moore and other river partners discussed recent dam removal projects in the Rutland area and the importance to Vermonters and visitors. Vermont has over 1,000 dams and the DEC estimates that hundreds no longer serve a useful purpose. Many of these dams degrade water quality and aquatic habitat, restrict the movement of fish and other wildlife, increase maintenance and liability costs, and pose significant risks to public safety. A prime example is Dunklee Pond Dam on Tenney Brook in Rutland City. It was built around 1792 as a linseed oil mill. Later the dam operated as a sawmill and an old ice-pond dam before the advent of electric refrigeration in the 1920s. While the dam had as a history of providing historical and recreational interest, the dam was not safe. In fact, locals recalled having to be evacuated during dangerous weather out of fear the dam would breach and again flood homes.

Vermont Business Magazine Co-owners and developers, Addison County Community Trust (ACCT) and Evernorth, have announced that construction is underway at the $8.6 million Firehouse Apartments which will serve 20 low- and moderate-income households in downtown Bristol. The Firehouse Apartments represents a critical component of a public/private partnership bringing municipal services, business incubation, and mixed-income housing to the growing community of Bristol on the Stoney Hill property. This partnership between the Town of Bristol, private developers, and housing nonprofits ACCT and Evernorth leverages the investments in municipal infrastructure and job creation to serve 20 households in a community where there were previously only nine non-age-restricted affordable housing apartments.

by Dan Yates Not too long ago, we lost a wonderful employee to New Hampshire because she had extended family there and could not find or afford child care in the Brattleboro area. As a long-time employer in Windham County, I’ve seen many employees come and go. A frequently cited reason for leaving? Lack of affordable child care. In Windham County alone, it’s estimated we need to add over 645 child care slots just to meet current demand. That means, across the state there are thousands of families being forced to make difficult choices, like leaving a beloved career or essential paycheck because they don't have a safe, nurturing, affordable place to care for their children. And, in some instances, we’re losing these families – and productive members of our workforce – to our neighboring states.

Vermont Business Magazine The University of Vermont is part of a new regional collaboration to study the climate-related vulnerabilities of mobile home park communities. With funding announced today from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA)’s Climate Adaptation Partnership’s program, the project brings together researchers from the Universities of Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine, as well as all three northern New England State Climatologists. Mobile home communities are an important part of the region’s affordable housing landscape but are more likely to be impacted by risks posed by climate change such as high winds, flooding, and extreme temperatures. Previous research from the University of Vermont found more than 20% of mobile home communities in the state are at least partially located in FEMA-mapped floodplains.

Vermont Business Magazine Casella Waste Systems, Inc (Nasdaq: CWST) published its 2022 Sustainability Report today, outlining the company’s progress toward its sustainability vision, while elevating five key sustainability metrics to the forefront of its strategic goals. Casella’s five key elements to its sustainability strategy include metrics focused on the people who work for the company, the materials the company manages, the operations that manage those materials, the emissions those operations produce, and the communities in which the company operates. For each element, Casella has established a primary metric and a 2030 goal as well as additional factors that will help the company advance its sustainability vision.

Vermont Business Magazine iSun, Inc (NASDAQ: ISUN), a leading solar energy and clean mobility infrastructure company based in Williston has sold 6.1 MWs of solar assets for $1.7 million to Fusion Renewables of South Carolina and executes EPC contracts for $8.3 million to complete the development and installation of those assets.