Current News

VermontBiz CEOs should increase the frequency of their communication to improve the workplace culture. That’s the top advice from Paylocity CEO Steve Beauchamp, who has led the HR and online payroll company since 2007 as it has grown from 100 employees to more than 4,100 today.

It’s a strategy with which Beauchamp himself has found success: He has been named a Glassdoor Top CEO for five consecutive years, with a 92% approval rating from employees.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont), Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, early Wednesday morning announced that more than $167 million in funding for specific Vermont projects across the state was included in the fiscal year 2022 Omnibus Appropriations bill, which funds the federal government for the rest of this fiscal year. Congress is expected to pass the bill in the coming days. Leahy has headed the arduous Senate negotiations on the Omnibus Appropriations bill for the last several months.

by Cathy Davis Vermont families with children were five times more likely to experience hunger in 2021, according to a survey from the University of Vermont. And as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact income and long-term savings, kids’ nutrition is attended to for many at one place — school. As the pandemic spread, the federal government stepped in with waivers that allowed all children to eat breakfast and lunch at school at no cost to their families. These waivers are set to expire in June, and childhood hunger is still a constant threat for far too many Vermonters. Why are we thinking of taking food away from our kids when they still need it?

Vermont Business Magazine New England Federal Credit Union (NEFCU) is accepting applications for its 2022 Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Scholarships. Three scholarships of $3,000 each will be awarded. To be eligible for NEFCU STEM Scholarships, applicants must be New England Federal Credit Union members.

Vermont Business Magazine On March 4, at approximately 1:30 pm, Vermont game wardens responded to assist with a snowmobile accident on Vermont Association of Snow Travelers (VAST) Trail 102A in Lewis, Vermont. Game wardens were joined at the scene by Brighton Fire and Rescue and 45th Parallel Emergency Medical Services. They were advised that the male snowmobiler who crashed did not have feeling in his legs and would need to be extricated. Preliminary investigation suggests that 55-year-old John Maroney of Watertown, CT was found by his riding partner immobile and face down in a stream, complaining of neck pain.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health today is reporting 48 cases of COVID-19 for Monday, down from Monday's 57 (Saturday 95 and Friday 131). The 7-day case average is 140 (see modeling update below). Hospitalizations and ICU stays have fallen dramatically the last few weeks. The new statewide COVID health guidance will begin on March 14, meaning for the general public and in school, mask wearing will be up to individual discretion. Businesses could still decide to require them.

Vermont Business Magazine The Administrative Council of the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Program recently approved $5.8 million[VG1] in funding to support 62 projects to conduct applied research, farmer education and farm advisor training to strengthen sustainable agriculture throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. This includes more than $1 million in Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine A collaboration between the Addison County Economic Development Corporation, Addison County Chamber of Commerce, Better Middlebury Partnership, Vergennes Partnership, and Bristol CORE has received a $30,000 grant from the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development, Department of Tourism and Marketing, for regional marketing. These funds were awarded to the State of Vermont through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and have been distributed to 22 grantees across the state.

Proposal would send a $250 rebate check to Vermont property taxpayers using half of the $90 million Education Fund surplus

Vermont Business Magazine At his weekly media briefing, Governor Phil Scott called on legislators to support his proposal to return half of the more than $90 million Education Fund surplus to Vermont taxpayers and dedicate the other half to strengthen Vermont’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) system. The governor’s tax proposal, if supported by the Legislature, would return about $250 - $275 to Vermont residential property taxpayers through a rebate check, issued this summer. Each taxpayer would get the same amount regardless of property value for the sake of simplicity, he said.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Working Lands Enterprise Fund has awarded a FY 22 Service Provider grant to the Vermont Grape and Wine Council, as part of nearly $1 million in grants statewide. The grant underwrites the development and submission of a petition to the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) to create an American Viticulture Area (AVA) for the Champlain Valley of Vermont. These federally recognized viticulture areas identify grape and wine regions with unique characteristics and enable wine makers to label their wines to reflect these exceptional areas.

Vermont Business Magazine TD Charitable Foundation, the charitable giving arm of TD Bank today awarded a total of $5.8 million through the 16th annual Housing for Everyone grant program. The TD Charitable Foundation selected 33 non-profit organizations across TD Bank's footprint to receive Housing for Everyone grants ranging from $150,000 to $250,000. In Vermont, the Champlain Housing Trust received $150,000 and the Downstreet Housing & Community Development, Inc received $175,000.

Vermont Business Magazine On March 24th the Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation will begin a new workshop series for small businesses designed to increase financial acumen. Join BDCC’s Business Technical Assistance Provider, Eyad Salha, for training sessions designed to help small business owners navigate today’s financial challenges. The workshops will provide practical tools, resources and steps to help your financial expertise.