Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Fairfax School District introduced two zero-emissions Blue Bird school buses to its fleet this school year. The school district’s Blue Bird electric school buses were purchased from the Agency of Natural Resources Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust Fund. This pilot program is managed by the Vermont Energy Investment corporation, which is testing how well electric school buses work in Vermont’s climate and terrain.

Vermont Business Magazine Described as an “idea man,” Paul Percy, an Agri-Mark/Cabot dairy farmer from Stowe, Vermont, was honored last week by the National Council of Farmers Cooperatives with the Farmer Cooperative Director of the Year award. Percy, who retired from Agri-Mark’s Board of Directors in December 2021, has served his fellow farmers on the cooperative’s board for 37 years. He has been a witness to and an influence on nearly every major cooperative decision made during that time, including Agri-Mark’s acquisition of the Cabot brand.

Vermont Business Magazine The Town of Hinesburg worked with the Hinesburg Land Trust, the Vermont Land Trust (VLT), and the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board (VHCB), to purchase 291 acres from the Carse Land Company to expand the existing 834-acre Hinesburg Town Forest today. The resulting 1,125 acres was permanently protected for the enjoyment of community members and visitors. The Hinesburg Town Forest, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, hosts over 15 miles of trails and serves as a popular destination for hiking, biking, hunting, birding, and more.

Vermont Business Magazine US Attorneys Trini E Ross, of the Western District of New York, and Nikolas Kerest, of the District of Vermont, announced today that Lisa Miller, 53, formerly of Virginia, pleaded guilty before US District Judge Richard J Arcara to international parental kidnapping, which carries a maximum penalty of three years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Defendant Miller was in a civil union with Janet Jenkins under Vermont law. Miller was artificially inseminated during the civil union and had a child, IMJ. In 2003, Miller sought termination of the civil union and disputes arose regarding Miller’s and Jenkins' parental rights of IMJ.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health today is reporting 375 cases of COVID-19 for Tuesday, more than double the number from Monday's 158. COVID-related deaths held at 575 statewide. While cases and hospitalizations have been falling, the fatality rate has remained relatively high and has been running about two a day on average. COVID cases have been falling here and across the nation, but the fatality rate has yet to decrease substantially.

Vermont Business Magazine The conflict between Ukraine and Russia made its presence felt Wednesday in parts of South Burlington and Williston. In the early morning of February 16, F-35A Lightning II aircraft from the 34th Fighter Squadron, 388th Fighter Wing, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, departed the Vermont Air National Guard Base in transit to Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany.

​Vermont Business Magazine United Way of Northwest Vermont (UWNWVT), in collaboration with community partners, has launched a new Mental Health Initiative to align existing mental health resources, identify gaps in the system of care, and create a shared agenda as we work together to improve timely access to appropriate mental health services in our communities. Already one of the hardest areas to address, mental health needs have worsened throughout COVID-19. Two years into the pandemic, many people experiencing mental health challenges and the systems designed to help them are at a breaking point.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) today delivered remarks on the floor of the US Senate on the growing wealth of the billionaire class at a time when working people are falling further behind. Today, corporate profits are at an all-time high and CEOs have seen huge increases in their compensation packages. A few examples: At a time when gas prices are higher than they have been in 7 years, guess what? Shock of all shocks, oil company profits are now higher than they have been in over 7 years. In fact, in the last quarter, Exxon Mobil, Chevron, Shell and BP made nearly $25 billion in profits in one quarter. But that’s not all.

​Fifteen cases detected in Rutland incarcerated population

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Corrections is announcing an active outbreak at Marble Valley Regional Correctional Facility (MVRCF) in Rutland, where 15 incarcerated individuals and one staff member have tested positive since February 10. Testing on February 14 returned eight new positive cases, officially confirming the outbreak. The 15 total incarcerated positive cases were detected in three general population units, including 11 positives from one unit.

Vermont Business Magazine The state team examining waits for health appointments released its findings today identifying lengthy wait times for Vermonters accessing certain specialty care. Then-Secretary of the Agency of Human Services Michael Smith announced the probe last fall after Seven Days chronicled long waits for appointments. Wait times were longest for Endocrinology (average 113 days), Neurology (114 days) and Dermatology (140 days). A dermatology appointment could be secured within 11 days or 410 days depending on the practice. The waits were shortest for General Surgery (29 days), Orthopedic Surgery (35 days) and Gynecology (35 days). The report states that long waits for some specialty services existed prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and have likely been exacerbated by staffing shortages, new demands for care, and demand for previously deferred care.

Vermont Business Magazine Decriminalize Vermont, a broad coalition of organizations dedicated to social and economic justice, including criminal justice, drug policy, and law enforcement reform, announced its public launch today. Decriminalize Vermont is working alongside a group of 42 Democratic, Progressive, and Independent state legislators to advance a groundbreaking bill, H.644, that would decriminalize possession of small “personal use” amounts of drugs.

Small Business Administration Vermont An SBA International Trade Loan provides small businesses with enhanced export financing options for export transactions. An ITL can assist small businesses enter and expand into international markets and, when adversely affected by import competition, make the investments necessary to better compete. An ITL offers a combination of fixed asset, working capital financing and debt refinancing. The maximum loan amount is $5,000,000 in total financing and the SBA may guarantee up to 90% of the loan.