Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Heart of Vermont Chamber of Commerce, based in Hardwick, announced this month that it has just completed a merger with the Northeast Kingdom Chamber of Commerce, the regional chamber serving the tri-county region of Caledonia, Essex and Orleans. The Heart of Vermont Chamber covers Cabot, Craftsbury, Greensboro, Hardwick, Stannard, Walden, Wolcott and Woodbury.

Vermont Business Magazine Citizens, with branches across Vermont, announced Thursday that the strength of the economic recovery pushed this past quarter’s national Citizens Business Conditions Index (CBCI) to 57, its highest reading in three years and up five points compared to last year. A reading above 50 is considered expansionary. While Vermont’s index is a solid 53.7, this is a drop from the previous quarter (the highest on record) and from the same time last year.

by Becca Balint, Senate President Pro Tempore In the last few weeks of the session, two committees in the House and Senate were at an impasse over a bill that was important to both sides. One colleague kept saying to me in increasingly exasperated tones, “Their position doesn’t make any sense. We could clear this up in a few minutes with just a very small amount of money. Why won’t they take the deal?” Shuttle diplomacy (over Zoom) wasn’t working. Conversations between chairs and leadership teams couldn’t seem to break the logjam. We were all discouraged, and the conflict felt intractable. But then I remembered High Conflict, a new book by Amanda Ripley.

Community Paint Day - Friday, July 23 from 3-5 pm

Vermont Business Magazine After a long winter of COVID-19-related shutdown, Burlington emerged with a serious unsanctioned tagging problem throughout Burlington. As businesses and social activities began to resume this spring and summer, ensuring a welcoming and safe atmosphere for the public became an immediate priority for the City as part of its pandemic recovery.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott announced today that Vermont has received 50% of its American Rescue Plan Act State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund. The State’s request, or certification for the funds, was submitted on July 15, deemed complete on July 21, and payment was received on July 22. The funds include 50% of the $1.049 billion of state recovery funds, or $524 million, authorized by Congress in ARPA, and 50% of the $58 million of local funds, or $29 million. See what your town's getting.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Senate Committee on Committees has appointed Brian Otley to the Vermont Community Broadband Board. Otley was formerly Chief Operating Officer at Green Mountain Power and will provide expertise in the area of utility law and policy to the board. Lisa Ryan was appointed to the Vermont Commission on Women. And Tim Wessel and Chris Walsh were appointed to the cannabis advisory committee.

Vermont Business Magazine Tom Golonka, Chair of the Vermont Pension Investment Commission (VPIC), announced today an investment return of 24.62 percent for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021. Assets under management increased $1.14 billion during the fiscal year, net of all administrative and benefit payments.

Vermont Business Magazine Union Bankshares, Inc, based in Morrisville, (NASDAQ - UNB) has announced results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021 and declared a regular quarterly cash dividend. Consolidated net income for the three months ended June 30, 2021 were $3.0 million, or $0.67 per share, compared to $2.7 million, or $0.60 per share, for the same period in 2020 and $5.9 million, or $1.31 per share, for the six months ended June 30, 2021, compared to $4.9 million, or $1.09 per share, for the same period in 2020.

by C.B. Hall, Vermont Business Magazine At the behest of the Agency of Transportation, the 1850s-vintage railroad depot alongside Route 7 in New Haven Junction is likely to be moved in preparation for the extension of Amtrak's Ethan Allen Express train service north to Burlington from its current northern terminus, Rutland. That's likely to take place early in 2022. Under the plan, the brick building, which is on the National Register of Historic Places and stands, with its chimneys, some 29 feet tall, would move about 1.7 miles to a new location adjacent to the town library, on New Haven's North Street. All in, the cost could be in the $750,000 range.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Communications Union Districts Association board voted Wednesday to appoint Laura Sibilia of Dover to the newly established Vermont Community Broadband Board. The Board was created through Act 71, An act relating to accelerated community broadband deployment, to assist and accelerate community efforts to achieve universal access to reliable, high-speed broadband service. The Board will be responsible for awarding grants and assisting the Communications Union Districts in their planning, development, and implementation of broadband projects.

Vermont Business Magazine The Hinesburg Town Forest Committee and the Chittenden County Forester invite the public to visit the Hinesburg Town Forest (HTF) to learn more about responsible forest management and its benefit to wildlife and habitat through two new self-guided tours. Creating and promoting high quality wildlife habitat is dependent on responsible forestry practices and thoughtful planning, both of which are highlighted in the most recent project at the Hinesburg Town Forest (HTF).

Vermont Business Magazine Representatives from Middlebury College, Vanguard Renewables, VGS, Goodrich Family Farm, and the state of Vermont–including Vermont Governor Phil Scott and Lieutenant Governor Molly Gray–celebrated the start of gas production at the largest anaerobic digester in the Northeast on July 21 at an event on the dairy farm in Salisbury, Vermont.