Current News

Vermont Business Magazine For the first time ever and just in time for fall, Lawson’s Finest Liquids is introducing a Black IPA across the Northeast. Big Hoppy, a 7.5% ABV Black IPA boasting a bold flavor profile, is now available for the first time across the brewery’s nine-state distribution area in the Northeast. Made with huge additions of five hop varieties and seven malts, Big Hoppy is a dark and decadent brew reflecting a resinous, sticky fusion and intense bitterness for the most devoted hopheads. With its potent aromas and bold taste, the beer leads with a roasted flavor profile complemented by its signature bitterness resulting from a potent blend of hops.

Vermont Business Magazine The work to mitigate hunger issues was aided recently by a $38,977 grant from Shaw’s and Star Market’s Foundation Nourishing Neighbors Program that aims to help connect qualified individuals with existing federal meal programs such as SNAP, WIC, P-EBT, and free or reduced school nutrition programs. This funding will allow Hunger Free Vermont (HFVT) to help more kids in Vermont access healthy food. HFVT trains and assists schools and daycares in increasing their average daily participation in the federal school, childcare, afterschool, and summer meals programs as well as empowering their staff to provide information about SNAP and WIC to the families they serve. HFVT’s partner agencies serving older Vermonters will also receive training on the benefits of participation in SNAP and be better prepared to help their clients apply.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont National Guard is hosting an Open House at the 158th Fighter Wing Air Base on September 11, 2022 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. This free event will feature military and civilian aircraft, military vehicles and equipment, flight and driving simulators, demonstrations, and interactive displays from both the Army and Air National Guard.

Vermont Business Magazine Rootstock Publishing, a Vermont-based publisher announces the September 20th release of Uncertain Fruit: A Memoir of Infertility, Loss, and Love by Rebecca and Sallyann Majoya, of Rutland County. In this memoir, lesbian couple Rebecca and Sallyann dream of having a baby together. They try everything from foster care to fertility trials, and after nearly ten years of failed attempts, find an opportunity to participate in a local, private adoption with a teenage mom. Rebecca and Sallyann are overjoyed the first time they hold their newborn son in their arms. They take him home from the hospital and welcome him into their family. But outside forces intervene and the birth mother reclaims the baby, sending the couple into a tailspin.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health reported September 7 that COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations both decreased and are still considered "Low." Total cases for the week decreased by 51 to 494. Hospitalizations fell from 58 to 35 but are still slightly higher than two weeks ago (30). The plurality of cases is of people in their 20s and the highest rate is those 80+. The BA.5 variant has become the predominant variant of COVID-19. There were 19 COVID-related fatalities in August and none so far in September, for a pandemic total of 715.

Vermont Business Magazine The Energy Co-op of Vermont, a fuel oil and home efficiency services cooperative with headquarters in Colchester, Vermont, announced today that Brian Gray will retire as General Manager following the selection of a new General Manager. The Energy Co-op’s Board of Directors has launched a search for a new General Manager. To assure a smooth transition, Brian will remain in his position until a replacement is hired.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, Mayor Miro Weinberger announced that Champlain Housing Trust (CHT) will manage and operate the Elmwood Emergency Shelter Community. The Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity will provide services for the guests. The Shelter, projected to open in November, will play an essential role in addressing homelessness in Burlington. The Elmwood Emergency Shelter Community is comprised of 30 climate-controlled modular shelters; 25 shelters for individuals and five shelters which will accommodate two people.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Public Service (PSD) today announces an extension to the deadline for written public input from stakeholders and ratepayers on the objectives and metrics by which the state should distribute federal funding provided under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). The IIJA creates funding opportunities open to Vermont to facilitate electric grid modernization for the purpose of preventing outages and enhancing the resilience of the electric grid. Section 40101(d) of the IIJA allows for states and Indian tribes to receive grants over a five-year period in an amount consistent with a pre-determined formula—approximately $3 million per year for Vermont—for uses that meet certain criteria.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont electric utilities are alerting renters who are already receiving help through the Vermont Emergency Rental Assistance Program (VERAP) that their payments will be reduced as of October 1, 2022, and no payments will be available past December 31, 2022. Eligible renters who have not yet taken action need to apply now if they are struggling to pay existing and past bills due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This federal grant program has been critical to directly helping renters get through the lingering impacts of the pandemic. The state has announced the last day to apply for assistance through VERAP is currently set for December 31, 2022, and any eligible amounts will only be covered for bills through the end of the year. In addition, on October 1, 2022, assistance will be reduced from 100% to 70% for all VERAP participants including existing renters and new applicants.

Vermont Business Magazine The AO Glass factory behind the Speeder & Earl’s building on Pine Street is one of the South End’s best kept secrets. For the 30 Year Anniversary of ArtHop, AO Glass has forged a stronghold of creative expressions in the art of glass, and are opening their doors to a unique one-weekend-only glass art show. Typically on an average day the factory glass blowers are making things that are dictated by the needs of the lighting companies that AO Glass produces for.

by David Flemming, Policy Analyst, Ethan Allen Institute In 2020, about 20% of Black citizens voted in Vermont’s general election, well short of a Census-estimated 70% of white Vermonters. That’s the second largest gap in the country. Last month, Secretary of State Jim Condos opined that “Ensuring the accuracy of our elections is my No. 1 priority” boasting about “our post-election audit, and to the results certification process.” While I could point to past research which questions why Vermont lags behind the other 49 states on important security procedures, I’d like to highlight how Vermont finds itself with one of the lowest minority voter rates in the country, and could continue to do so for the 2022 election and beyond. Unless something is done.