Current News

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Yes, there are questions about all the Class A office space left begging as workers left their cubicles and likely will never come back in full, and likewise with the pandemic escapees who gobbled up second homes here “site-unseen,” and about CityPlace, the vacant downtown Burlington mall, and about the ARPA infrastructure funds and how that will be spent on roads, bridges, and wastewater projects. But the central question in the construction industry is on housing and where it’s going to be built, if it’s built at all, and if everyone agrees it should be built and can further agree on where, and whether that effort will be bogged down by too few workers, too much inflation, too little supply, or too much politicking. Then maybe there will be enough housing for every income level.

The Vermont Agency of Transportation has provided the following list of upcoming highway and related projects. Some are major interstate and bridge works and others are rail crossing upgrades and landscaping mitigation projects.

​Vermont Business Magazine Two Vermont brewers have cracked the Top 50 Craft Brewers in the nation. Long Trail from Bridgewater Corners was ranked 36th (and 45th among all breweries) and Fiddlehead from Shelburne was ranked 49th. Boston-based Harpoon, with a plant and tasting room in Windsor, was ranked 21st. The Brewers Association (BA)—the trade association representing small and independent1 American craft brewers—released its annual production figures for the US craft brewing industry last Tuesday. In 2021, small and independent brewers collectively produced 24.8 million barrels of beer and realized 8% growth3, increasing craft’s overall beer market share by volume to 13.1%, up from 12.2% the previous year.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports is pleased to announce the 39th annual Vermont Corporate Cup Challenge and State Agency Race, presented by Union Mutual Insurance Company. The event will take place in-person in Montpelier on May 19 and virtually May 19 through July 31. “We are grateful for Union Mutual’s financial backing for this signature Vermont event that raises funds for Vermonters’ physical fitness initiatives. We are thrilled to host an in-person event along with a virtual option," said Janet Franz, Council chairperson.

​Leonine Public Affairs A debate earlier in the year about whether to switch to single-member legislative districts in the House was officially put to rest when Governor Phil Scott signed the redistricting bill, H.722, into law. The bill will see the state continuing to use multi-member districts for the next decade. Redistricting is a decennial process using census data to ensure Vermont remains in compliance with the U.S. Supreme Court’s one-vote per person standard. The bill reapportions Vermont’s 180 legislators based on the state’s changing demographics. Under the new Senate map, the Northeast Kingdom will lose one senator to Chittenden County. Changes to the House map are more extensive, but are not expected to significantly change the political makeup of the chamber.

​Vermont Business Magazine Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) this week sent a letter to interns, residents and fellows of the University of Vermont Medical Center (UVMMC) in support of their efforts to form a union. Sanders recently met with UVMMC residents who shared with him how organizing a union would lead not only to decent wages and better working conditions, but also to improved care for their patients.

Vermont Business Magazine The Green Mountain State is gearing up for a forecasted $225 million legal cannabis market by 2025, and the state’s control board launched the licensing process for small cultivators just last Friday. The Headies, Heady Vermont’s signature grower’s cup, offers a unique intersection of craft-grown talent and market-ready consumers at a pivotal moment for the state’s cannabis industry. The mission of The Headies, taking place April 16 in Essex Junction, Vermont, is to showcase and celebrate Vermont’s most talented cannabis cultivators and product makers.

Vermont Business Magazine Many Vermonters experienced isolation, stress and other impacts on mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. They may also have increased the amount of alcohol they drink. During National Alcohol Awareness Month this April, the Health Department is asking Vermonters to reflect on changes in their drinking habits over the past two years and seek out the readily available help and supports if they need it.

Vermont Business Magazine With the unfortunate discovery of a deceased bald eagle in North Hero and one ill bald eagle in Shelburne on March 29, Vermont joined 33 other states across the country in detecting highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in the environment. The bald eagles were found near Lake Champlain in both towns. Sampling was conducted by USDA Wildlife Services and tests were conducted for presence of HPAI at the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa. The discovery reinforces the important public message of awareness and vigilance for poultry owners, farmers, and hunters and outdoors recreationists to not only report sick and dead birds, but to recognize the dangers of HPAI to our small backyard poultry owners and commercial operators.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine As the Legislature enters the long stretch drive to the end of the biennium, likely in mid-May, Governor Scott and his administration are ramping up pressure on the Legislature to pass his big initiatives. This includes Scott's $100 million economic package. The House has passed its version of the $8.1 billion budget and it's now in the hands of the Senate. However, the House did not include any of the governor's economic package in its version, leaving it up to the Senate. The governor not only took issue with that this week, he noted that even if the Senate were to add in some or all of his package, it would mean some other programs would have to be cut (or taxes increased) to balance the budget.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health today is reporting 243 cases of COVID-19 for Thursday (216 Wednesday, 219 Tuesday, 150 Monday, 43 Sunday, 141 Saturday, 168 Friday, 158 Thursday, 171 last Wednesday.) The VDH reported no additional deaths again today for 620 statewide. COVID-related fatalities in March (16) were the fewest since last July (2). The official report attributes no April deaths so far. Hospitalizations today were 30 (up 4). The record was 122 on January 19. Health officials have focused on this as a key indicator. They had been running over 100 in early February.

Vermont Business Magazine This Saturday, April 9 at the Doubletree (former Sheraton by Exit 14), Saint Michael’s Fire & Rescue simultaneously will be celebrating its 50th, 51st and 52nd annual banquets starting at 6 p.m. SMFR Fire Chief John Keating '17 explains that because of the pandemic, both the planned major 50th anniversary banquet scheduled for two years ago, and the following years had to be canceled, so organizers are rolling them all into one this year.