Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Maximus (NYSE: MMS), a leading employer and provider of government services worldwide, today announced that the Maximus Foundation will award more than $2 million in grants to 167 nonprofit organizations across the United States this year to fund its three key themes for giving in 2022: community development, youth development, and healthcare services. This marks an increase from 2021, when the Foundation awarded roughly $1.2 million in grants to 154 nonprofit organizations and the highest level of giving in the Foundation’s 22-year history. Vermont was given a total of $20k in grants.

Vermont Business Magazine Norwich University will receive $75,000 – $15,000 per year for five years – from the Pritzker Military Foundation, to help fund new, diverse student activities. This gift continues about 20 years of student life support from PMF. The partnership provides valuable startup funding, assisting with operating expenses and events for a broad range of new activities. The funding supports non-athletic organizations with annual budgets of $3,000 or less. Each year, the Student Life Grant Fund Committee, chaired by the student clubs coordinator, typically receives 17-20 applications, of which 10-12 receive funding.

​Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott announced today that the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) has awarded $1 million in grant funds to subsidize the cost of purchasing and installing electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at multiunit properties to provide residents with at-home charging access. The Multiunit Dwelling Electric Vehicles Supply Equipment (EVSE) Grant Program was a pilot program to gauge interest and reduce financial barriers to EV ownership. The program’s pilot focused on affordable and non-profit multiunit housing providers. The first round of awarded projects will result in 84 new Level 2 charging ports at 37 locations across eight counties, reducing the at-home charging access barrier to EV ownership for 6,230 homes in affordable multifamily buildings.

Vermont Agency of Agriculture Food & Markets The Intervale Center has been delivering business planning and coaching services to farmers statewide for over 15 years. They provide free, in-depth, personalized support to farmers and value-added food business owners. This service helps them develop the business management skills necessary to meet their personal and financial goals. Working with farmers in any stage of business development, the Intervale Center strives to understand the farmer's financials, help develop their business management systems, and achieve long-term goals.

Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) Being a dairy farmer in Vermont is not an easy life. The work is hard, the hours are long, and cows don't take weekends off. It's a seven day a week operation.
For Vermont farmers, milking cows is not only a source of income. It's a way of life. It's a love of the land. It's an attachment to a farm that, in many cases, has been handed down generation after generation. We thank Vermont farmers not only for providing us with high-quality, locally produced milk, but for helping us keep Vermont as one of the most beautiful states in the country. Agriculture not only remains a very important part of the Vermont economy, but it is also a key component to tourism, another economic engine for the state.

Vermont Business Magazine On Friday afternoon, July 22, 2022, Governor Scott joined the Vermont Congressional Delegation, the Vermont Community Broadband Board (VCBB), and several CUDs to announce an additional $48.8M in broadband construction grant awards. This will bring the total investment in broadband buildout in Vermont to nearly $100M since the launch of the VCBB in August 2021.

by Candy Moot Renewable Energy Vermont (REV) is promoting more wind energy to be built in Vermont. They are calling for “responsibly sited wind projects.” What does that mean? When residents of Morgan learned that industrial wind developer David Blittersdorf bought land on a ridgeline overlooking Seymour Lake, some of us wanted to learn more about what happened in other areas of the state where wind projects were built.

by Christine McGowan, Vermont Forest Industry Network Dave Nelson is on a mission to bring sauna culture to the United States. With his partner, Nicole Sweeney, Nelson founded SAVU in Cambridge, Vermont with the construction of a contemporary sauna nestled in the woods overlooking Smugglers’ Notch. Saunas, also known as sweat baths, have been used for centuries to promote healing—a practice Nelson began to explore as a competitive athlete. But, he says, most sauna experiences are culturally specific, with nods to Turkish, Russian, and Japanese roots, and typically communal, which can be intimidating to the uninitiated.

Vermont Agency of Transportation This weekly report is a list of planned construction activities that will have traffic impacts on state highways throughout Vermont. Please remember to drive safely in all work zones. Lives depend on it.

Interstates

I-89 Brookfield – Montpelier – A resurfacing project continues in the southbound lanes between Exits 5 and 8. Nightwork and ramp closures at the Exit 6 on and off ramps will occur 07/24 – 07/25.

I-89 Richmond – A culvert repair project is underway. Motorists will encounter a one-mile-long lane closure in both travel directions just south of Exit 11 as southbound traffic is merged to the northbound lane using a crossover. Please pay attention to signage in the area and merge early.

Vermont Business Magazine Two of the most pressing issues of the day – climate change and justice reform – will be discussed when Vermont Law and Graduate School (VLGS) hosts a US House Democratic Primary candidate forum on Monday, July 25. The in-person event is open to the public and will take place at the school’s Chase Center from 6 to 7:30 pm. It will be livestreamed at vermontlaw.edu/live. Candidates Becca Balint and Molly Gray are expected to participate.

by Daniel M French, Vermont Secretary of Education For the last two years, we have endured an incredibly challenging time with the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has impacted all aspects of our society including our PreK-12 education system. During the pandemic, Vermont’s education system was asked to do things it was never designed to do, like providing childcare, using school buses to deliver student meals, toggling between in-person and remote learning, and managing complex public health mitigation strategies like vaccination clinics and rapid testing programs. And throughout the pandemic, our education system rose to the occasion and kept our schools open and safe. The work of our school employees has been heroic, inspiring, and in the highest tradition of public service. They deserve our gratitude and our respect for stepping up in a very challenging moment.

Vermont Business Magazine State tax revenues exceed targets again; State drops charges against Alex Choi, fourth man in EB-5 fraud case; Vermont’s ski Industry reports 6.5% rebound; Vermont employers to see unemployment insurance tax relief; Scott outlines new workforce initiatives to fill available jobs; Record high maple syrup production in Vermont in 2022; VLS to change name, become graduate institution, gets $8 million gift; Champlain College receives $1 million donation; UVM gets $5.5 million to launch integrative health center; Governor Scott appoints Susanne Young Attorney General of Vermont.