Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Mad River Valley has been chosen as the location for HGTV Dream Home 2022 with help from Vermont Real Estate Company owner-broker, Kara Koptiuch, and Sugarbush Real Estate's Cindy Carr. Vermont Real Estate Company's Kara Koptiuch had previously worked with HGTV in 2017-2018 when they were scouting for a waterfront home on Lake Champlain to create the DIY Network Ultimate Retreat 2018. After visiting several properties, Kara and the network agreed, they had found the perfect Colchester property to renovate into a gorgeous lakefront home.

Vermont Business Magazine A new company called Troove has entered the higher education arena with the goal of making college search and admissions more efficient and accessible. Troove helps applicants find their ideal fit, in and out of the classroom, by engaging alumni and current college students in the search process for the first time. Troove is powered by AI technology that gathers, mines and decodes experience data for any school to align with the values, abilities, priorities and ambitions of the students entering the admissions process.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health on Friday reported a new daily record of 740 cases of COVID-19, nearly 300 more than Thursday (467). The previous record of 643 cases of COVID-19 was set this past Sunday. All of the highest case counts since the beginning of the pandemic have occurred since November 3, 2021. Hospitalizations fell back to 78 (down nine) after breaking its one-day record Wednesday with 92 statewide. ICU stays, which also have been elevated, are 24 (up one). The one-day record there was set on Tuesday (31). Cases Friday were especially high in Windsor (99) and Rutland (90) counties.

Vermont Business Magazine Green Mountain Power (GMP) filed its 2021 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) with the Vermont Public Utility Commission (PUC) this afternoon, a report that is updated every three years. The IRP is a roadmap as GMP continues its work to strengthen the greater grid to increase resiliency for Vermont communities, while driving down costs and enabling more cost-effective local renewable power. Leveraging innovation to empower customers and communities through this greater grid also drives down costs for all customers. GMP’s energy storage network provides added backup power for residents, businesses, and communities and in 2020 alone, reduced more than $3 million in costs for all GMP customers.

Vermont Business Magazine On Friday, US Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), Chair of the Senate Finance Committee, U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and 42 of their Senate Democratic colleagues sent a letter to Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen and Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service Charles Rettig calling for the Biden Administration to revise current guidance that has led to members of the LGBTQIA+ community being denied pension survivor benefits after losing their life partner.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced the award of $2.6 million to towns, state agencies, and non-profits in Vermont to reduce the future public safety and water quality impacts of climate-related flood hazards. The projects, funded under the Flood Resilient Community Fund program, will improve the landscape, enhance community resilience to flooding, and improve water quality in Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine Nikolas P Kerest has taken the oath of office to become the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont. Kerest was nominated by President Joseph Biden on September 28, 2021 and confirmed by the US Senate on December 7, 2021. This afternoon, he took the oath of office from Chief United States District Court Judge Geoffrey W Crawford.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott and Health Commissioner Mark Levine, MD, are encouraging Vermonters to “Boost Up VT” this holiday season and through the winter by finding a booster clinic near you, including new walk-in opportunities. Vermont has the highest percentage of people 18 and older with a booster dose, at 42 percent, according to the CDC. However, today Vermont also set a one-day record for new COVID-19 cases with 740.

Vermont Business Magazine This morning, the Burlington Police Department enforced the trespass notice and removed six individuals who were camping at the Sears Lane encampment. City social workers were on site this morning to engage the individuals at the site, and the City and non-profit partners will continue to offer housing, food, and transportation assistance to these individuals. One person who refused to leave voluntarily and one person with multiple outstanding warrants were taken into custody. One protestor attempting to chain themselves to a Public Works vehicle was also taken into custody.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont’s Pico Mountain, part of the POWDR adventure lifestyle company, will kick off the 2021-22 winter season at 8:30 am on Saturday, December 11, 2021. As part of Pico Mountain’s PlayForever initiative, up to $20 of every ticket sold on Saturday and Sunday of opening weekend will be donated to the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health on Thursday reported 467 cases of COVID-19 (up 63 from yesterday). Hospitalizations fell back to 87 after breaking its one-day record Wednesday with 92 statewide. ICU stays, which also have been elevated, fell by five to 23 statewide. The one-day record there was set on Tuesday (31). The VDH also today reported one additional COVID-related death, which stand at 426 statewide.

Vermont Business Magazine The Securities Division of the Vermont Department of Financial Regulation today announced the adoption of Vermont Securities Regulations (S-2016-01) amended effective on December 16, 2021, which requires both state-registered and federal covered investment adviser representatives to complete annual continuing education requirements. Investment adviser representatives play an important role in the financial well-being of thousands of Vermont investors by providing advice on important financial decisions such as retirement planning.