Current News

Vermont Business Magazine William Shakespeare coined the phrase "To thine own self be true." Todd Graves has applied that philosophy to his business life with great success in building Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers into the fastest-growing restaurant chain in the country, and he recommends others do the same.

"Our No. 1 strategy for growth is staying true to who we are," said Graves, who proudly displays the title of "Founder & CEO, Fry Cook & Cashier" on his Raising Cane's business card. "That means staying true to our one love, and that's quality chicken finger meals, never losing that focus.

"That's our concept, which is doing one thing and doing it better than anybody else," he said.

Vermont Business Magazine iSun, Inc (NASDAQ: ISUN) and SunCommon announced today that they have entered into a definitive agreement pursuant to which a subsidiary of iSun will acquire SunCommon for $40 million in cash and securities. iSun, based in South Burlington, is a leading solar energy and clean mobility infrastructure company with 50-years of construction experience in solar, electrical and data services. SunCommon, based in Waterbury, was an early provider of home-based solar-electric generation, while since expanding into commercial and community-based projects.

Vermont Business Magazine The Department for Children and Families (DCF) announced today that many 3SquaresVT households will continue to receive a higher benefit in September and October. 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 to help during the health crisis.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont State Police reported at about 4 am this morning that suspect Kristopher Knutson, 49, of Vernon was ordered jailed without bail following his arrest late Tuesday following a multi-day standoff at his residence in Vernon.

Knutson, who declined medical attention after members of the Vermont State Police arrested him outside his home, is incarcerated at the Southern State Correctional Facility in Springfield. He is scheduled to be arraigned at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Criminal Division of Vermont Superior Court in Brattleboro on the following charges:

• Violation of an abuse prevention order.
• Criminal threatening.
• Disturbing the peace by electronic communication.

The Vermont State Police would like to thank the agencies that assisted in the resolution of this incident, including the Massachusetts State Police and the Guilford Volunteer Fire Department.

Vermont Business Magazine AARP Vermont today announced the launch of a community grant program that aims to issue grants of $24,000 among six Vermont towns or cities. The goal is to jump start Winter Placemaking demonstration projects that create public spaces and streets that are safe and accessible for everyone. This is the fourth year of AARP’s Placemaking Grant Program which aims to help communities build social capital that can help lead to permanent change that supports healthy, active lifestyles for people of all ages and abilities.

Vermont Business Magazine The Upper Valley Business Alliance (UVBA) and the Upper Valley Arts Alliance (UVAA) effective immediately have merged organizations under the UVBA umbrella. UVAA will now function as a program of the Upper Valley Business Alliance and UVAA’s leadership team of Louis Cornell and Joanne Wise, and will continue as a part of the steering committee of UVBA. With members in Vermont and New Hampshire, the UVBA is based in Lebanon, NH.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont’s specialty food producers will gather on Thursday, September 23rd at Artisans Park in Windsor, Vermont for an outdoor networking event with tastings, drinks, and small bites. Hosted by the Vermont Specialty Food Association (VSFA), The VSFA Fall Gathering is an opportunity for our members and the producer community to come together to mingle, reconnect, and enjoy some delicious member-produced food and drink. While usually in person, after a tumultuous year and a half members voted for a different event that would provide opportunities to network and enjoy each other's company by meeting safely in-person.

Vermont Business Magazine Three state troopers have resigned following allegations related to fraudulent COVID-19 vaccination cards. The three former troopers are suspected of having varying roles in the creation of fraudulent COVID-19 vaccination cards, which may be a violation of federal law. The details surrounding this incident, reported to supervisors by other troopers, were immediately reported to federal law enforcement authorities.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, the Vermont Department of Health is reporting 114 new cases of COVID-19 but no new deaths, which are holding at 282 statewide. There are 33 hospitalized and 13 in the ICU. Hospitalizations have remained relatively high the last few weeks. Walk-in vaccination sites are listed below.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Department of Corrections (Vermont DOC) is reporting five new COVID-19 cases across three facilities. Testing has found five new incarcerated individuals and staff positives in Newport, Springfield, St Albans. Northern and Northwest are both on full lockdown; the entire facility in Newport is testing today, as well as NWSCF staff. All staff and incarcerated individuals at SSCF are testing tomorrow, September 8.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Housing and Community Development announced today $500,000 in available funding to support statewide municipal bylaw modernization grants for Vermont’s cities and towns. Municipalities can use this new and innovative funding to hire regional planning commission or consulting staff to collaborate with local stakeholders and prepare bylaw updates that expand opportunities for new homes, confront the State’s housing crisis, and ready communities for unprecedented investments in housing and infrastructure.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Labor has been informed that it will not be allowed to administer a supplemental unemployment insurance benefit that was passed during the 2021 legislative session. Act 51 of 2021 authorized a $25 per week supplemental benefit for all unemployment claims beginning October 3, to individuals receiving unemployment benefits in the regular state unemployment insurance program.