Current News

Vermont Business Magazine A new report confirms what Vermonters already knew. Home values keep going up and the equity in those homes here is going up with it. Vermont ranks second in the nation in "equity-rich" housing. Equity-rich is defined as a loan-to-value ratio of 50 percent or lower, meaning the property owner had at least 50 percent equity. Vermont (64.8 percent) is behind only Idaho (66.7 percent).

by Rob Roper This year, the tri-partisan Legislative Apportionment Board (LAB) recommended that the Vermont legislature re-draw house and senate district boundaries (we do this every ten years following the census) so that there would be 150 single member house districts and 30 single member senate districts. This would be a change from Vermont’s current mishmash of one- and two-member house districts and one-, two-, three- and six-member senate districts.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, the Vermont Senate passed S.30, a gun-safety bill. Senate President Pro Tempore Becca Balint issued the following statement upon passage: “I know Vermonters want sensible gun laws that keep our families safe. S.30 will reduce gun violence, protect victims of domestic violence, and keep guns out of our hospitals.”

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health today is reporting 574 cases of COVID-19 for Wednesday. Cases in Vermont last week plummeted by more than 3,000—a decrease of 40%. In the last two weeks, cases have fallen 56%. However, the VDH today reported three additional deaths for 548. Hospitalizations today were 91 (up 3 from yesterday). The record was 122 on January 19. Health officials have focused on this as a key indicator. They had been running over 100 the last few weeks. ICU stays, which also have been elevated, were 23 (unchanged). The one-day record there was set December 7, 2021, (31). Like deaths, hospitalizations tend to lag case trends either way.

Vermont Business Magazine The Okemo Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce was recently awarded a $30,000 Tourism & Economic Recovery Marketing Grant from the Vermont Department of Economic Development. This region was also awarded a similar grant in 2021. This successful application was the result of a regional collaboration, including support letters & other input, with partners including the communities of Chester, Londonderry, Ludlow & Weathersfield. All 12 core communities in Okemo Valley will benefit from these marketing efforts provided by this award. As the project manager, the chamber will also engage with its 300+ members.

VermontBiz and the Vermont Chamber of Commerce are pleased to announce the top 50 Best Places to Work in Vermont 2022. The awards program was created in 2006 and is presented in partnership with the Society for Human Resource Management, Vermont State Council, (VTSHRM) and the Vermont Department of Commerce and Community Development and Workforce Research Group.

Vermont Business Magazine Burlington-based accounting firm Reconciled has acquired the Tempe-based accounting and tax firm, Accounting Services Group, after raising a $1 million seed funding round led by The Fund at Hula with the participation of private investors in Vermont and Arizona. In addition to the acquisition of ASG, this investment will be used to support Reconciled’s national acquisition strategy of small accounting firms.

Vermont Business Magazine A winter PARKING BAN will go into effect tonight in Burlington at 10pm (this begins at midnight in the downtown core – more info below). Public Works will be deploying all hands on deck to manage the storm. With heavy precipitation forecast overnight, main roads and hills will be the overnight focus. The storm response will continue into Friday.

Vermont Business Magazine The Attorney General’s Consumer Assistance Program (CAP) is reminding Vermonters of their rights under Vermont’s propane laws, as February temperatures continue to stay very cold. The Attorney General’s Office enforces Consumer Protection Rule CP 111, which offers numerous protections to propane consumers, such as the ability to pay for propane in cash, even when you may owe for past deliveries. Last year, CAP, which offers a free mediation service, received 60 complaints related to propane.

Vermont Business Magazine Resonant Link, a Burlington-based developer of a transformational wireless charging technology for medical devices and electric automotive fleets, has raised a $9.3 million seed round, led by The Engine, the venture firm spun out of MIT that invests in early-stage Tough Tech companies. New investor Volta Energy Technologies also participated in the round, alongside previous pre-seed investors including: Emerson Collective, Scout Ventures, Urban Us, and FreshTracks Capital.

VermontBiz Jack Daly is an experienced and inspirational sales trainer and sales coaching expert, who inspires audiences to take action in the areas of sales management, corporate culture, and sales training. He brings 30 plus years of field-proven experience from a starting base with CPA firm Arthur Andersen to the CEO level of several national companies. Jack is a proven CEO/Entrepreneur, having built 6 companies into national firms, two of which he has subsequently sold to the Wall Street firms of Solomon Brothers and First Boston.

Vermont Business Magazine The Fairfield Community Center will be better able to purchase important food staples, like flour, sugar, spices and more, for weekly home-cooked community meals thanks to a recent grant from the Vermont Electric Co-operative’s Community Fund. Other recent grants to local non-profits will support services for seniors, the purchase of a pop-up tent for outdoor recreation, and assistance for veterans.