Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Stonyfield Organic and Cabot are joining forces alongside the Farm Powered Strategic Alliance (FPSA) and Dairy Farmers of America to place dairy as a leader in forging a circular pathway to decarbonization and climate change mitigation. The Alliance, founded in 2020 by Vanguard Renewables, Unilever, Starbucks, and Dairy Farmers of America, aims to accelerate long-term commitments to avoid or eliminate food waste first and repurpose what can’t be eliminated into renewable energy via farm-based anaerobic digesters. The Farm Powered Strategic Alliance has been named one of Fast Company’s 2021 World Changing Ideas.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Farm & Forest Viability Program, a program of the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board, has grant funds available for on-farm capital improvement projects that have a positive impact on water quality. Eligible farmers can apply for a Water Quality Grant, which provides $5,000 to $40,000 in funding. Applications are due by January 21, 2022. Water Quality Grants help farmers make capital improvements that enhance manure management and soil health, reduce runoff, and ultimately support the long-term success of farm enterprises. Construction, renovation, long-term infrastructure, and in some cases, equipment projects are eligible.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health is reporting today that the state shattered the record for COVID-19 cases with 487 cases. This is an increase of 289 from Wednesday and the first time they've surpassed 400 in a single day. The 10 worst days have all come since mid-September. There also were six additional COVID-related deaths, for 380 statewide. Cases were especially high in the Northeast Kingdom, which has had elevated case rates in recent weeks.

Vermont Business Magazine Community leaders have launched a $120,000 fundraising campaign to help purchase 291 acres of forestland and trails as an addition to the Hinesburg Town Forest. The existing Town Forest and the addition will be permanently protected and accessible to the public. The combined land is located in a 4,400-acre stretch of connected forestland identified as a priority for conservation by the state of Vermont. It features vernal pools, unique natural communities, and miles of headwater streams in the Lake Champlain Basin. The Hinesburg Town Forest, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, hosts 15 miles of trails and serves as a popular regional destination for hiking, biking, hunting, birding, and more. The 291-acre addition connects to another 10 miles of multi-use trails on land south of Lincoln Hill Road and to the VAST trail.

Vermont Business Magazine The Department for Children and Families announced today that many 3SquaresVT households will continue to receive a higher benefit in November and December. This extra help is part of the federal Coronavirus Relief Bill. It will not permanently change a household’s monthly benefit. It is a temporary increase from the federal government to help those affected by the pandemic. Households at a zero benefit will not receive a benefit. Everyone else will receive the maximum benefit for their household size.

Vermont Business Magazine The national financial website FinanceBuzz used Google Trends data to determine which electric vehicles are the most popular in each state across the US in 2021. The most popular e-vehicle in Vermont was the Volkswagen ID.4. Most states went with the Ford Mustang Mach-E. Electric vehicles aren’t a 21st century invention. In fact, the first electric vehicle was made in the mid-to-late 19th century. Even though electric vehicles weren’t really adopted until the 1870s, 40 years earlier in 1832, Scottish inventor Robert Anderson created the first crude version.

Vermont Business Magazine US Secretary of Commerce Gina M Raimondo today announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding $1 million American Rescue Plan grants to 30 states and territories across the nation, including Vermont, to support statewide economic development planning efforts. The funding will assist communities nationwide in their efforts to build back better by accelerating the economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic and building local economies that will be resilient to future economic shocks, boost economic development, enhance U.S. competitiveness, combat the climate crisis, and recover from the pandemic.

Vermont Business Magazine The Attorney General’s Office announced that Travis Lathe-Godfrey, 26, of Hardwick, Vermont, was arraigned on November 3, 2021, on one felony count of Promoting a Recording of Sexual Conduct by a Child. According to documents filed with the Court, the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (VT-ICAC) received a CyberTip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which indicated that someone had used the social media website Facebook to send an electronic file containing child sexual assault material. VT-ICAC subsequently identified the user as Lathe-Godfrey after executing online and residential search warrants.

Vermont Business Magazine The 2021 Regional System Plan (RSP21), the biennial report that lays the foundation for long-term power-system planning in New England, was approved by the ISO New England board of directors November 1. RSP21 looks at the expected changes to New England’s power system through 2030 from factors driving grid transformation, including economic decisions of market participants, environmental goals developed to combat climate change, changing patterns of electricity use, and resource adequacy needed to maintain required reliability criteria. For Vermont, peak demand is forecast to grow due to the electrification of heating and transportation. The transmission system has sufficient capacity to serve expected future demand for the first 10 years of the 20-year planning horizon.

Vermont Business Magazine With this year's winter season officially underway, skiers and snowboarders have another reason to celebrate: Vail Resorts' 34 North American mountains have reached 85 percent renewable electricity—one big step closer to a zero net operating footprint by 2030. Through its operations, as well as by promoting collective participation, Vail Resorts is prioritizing efforts to mitigate the impacts of climate change. Vail owns Stowe, Mount Snow and Okemo in Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont’s Killington Resort, the largest ski and snowboard destination in Eastern North America, and part of POWDR, will kick off the 2021-22 winter season at 10 am on Friday, November 5, 2021, becoming the first Eastern resort to open for skiing and snowboarding. The first turns of the season, on Friday, November 5, will be reserved exclusively for Season Pass, Express Card, Beast 365 and Ikon pass holders. The resort will open to the general public on Saturday, November 6, 2021 at 9 am.

Vermont Business Magazine The Burlington Business Association in partnership with the City of Burlington is expanding its Downtown Safety program. The Burlington Downtown Ambassador Program will run through the holiday season and will provide critically needed services to the downtown community. Green Mountain Concert Services will provide Downtown Ambassadors from 2pm to Midnight, Wednesday through Sunday. Ambassadors will ensure visitors have an inviting, informed, and safe visit to Burlington. They will also be a resource for downtown workers, helping them get to and from their workplace safely and coordinate with Howard Center Street Outreach and BPD.