Current News

The US EPA has recognized three organizations and/or individuals from Vermont at the 2014 Environmental Merit Awards ceremony. The Vermont awardees were among 26 recipients across New England honored for contributing to improving New England’s environment.

Each year EPA’s New England office recognizes individuals and groups whose work has protected or improved the region’s environment in distinct ways. The merit awards, given out since 1970, honor individuals and groups who have shown particular ingenuity and commitment in their efforts.

“We extend our congratulations and gratitude to this year’s Environmental Merit Award winners, who are helping to ensure a cleaner environment and healthier communities here in New England,” said Curt Spalding, regional administrator of EPA’s New England office. “In addition to iconic natural beauty and vibrant communities, New England is fortunate to have citizens who care deeply about the environment we share.”

Vermont Business Magazine iSun, Inc (NASDAQ: ISUN), a leading solar energy and clean mobility infrastructure company, has announced the execution of a contract totaling 3.2 MW and $3.0 million in Maryland establishing a presence in the PJM market. Williston-based iSun has 50 years of experience accelerating the adoption of innovative electrical technologies.

Vermont Business Magazine Hunters who harvest a deer during Vermont’s October 22 and 23 youth and novice deer weekend are encouraged to bring their deer to one of 19 biological reporting stations to help state wildlife biologists gather data on the health of Vermont’s deer population. Hunters are required to report deer in person at a big game reporting station during youth and novice weekend. Online reporting will not be available. This requirement allows biologists to collect important information from as many deer as possible over the weekend.

Vermont Business Magazine A Vermont program helps farmers and farm-based educators learn how to engage school groups and visitors of all ages, working to connect people with agriculture, nature and their local food systems. From Sunday to Tuesday, October 23-25 at Shelburne Farms, the ABCs of Farm-Based Education Workshop 2022 participants will gather to explore Shelburne Farms’ dairy, farmyard, garden, and forest classrooms as they learn kid-tested activities and ideas on how to engage school groups and visitors of all ages.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) today held student town meetings in Rutland and Bennington to speak with students at Rutland High School and Mount Anthony Union High School. In addition, Sanders made several visits to meet with veterans from the Dodge House, the Bennington Veterans Outreach Center, and the Vermont Veterans’ Home. He also met with health care professionals at the Southwestern Vermont Medical Center in Bennington and the Battenkill Valley Health Center, as well as local officials in both Rutland and Bennington.

Vermont Business Magazine U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Under Secretary Xochitl Torres Small today announced that USDA is awarding $110 million in grants to improve health care facilities in rural towns across the Nation. These grants will help 208 rural health care organizations expand critical services in 43 states and Guam. The investments include $2.31 million for four rural health care organizations in New Hampshire: HealthFirst Family Care Center ($1 million), West Central Behavioral Health ($142,000), Mid-State Health Center ($176,000) and Families Flourish Northeast ($1 million). Also among award recipients is Upper Valley Haven in White River Junction, Vermont ($88,000). In total, USDA has provided $5.83 million in emergency healthcare funding for New Hampshire and Vermont institutions in 2022.

Vermont Business Magazine Kingsbury Companies “Broke Water” on a project in Warren, Vermont earlier this summer installing an inflatable dam on the Mad River. The new dam replaces an existing dam owned and operated by Sugarbush Mountain Resort Inc., supporting seasonal snowmaking operations at Lincoln Peak, that has reached its design life and has been damaged by large storms in the past. The new dam includes modern automated controls assuring water flows support the aquatic life in the Mad River both up and downstream of the location; as well as automatically lowering during periods of high flow to allow for natural stream flows. Kingsbury Companies expects to complete this project by the winter season.

Vermont business Magazine A new study has revealed the states where hotel businesses are making the most revenue each year. As the hospitality industry continues to boom, with the US market currently valued at a staggering $93.07B, new data reveals which US states have the highest earning hotel businesses; making the most annual revenue. HotelTechReport analyzed industry data for each US state, finding that Hawaii hotel businesses make the most revenue overall, with each business raking in $25,811,058 on average per year. Vermont was 12th at $3.4 million.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Community Foundation today announced its Spark Connecting Community grant program has awarded $116,571 to 41 organizations for projects that strengthen community connections. These grants were made possible by the partnership of generous Community Foundation fundholders who contributed through Giving Together, a unique program that shares grant proposals with fundholders and donors to provide an opportunity to co-fund projects throughout the state.

Vermont Business Magazine HQI US Holding LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hydro-Québec, announced today that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Great River Hydro, LLC, which owns 13 hydropower generating stations with a total installed capacity of 589 megawatts along New England's Connecticut and Deerfield rivers in the states of Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Great River Hydro is being sold by affiliates of ArcLight Capital Partners, LLC for a value of approximately US $2 billion. The facilities are located along the Connecticut and Deerfield rivers. Hydro-Québec was already the largest single supplier of electricity to Vermont.