Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Patrick Leahy (D), Senator Bernie Sanders (I), Representative Peter Welch (D), Governor Phil Scott (R) announced Monday that 14 Vermont organizations will receive more than $4.5 million in federal grants to promote economic development across the Green Mountain State. Funds will help local communities address critical water infrastructure needs, open new childcare programs, develop outdoor recreation infrastructure and expand the state’s food hubs which support the distribution of local agricultural products.

Vermont Business Magazine Senate Budget Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) Monday issued the following statement after he joined with Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) to introduce the FY 2022 budget resolution, which includes reconciliation instructions for Congress to craft sweeping legislation to invest in the long-neglected needs of the working class:

“The $3.5 trillion Budget Resolution that I am introducing today will allow the Senate to move forward on a reconciliation bill that will be the most consequential piece of legislation for working people, the elderly, the children, the sick and the poor since FDR and the New Deal of the 1930s.

“It will also put the U.S. in a global leadership position to combat climate change and make our planet healthy and habitable for future generations.

Vermont Business Magazine The Working Lands Enterprise Board is pleased to announce the availability of funds for service provider organizations through the Working Lands Enterprise Initiative Program. Projects eligible for funding include the provision of direct technical assistance and/or indirect services to support the development of Vermont-based working lands businesses.

Service providers, and sub-state regional programs are welcome to apply. Awards will range from $10,000 to $20,000. The application window for this funding opportunity opens August 13th at 12 noon.

Vermont Business Magazine Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) Saturday announced that a number of investments in Vermont projects that he requested were approved by Senate Appropriations subcommittees this week, paving the way for initiatives in the state to receive nearly $9.5 million in federal funding. Additional appropriations requests made by Sen. Sanders continue to make their way through the committee approval process and can be reviewed here.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont National Guard Biathlon Program will host the U.S. Biathlon Summer Rollerski National Championships Aug. 7-8 at the Camp Ethan Allen Training Site in Jericho.

These races also serve as the first of eight Olympic qualifiers for the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. Athletes must place in six qualifying races to compete for the U.S. Olympic team.

"We host this event every year; it's always exciting especially in an Olympic Year," said Maj. Kevin Elmer, National Guard Biathlon coordinator. "The great thing about hosting the first race is our athletes know the course and will hopefully benefit from some home-field advantage to kick off the qualifying season."

Vermont Business Magazine The sixth annual Southern Vermont Summer Homebrew Festival returned to Bennington this past weekend to the delight of many brewers and patrons alike! The festival was held on the former Tuttle lot location, but closed down parts of Depot Street and extended into the Anytime Fitness lot for maximum space and enjoyment. From noon to 4pm ticket holders enjoyed unlimited samples of home-brewed beer, wine, mead, cider and more.

Included in the festival was musical entertainment provided by Luminous Crush, as well as food truck specials from The Rollin’ Rooster, Los Lobos Tacos and Hound Dogs.

Vermont Business Magazine The single-owner lifetime collection of Robert “Bob” Bearor – an incredible assemblage of Harley-Davidson and Indian motorcycles, parts and memorabilia dating as far back as 1908, to include rare and important barn find motorcycles that are finally seeing the light of day, plus vintage cars, midget race cars, antique tractors, chainsaws, vintage fishing lures and more – will all come up for bid on Saturday, August 14th at the Vermont State Fairgrounds in Rutland, from 10 am-6 pm Eastern time, by VanDerBrink Auctions

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Air National Guard members will return from Red Flag exercise at Nellis Air Force Base beginning Friday, 6 August.

“The Airmen of the 158th Fighter Wing stood out as top performers during this most advanced Red Flag exercise,” said Command Chief Master Sergeant Jeffrey Stebbins, 158th Fighter Wing Command Chief. “Our Airmen trained in a 24 hour shift model, during some of the most extreme weather conditions they’ve faced to date, up to 115 degrees.”

Vermont Business Magazine The construction industry added 11,000 jobs between June and July but nonresidential construction employment remains far below pre-pandemic levels, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of government data released today. Association officials said nonresidential construction has been affected by declining demand for projects, particularly for public infrastructure work, and urged Congress to quickly pass the new bipartisan infrastructure measure.

“Contractors are plagued by soaring materials costs, long or uncertain delivery times, and hesitancy by project owners to commit to construction,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Recovery has been especially slow in infrastructure construction.”

Vermont Business Magazine “As an academic health system, we rely on data, research and science to keep our patients healthy and save lives. The recent rise of COVID-19 cases in our region and across the country due to the highly contagious delta variant has made one thing crystal clear: vaccination is how we control the spread and hopefully end this pandemic. As a health care provider, our consistent message through the pandemic has been to get vaccinated to protect yourself and others, and it is imperative that we do the right thing to protect our patients, our communities and our employees.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today issued the following statement:

“I join Vermonters across the state in congratulating Franklin County’s Elle Purrier St. Pierre on her remarkable achievements in Tokyo, becoming an Olympic finalist.

“Elle showed the world what this Brave Little State is capable of, and she should be incredibly proud of what she’s accomplished. Vermonters are eagerly awaiting her return home so we can celebrate her success on the world stage and thank her for inspiring us.”

Source: Governor 8.6.2021. Montpelier www.vermont.gov