Current News

Vermont Business Magazine For generations, diner-loving foodies have flocked to the Blue Benn in southwestern Vermont where they can sit at the counter worn down by countless customers, sip on a bottomless cup of coffee, and wisecrack with the waitresses. Even today, despite a change of ownership, the Blue Benn remains a town haunt, prized almost as much for the free-flowing conversations as the mouth-watering food. Now a richly illustrated new book captures the essence of this Bennington landmark. Sonny’s Blue Benn: Feeding the Soul of a Vermont Town documents the history of this legendary diner and the family that created it.

Vermont Business Magazine Feeding America, the nationwide network of 200 food banks, 21 statewide associations and 60,000 partner food pantries and meal programs, has announced the initial grant awards as part of the Food Security Equity Impact Fund. Nearly $10 million was awarded to 25 food banks, partnering with 60 different community-based organizations, to address the root causes of hunger and food insecurity by developing and advocating for change and developing solutions to improve food insecurity and to create a more just food system. Among the recipients is Vermont Foodbank, SUSU CommUNITY Farm, in Barre.

Vermont Business Magazine The Okemo Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce announces all the winners from the recent Best of Vermont Summer Festival in Ludlow, Vermont. The festival organizers also wanted to thank all the sponsors, vendors, performers and attendees. For the Car Show, sponsored by Coldwell Banker Lifestyles Real Estate, the 1st Place Winner was a '57 Saab owned by Bruce Welch who was also awarded a $500 cash prize. The 2nd Place Winner was a '79 Camaro owned by Tom Ciufo who was also awarded an overnight stay at Echo Lake Inn. The 3rd Place Winner was a '69 Jeep owned by Jarrod Jowdy who was also awarded a gift bag from The Vermont Country Store.

Vermont Business Magazine I Heart Mac & Cheese, a South Florida-based fast-casual restaurant concept specializing in customizable, made-to-order macaroni and cheese bowls and grilled cheese sandwiches, announced it will open two locations in Vermont. The fast casual concept has signed a new franchise agreement that will be owned and operated by franchisee Robert Leonard. Leonard has inked a deal for St Albans and Williston slated to open in 2023.

Vermont Business Magazine Lawson’s Finest Liquids is redefining its Super Session series of IPAs, announcing today that the brewery is introducing its first Super Session IPA, featuring multiple hops. Made with a blend of Lotus and Mosaic hops, Lawson's Finest Liquids Super Session will now be available year-round throughout a nine-state distribution area (VT, CT, MA, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI) in the Northeast. Lawson’s Finest Liquids’ Super Session series began with a series of limited, specialty-release beers focused on a singular hop variety, with a lower ABV than many of the brewery’s famed IPAs.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Transportation (AOT) today announced a grant funding opportunity for 2023 municipal highway and stormwater mitigation projects, as part of the Agency’s ongoing commitment to improve the quality of state waters and provide financial assistance to municipalities in these efforts. The enabling legislation that determines eligibility states: Any environmental mitigation activity, including pollution prevention and pollution abatement activities and mitigation to address stormwater management, control, and water pollution prevention or abatement related to highway construction or due to highway runoff.

Five major grants go to women in both STEM and liberal arts fields

Vermont Business Magazine Norwich University announced that three professors have earned Pilot Awards and two have earned Project Awards from the Vermont Biomedical Research Network (VBRN) to support research for 2022-2023.

Vermont Business Magazine Burlington Young Professionals (BYP), a program of the Lake Champlain Chamber, has launched the second edition of the "Greater Burlington Young Professionals Perception Survey”. The survey aims to better understand the challenges and opportunities young professionals see in the greater Burlington area through professional, civic and personal lenses.