Current News

Vermont Business Magazine As of July 1, 2022, Allison Hooper will serve as chair of the Sterling College Board of Trustees, following Peter Chehayl who has held the position since 2017. Allison was first elected to the board in 2014 and has served as both an at-large member and vice chair. Allison made her mark as one of the first artisan cheesemakers in the country, co-founding Vermont Butter & Cheese Co. (now Vermont Creamery) in 1984, and, over the years, winning more than 100 awards and bringing French-style cheeses, butter, and other everyday delicacies to the American table. As president of the American Cheese Society from 2005 to 2008 and the founding president of the Vermont Cheese Council, Allison has been a voice for and mentor to U.S. cheesemakers. In 2015, she was named by Food & Wine, Forbes, and Fortune magazines as one of the “most innovative women in food and drink.” In 2018 she was named to the James Beard Foundation’s Who’s Who of Food and Beverage in America.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Department of Corrections (DOC) Commissioner Nicholas Deml issued a statement following the arrest of Northeast Correctional Complex (NECC) Correctional Officer I Michael Baker Monday on charges of First Degree Aggravated Domestic Assault; Aggravated Sexual Assault; Interference with Access to Emergency Services; and Offense Committed within the Presence of a Child.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Arts Council Executive Director Karen Mittelman has announced she will depart at the end of October. Since joining the Council in 2017, Mittelman has enhanced the Council’s visibility and impact throughout the state, forging new strategic partnerships as well as important alliances with Vermont Humanities and the Vermont Community Foundation. Additionally, the Council’s investment in Vermont artists and cultural organizations has substantially increased during Mittelman’s tenure, more than doubling the number and amount of grants awarded to artists annually and increasing the scope and size of awards to organizations.

Vermont Business Magazine The investigation into this morning’s discovery of a body in Brattleboro remains in its early stages. The Vermont State Police has been able to preliminarily identify the victim as Mary Anderson, a 23-year-old woman from the town of Harvard, Massachusetts, who had been reported missing over the weekend. Brattleboro police located her body inside her truck, which had been sought as part of the missing-persons investigation. Police are looking to locate and speak with Matthew Davis, 34, of Fitchburg, Massachusetts, who may have information relevant to this ongoing investigation.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott and the Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD) today announced the second wave of approved grant applications to support community recovery and revitalization through the Capital Investment Program (CIP). The program aims to strengthen communities by reversing the harm caused by the COVID-19 pandemic through assistance with capital investments that will help businesses to recover, retain existing jobs and spur economic growth. This second round of 12 approved applicants, following a multi-step evaluation and approval process, grants $3.5 million to projects in six counties across multiple sectors including education, outdoor recreation, childcare, healthcare, arts and culture, and housing.

Vermont Business Magazine Burlington Electric Department (BED) issued a peak alert for Wednesday, July 20 from 5:00-8:00pm as part of its Defeat the Peak program), encouraging members of the Burlington community to reduce their energy usage. Burlingtonians can lend a hand by taking the following steps on what is projected to be an unusually hot summer day: Raise thermostat temperatures or turn off air conditioners between the hours of 5:00 and 8:00pm before returning air conditioners to cooler settings; Wait until after 8:00pm or later to use washing machines, clothing dryers, dishwashers, and other appliances; Turn off non-essential lights until 8:00pm or later; Avoid charging electric vehicles until after 8:00pm (or until 10:00pm if you are on BED’s special off-peak charging rate); and Delay other discretionary electric consumption until after 8:00pm.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Electric Cooperative (VEC) is encouraging members to conserve electricity tomorrow evening (Wednesday) and Thursday evening as demand for electricity across New England is expected to spike because of high temperatures. Specifically, VEC asks members to conserve electricity both evenings from 5-10 pm.

Vermont Business Magazine The Burlington City Council gave unanimous approval Monday night to a 75-year lease between the Burlington International Airport and BETA Technologies to help ensure that the innovative, electric aviation company remains a vibrant part of the region’s economy for the long term. The agreement will enable BETA to construct and operate a 355,000-square-foot building on airport property to design, produce and assemble electric aircraft. BETA currently employs more than 300 people at its BTV facility, in high-paying positions. BETA also manages a robust internship program, collaborating with local educational institutions, to provide students with work-study opportunities; and is currently seeking to fill another 50 full-time positions. BETA projects hiring hundreds of additional employees and interns, as it brings the planned production facility at BTV online in 2023.

Vermont Business Magazine On Monday night, Mayor Miro Weinberger announced the successful negotiation of contracts with the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME); the contract was ratified in a unanimous vote by the City Council during its July 18 meeting. The Council ratified a four-year International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) contract on June 27. The four-year contract with AFSCME includes a new paid family leave policy, making Burlington the first municipality in Vermont to offer paid family leave to its employees.

Vermont Business Magazine Chimney, a leader in financial guidance for the digital age, today announced partnerships with three credit unions, including NorthCountry Federal Credit Union. Chimney’s award-winning digital tools and modern financial calculators enable credit unions to provide tailored financial guidance for their members while increasing qualified conversions across digital channels.

​Vermont Business Magazine At Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont, our mission is to help you and your family live happier, healthier lives. We recognize that dental health is an important part of your overall health and well-being. We are proud to now offer Vermont Blue Dental, comprehensive dental plans, and coverage, to large employer groups.

by Michael Del Trecco, Interim President and CEO, VAHHS As I write this, we are in the middle of one of the most beautiful Vermont summers I can remember. The weather seems to be perfect every weekend, giving those who work weekdays time to enjoy beaches, rivers, trails and creemees. Hospital workers don’t necessarily break on the weekends, however, and right now, our hospitals are quite busy. Emergency departments are seeing the fallout from recreational mishaps; people who have put off care due to COVID are now receiving it—often requiring higher levels of care—and the ranks of our health care workers are shrinking, leaving the remaining staff with ever-growing caseloads.