Current News

by Ethan Tapper, Chittenden County Forester The Hinesburg Town Forest Committee and the Chittenden County Forester invite the public to visit the Hinesburg Town Forest to learn more about responsible forest management. From 2018-2020, an innovative forest management project at the Hinesburg Town Forest (HTF) was completed, using a type of forest management called “ecological forestry.” Through this project, the HTF sought to demonstrate a thoughtful approach to the stewardship of Vermont’s forests, simultaneously managing for wildlife, biodiversity, climate resilience, carbon sequestration and storage, local, renewable resources and more.

Public Assets Institute As the Vermont economy reopens, there’s a lot of talk about jobs going unfilled. In fact, we don’t have good state-level data on how many jobs are open, what they are, or how much they pay. We know Vermont lost more low-wage than high-wage jobs last year, so it’s likely that many of the jobs returning now are at the low end of the scale.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Community Foundation announced today that—in partnership with many of its generous fundholders—the Spark Connecting Community grant program has awarded $93,756 to 38 nonprofit organizations for local projects in communities across the state, including some nonprofits that serve residents in multiple counties. Of the total funding awarded, $29,250 was made possible by Giving Together, a program at the Community Foundation that shares grant proposals with fundholders and donors to give them the opportunity to co-fund projects.

Spark Connecting Community is a competitive grant program at the Foundation that puts building and nurturing community front and center. The Community Foundation aims to support the work happening throughout Vermont’s 251 towns that builds social capital. These grants—where a small amount can make a big difference—are intended to light the spark that keeps Vermonters healthy and happy.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, the Vermont House of Representatives voted to override Governor Scott’s vetoes of Winooski and Montpelier charter changes (H227 and H177, respectively) by identical votes of 103-47. All 150 House members were present in attendance for the virtual veto session. The bills allow for non-citizens to vote in local elections in those two towns.

Vermont Business Magazine The seasonally-adjusted statewide unemployment rate for May 2021 fell another tenth to 2.6 percent. Vermont has the second lowest rate in the nation, tied with Nebraska, and one-tenth below New Hampshire. The comparable US rate in May was 5.8 percent, which was a decrease of three-tenths. While the Labor Force is nearly 20,000 lower than one year ago, after the pandemic had begun, the new numbers reflect some gains there and more significantly in the number of employed. Employment increased by 1,296 last month and is up 3,212 from the same time last year. Meanwhile, the number of unemployed decreased by 918 and is 23,006 fewer than a year ago. The unemployment rate one year ago was 9.3 percent.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) on Tuesday evening issued the following statement after Senate Republicans united to block legislation to make it easier for Americans to vote, end partisan gerrymandering and get big money out of politics: “It is a disgrace that at a time when authoritarianism, conspiracy theories and political violence are on the rise not a single Republican in the United States Senate has the courage to even debate whether we should protect American democracy or not."

Vermont Business Magazine National feeding programs project that 42 million people, including 13 million children, may experience food insecurity in 2021. It’s why Vermont dairy farmers, through New England Dairy, have awarded a $2,450 grant to Hartland Elementary. This round of funding is helping the school upgrade equipment to offer new and unique foods that include nutritious milk and other dairy items on the menus for years to come. This grant aids school nutrition staff in overcoming the challenges they face to feed students.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Federal Credit Union has announced that their newest branch, located at 1 Carmichael Drive in Essex Junction, is now officially open for business. To celebrate the opening, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on June 22nd. Vermont Federal’s board of directors, senior leadership team, and local officials were in attendance.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, on Tuesday held the panel’s second hearing of this Congress, titled, “Protecting Real Innovations by Improving Patent Quality.” The hearing features testimony from Bridget Asay, an attorney who represented the State of Vermont against a patent troll that threatened dozens of small Vermont businesses and nonprofits in 2013 with infringement claims on a patent that never should have been issued.

Vermont Business Magazine Health Commissioner Mark Levine, MD, noted Tuesday that even with low levels of COVID in Vermont, the virus still has the potential to change — and to threaten the health of those who are not yet vaccinated. Public health experts now believe the Delta variant will likely become predominant in the US within weeks, Dr Levine said. The variant is showing traits of being far more contagious and may potentially result in more serious illness. Meanwhile, the VDH is reporting three new cases of COVID-19 and no deaths, which are holding at 256. There has been only one death in the last five weeks in Vermont. The state has the highest vaccination rate (CDC: 81.3%), lowest case count and fewest fatalities in the nation.

Vermont Business Magazine The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont, the U.S. Department of Justice, Criminal Division, Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, and the Chittenden County State’s Attorney announced that pursuant to plea agreements filed in federal and state court, Eike Blohm, 39, of South Burlington, Vermont, has agreed to plead guilty to one count of Possession of Child Pornography in federal court, and one count of Lewd & Lascivious Conduct, one count of Voyeurism (Circumstances – First Offense), and 19 counts of Voyeurism (Place – First Offense) in state court.

Vermont Business Magazine and the Vermont Chamber of Commerce have announced that Lawson’s Finest Liquids as the winner of the prestigious and highly anticipated Deane C. Davis Outstanding Vermont Business Award, 2020. This annual award honors a Vermont business that shows an outstanding history of sustained growth while displaying an acute awareness of what makes Vermont unique. The award, named for the former governor of Vermont, was created 30 years ago by Vermont Business Magazine and the Vermont Chamber of Commerce to recognize and honor the state’s best companies.