Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Quechee Hot Air Balloon Craft and Music Festival, the longest running hot air balloon festival in New England, will celebrate its 42nd anniversary in 2022 when thousands are expected to flock to central Vermont, June 17 - 19, 2022 (Father’s Day weekend). Twenty balloonists headline the event with five flights slated throughout the weekend and additional tethered rides during the day. Attendees can visit with 50 craft vendors, indulge in a variety of fare from 16 food vendors and sit back and enjoy dozens of entertainers for all ages, over the three-day extravaganza. Children’s activities include Bubble Machines, Rock Climbing wall, Bounce House and more. A variety of festival favorites and new food offerings with local healthy options and a beer and wine garden are planned.

Vermont Business Magazine HGTV has announced the winner of the HGTV Dream Home 2022 is Karey Wolstenholm of Overland Park, Kansas. The prize package is valued at over $2.4 million and includes the brand-new approximately 3,090-square-foot home, consisting of three bedrooms and three-and-a-half bathrooms, as well as all of its furnishings. The prize package also includes an All-New 2022 Grand Wagoneer and $250,000 from Rocket Mortgage. The home in Warren, Vermont, was designed by Dylan Eastman, constructed by builder Big Country Built with interior design by Brian Patrick Flynn.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine While refunds kept the vital personal income tax from posting an even stronger month, corporate, gasoline and rooms and meals taxes pushed monthly state revenues well ahead of targets for March. Secretary of Administration Kristin Clouser today released monthly and YTD tax revenue collections. They show the General Fund, Transportation Fund, and Education Fund receipts were a combined $239.9 million, or 8.9%, above upwardly revised monthly consensus expectations.

Vermont Business Magazine The executive director of Vermont Legal Aid (VLA), Eric Avildsen, will retire at the end of October 2022. Avildsen has been executive director since 1988, when he moved to Vermont from Massachusetts. Under his direction, the size of staff and breadth of legal work undertaken has increased significantly. And VLA now has a staff of 89, organized into 11 projects and has an annual budget of over $9.5 million dollars.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health today is reporting 331 cases of COVID-19 for Thursday (341 Wednesday, 332 Tuesday,151 Monday, 150 Sunday, 261 Saturday, 313 Friday, 263 Thursday, and 327 Wednesday.) The VDH reported three additional deaths, for 629 statewide. April, with 8 to date, but is still on track to have the fewest COVID-related fatalities since last July. Hospitalizations have been elevated in April and today were 57 (up 7).

Vermont Business Magazine Ledyard Financial Group (Ticker Symbol: LFGP) announced a regular quarterly dividend of $0.21 payable May 27, 2022, to shareholders of record as of May 13, 2022. Ledyard Financial Group, Inc., headquartered in Hanover, New Hampshire, is the holding company for Ledyard National Bank. Ledyard National Bank, founded in 1991, is a full service community bank offering a broad range of banking, investment, and wealth management services.

Vermont Business Magazine As part of its Earth Day celebrations, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) New England regional office is now accepting nominations to recognize New England people, organizations, government entities or businesses for environmental achievements during the past year. EPA New England will accept nominations for the 2022 Environmental Merit Awards until Monday, May 16, 2022.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Senate has approved an $8 billion budget that includes a significant investment for advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) in public power communities. The budget passed the Senate on Wednesday, April 20, 2022. In March, House lawmakers recognized a need for AMI funding for municipal and cooperative electric utilities. The House passed its version of the budget bill with $5 million in one-time funding from the General Fund appropriated to AMI. The Senate Appropriations Committee then provided unanimous support for an additional $3 million in funding, for a total $8 million towards the affordable, equitable implementation of AMI in Vermont’s rural communities.

Vermont Business Magazine Howard Center will host a job fair on Wednesday, April 27 from 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm at the McClure Gymnasium located at 1138 Pine St. in Burlington. We have a variety of positions available in several departments including facilities, school programs, residential, long-term supports and services, information management, crisis, and more. Visitors who attend the job fair will have the opportunity to talk with Howard Center’s experienced staff, learn first-hand about our organization’s unique and rewarding career opportunities, and win raffle prizes for stopping by the event.

​Vermont Business Magazine In celebration of Earth Day (today, April 22) and to encourage more Vermonters to take steps to use less energy in their homes, Efficiency Vermont is offering free Energy Savings Kits to its customers. Energy efficiency is the most cost-effective way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The kits contain easy-to-install energy saving measures, and for a limited time also include wildflower seed packets from American Meadows for customers to support pollinator habitat around their homes.

Vermont Business Magazine Peregrine Design/Build is excited to announce that Jillian Bartolo and Griffin Allen, two long-time employees, will be taking over ownership of the company upon Tim Frost’s retirement in 2024. Collectively, Jillian and Griffin bring 20+ years of design & construction experience to this leadership role. For over 32 years, Tim has instilled a strong, family-like culture at Peregrine that is upheld by its dedicated, long-time employees. With such a solid personnel foundation, Tim knew it was important that this new leadership come from within the company.

by Frederick Weston Two years ago, Vermont adopted the Global Warming Solutions Act and committed to reducing our carbon emissions 80% by 2050. The Act isn’t just another dreamy plan: it set near-term targets that must be met if we’re to achieve these legally binding requirements in the least economically disruptive and most beneficial ways for Vermonters. By 2030—a mere eight years from now—the state must reduce its total state greenhouse gas emissions—primarily carbon dioxide—by 40% below 1990 levels—and it should do so while saving Vermonters money.