Current News

V/T Commercial Linda I. Letourneau of V/T Commercial announced that Biosona, LLC signed a five-year lease for 3,613 square feet at 382 Hercules Drive, Colchester with Todd Realty, LLC. Letourneau assisted both parties in this transaction.

Vermont Business Magazine The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that Jeremiah Ruhl, 46, of Colchester, Vermont was sentenced Monday to 12 months and a day in prison by US District Court Judge William K Sessions III. Ruhl had previously pled guilty to the unlawful killing of a crow and woodcock without a license and unlawful possession of a turkey vulture without a permit. All three of these birds are “migratory birds” and protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Sanders: “Congratulations, Justice Robinson, and thank you for your continued service. I know you will make Vermont proud and will be an excellent addition to the federal bench.” Lieutenant Governor Gray released the following statement: “The confirmation of Justice Beth Robinson to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit is a historic step in building a judicial system that represents all of us."

Vermont Business Magazine is proud to announce that the Made in Vermont Marketplace is back after missing the 2020 show due to the pandemic. The show will take place on Saturday, November 20 from 9 am to 6 pm and Sunday, November 21 from 10 am to 4 pm. The Made in Vermont Marketplace is in its seventh year.

Vermont Business Magazine Northeast Correctional Complex (NECC) in St. Johnsbury is on full lockdown after seven incarcerated individuals in general population tested positive for COVID-19. All incarcerated individuals live in the same housing unit. The first case was detected through testing conducted October 25, resulting in the unit being placed on full lockdown. Testing on October 29 revealed six additional positive cases from that unit. As part of outbreak protocol, the entire facility was put on full lockdown upon receipt of the positive results Sunday.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Labor has announced an increase to the State’s minimum wage. Beginning January 1, 2022, the state’s minimum wage will become $12.55 per hour. This is an increase of $0.80 from the current minimum wage of $11.75. This annual adjustment also impacts the minimum wage for tipped employees. The Basic Tipped Wage Rate for service, or “tipped employees,” equals 50% of the full minimum wage. On January 1, 2022, the tipped minimum wage will increase from $5.88 to $6.28 per hour.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health is reporting today that COVID-19 cases fell by more than 100to back under 200, as case counts have fluctuated for several weeks. COVID cases were 163 today, compared to 140 last Monday, 91 Tuesday, 164 Wednesday, 316 Thursday, 262 Friday, 179 Saturday and 278 Sunday. The five worst days for cases have all come since mid-September, as the Delta variant has taken over since early July. There were four more COVID fatalities reported today for 368 statewide, after two days with no deaths.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Secretary of State’s Office of Professional Regulation (OPR) has streamlined the licensing process for individuals who have worked in their field in another state for at least three years and are in good standing with that state. Since it was first implemented in April, over 850 licenses across 40 different license types have been issued through the fast-track endorsement process, including more than 450 nurses.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont and Burlington gas prices have risen 2.5 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $3.44 per gallon Monday, according to GasBuddy's daily survey of 100 stations in Burlington. Gas prices in Burlington are 28.0 cents per gallon higher than a month ago and stand $1.34/g higher than a year ago. The statewide average as of Thursday is $3.41/g compared to the US average of $3.40/g. Vermont gasoline prices had been running lower than the national average for most of the last year, and as recently as two weeks ago.

Vermont Business Magazine Norwich University’s Center for Global Resilience & Security hosts “Celebrating Women in Science,” a virtual roundtable and networking event on November 8, and a screening of the film “Picture A Scientist” on November 9. Both events are free and open to the public.

by Kendra Sowers, et al, CVTSE.org Our poorest and most diverse Vermont school districts have been critically underfunded for decades. This is due to inherent flaws in our pupil weighting formula, which directs how Vermont calculates student needs and allocates education funds across the state. The Pupil Weighting Factors Report of 2019, commissioned by the legislature and written by researchers from the University of Vermont and Rutgers University, concluded that Vermont does not currently recognize the actual costs of educating students who attend small schools, come from low-income households, live in rural areas or those who are English language learners.

Vermont Business Magazine Millions of plastic can carriers end up in the hands of Vermont’s craft beer and cider drinkers each year, with most being tossed into single-stream recycling bins because manufacturers market them as “100% recyclable.” What craft beverage producers, recycling companies, and some consumers have come to realize, however, is that while such marketing claims may be true in theory they don’t always hold up in reality. A new collaborative effort between Reusable Solutions, Eco-Friendly Beer, and Casella Waste Systems aims to implement a more sustainable system that extends the life of the rigid plastic packaging beyond just single use.