Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Average gasoline prices in Vermont rose 1 cent in the last week, after falling the last few months. US prices already were on the rise and OPEC+ is planning to cut production, which is expected to raise petroleum prices. As of today, the Vermont average for gasoline is $3.66, which is 26 cents per gallon lower than last month and 52 cents higher than a year ago.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont businesses have fantastic year at the region’s biggest fair: The Big E. When the 2022 Big E ended on Sunday October 2nd, preliminary sales totaled $1.7 million dollars. The 17-day event invited visitors from New England and beyond to come experience a taste of our region’s businesses, food, agriculture, and products. The Vermont Building once again hosted many great businesses from the Green Mountain State, providing a wonderful, historic venue for a great year. This year brought a return to pre-pandemic activity across the fairgrounds and in the Vermont Building. Total attendance at the Big E this year reached 1,603,354 million visitors, second only to 2019. Twenty-three Vermont vendors welcomed those who visited the Vermont Building. Harvest New England Day on September 30^th increased that number to thirty-one.

Vermont Business Magazine It was announced today that the Black River Innovation Campus (BRIC) and the Chamber & Economic Development of the Rutland Region (CEDRR) were awarded grants via the US Economic Development Administration Build to Scale (B2S) program. The two grants represent $4.5 million to support innovation in rural communities. BRIC and CEDRR received Venture Challenge grants of $3 million and $1.5 million, respectively, to fund innovation hubs in central Vermont. BRIC, based in Springfield, will partner with the Green Mountain Economic Development Corporation (GMEDC) to scale its programming and expand its reach to a second location in Randolph, while CEDRR will use its funds to launch Rutland’s Tech Startup Incubator.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Retail and Grocers Association presented Representative Peter Welch with a Hero of Main Street award October 5 at Bailey Road in Montpelier. The Hero of Main Street award was created by the National Retail Federation in 2013 to recognize legislators that have taken key votes and sponsored bills that advance retailer’s priorities.

Vermont Business Magazine iSun, Inc (NASDAQ: ISUN), a Williston-based leading solar energy and clean mobility infrastructure company with 50-years of experience accelerating the adoption of innovative electrical technologies, on Tuesday announced execution of three contracts totaling $9.3 million and 12.1 MW in Maine establishing a relationship with a new customer.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) has announced this year’s Sally Laughlin Award recipient, Steve Parren. The Sally Laughlin Award for the Conservation of Endangered and Threatened Species is selected annually by the Agency of Natural Resources Secretary based on recommendations from Vermont’s Endangered Species Committee. The award is given to a person who has shown leadership in advancing knowledge, understanding and conservation of endangered and threatened species and their habitats in Vermont.

by John McClaughry Last week I went on a journey of exploration into the exciting world of climate change activism. My entrance portal was the Fiftieth Anniversary Celebration of the Vermont Public Interest Research Group. VPIRG has blossomed into a political action juggernaut with aggressive leadership, thousands of contributors, unquestioning media support, and a $2 million annual budget.

Vermont Business Magazine Casella Waste Systems, Inc (NASDAQ: CWST), a Rutland-based regional solid waste, recycling, and resource management services company, in partnership with TerraCycle, a New Jersey-based recycling company that specializes in hard-to-recycle materials, have launched TerraCycle Pouch by Casella. Through this pilot program, households and businesses in and around Burlington can subscribe to the service for a wide array of items that are not accepted in curbside recycling bins. Materials accepted through the service include coffee capsules, cosmetic packaging, eyewear, office supplies, pet food packaging, toys, and various types of plastic packaging.

The Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD) announces the call for Climate Economy Resilient Communities participants for 2023. Community leaders and volunteers submit a simple online application by November 7 to be considered. VCRD’s Climate Economy Resilient Communities (formerly known as Climate Economy Model Communities) will support three to five communities per year that are working on local climate action solutions. The change reflects new opportunities to work within more communities and for each to self-identify the area of support needed to move projects forward. Through this program, VCRD will provide assistance to communities to make strong forward movements toward a community engagement process, communication outreach planning, strategic planning, technical assistance, and/or project implementation.

Vermont Business Magazine For the second year in a row, socially responsible investment firm Greenvest has been named a Best for the World™ B Corp™ in 2022 in recognition of its exceptional positive impact for its customers. Specializing in clean impact investment management for individuals, Trusts and employee retirement plans, Greenvest’s main offices are located in Vermont – Montpelier and Wells – with additional offices in the Boston and San Francisco Bay areas.

Vermont Business Magazine On Tuesday, students, school staff, and the Vermont Farm to School and Early Childhood Network gathered at Crossett Brook Middle School in Duxbury to thank United States Senator Patrick Leahy for his leadership and commitment to the farm to school movement that has expanded nationwide. The day included a presentation of student projects, a school garden tour, a visit to the school’s chicken coop, and a delicious school lunch featuring foods from Vermont producers! Some of the producers selling to the school—Green Mountain Harvest, Red Hen Bakery, Vermont Bean Crafters, and Roscioli Foods—joined the students in thanking Senator Leahy.

Vermont Business Magazine The majority of New England continues to experience drought into the fall, and the US Geological Survey is helping monitor conditions to inform those impacted and provide officials with near-real time updates for drought mitigation decisions. The USGS conducts real-time monitoring of the nation’s rivers and streams and collects continuous groundwater data. A few areas of New England have been in drought since last year, and a portion of all six states were in drought by this June. This spring and summer, several states experienced severe or extreme drought.