Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Casella Waste Systems, Inc (Nasdaq: CWST), a regional solid waste, recycling and resource management services company based in Rutland, has announced the appointment of Gary Sova to Casella’s Board of Directors effective June 15, 2021. In addition, Casella announced the retirement of James F Callahan, Jr from its Board effective June 14, 2021, and the retirement of James E O’Connor upon the completion of his term at the company’s 2021 annual meeting of stockholders held June 2, 2021.

Vermont Business Magazine The recent Dunkin’ Iced Coffee Day fundraiser in Vermont and northern New York raised $15,636 for The University of Vermont Children’s Hospital. Dunkin’ franchisees throughout Vermont and in Clinton, Essex, and Franklin Counties in in New York donated $1 for every Iced Coffee and Cold Brew sold on May 26 to UVM Children’s Hospital. Vermont’s only full-service children’s hospital serves thousands of families from Vermont and northern New York every year.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Council on Rural Development announced the launch of a new small grant program designed to support local innovators with projects that move Vermont closer to its climate and energy goals. The Climate Catalysts Innovation Fund is capitalized with $20,000 from the Vermont Low Income Trust for Electricity (VLITE) and VSECU. This grant program is intended to support innovative local projects for which a small grant could have a meaningful impact.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Tax revenue collections for the month of May 2021 vastly exceeded projections. The state’s General Fund, Transportation Fund, and Education Fund receipts were a combined $116.5 million, or 76.3 percent above monthly consensus expectations from the January 19, 2021, upgraded consensus revenue forecast. General Fund revenues collected for the month totaled $192.8 million, or $106.2 million above the monthly consensus revenue target. The personal income tax, which is the state’s most important revenue source, exceeded expectations by nearly 250 percent.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development is hosting a webinar at 2 pm June 17 about the Economic Bridge Program. The Bridge Program provides priority funding to businesses that have not received prior state or federal financial assistance. To the extent that funds remain available, the program is also intended to provide funding to businesses that have suffered a tax loss even after receiving State or Federal aid.

Vermont Business Magazine The Fliptable restaurant staffing app launched today, offering a free, contactless, digital hiring platform for restaurant owners and job seekers. With restaurants reopening to full capacity as COVID-19 restrictions ease, most are faced with daunting hiring challenges. That’s where Fliptable comes in, instantly finding and connecting job seekers with relevant, open positions at restaurants within their desired area, while restaurant owners and hiring managers are matched with the best candidates for the job.

Vermont Business Magazine FEMA reimbursed the Vermont Agency of Human Services (AHS) $1,901,466 recently for the state’s Emergency Feeding Program during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021. FEMA provided funds through a grant awarded by its Public Assistance (PA) Grant Program. The grant covered 100% of the Emergency Feeding Program’s eligible costs submitted by AHS from January 1 through April 27 for work by the Vermont Foodbank.

Vermont Business Magazine The Bennington County Regional Commission (BCRC) and the Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation (BDCC) have announced that 10 projects submitted as part of the Southern Vermont Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy have received Vital Project designation. Each year, the CEDS includes new and updated project submissions from businesses and organizations that highlight several activities strengthening the region at a range of scales.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing $860,000 in supplemental funding for three current successful Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) grantees in Vermont. The Vermont recipients are among nine groups in New England selected to receive a total of $3.35 million. The recipients of Brownfields RLF funding in Vermont are the Mount Ascutney Regional Commission ($330,000), the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development ($330,000), and the Northwest Regional Planning Commission ($200,000).

Vermont Business Magazine Per the direction set by a 2018 Burlington City Council resolution, the Department of Public Works (DPW) has been evaluating whether to consolidate collection of trash, recycling and food scraps for small residential customers. Currently, the City picks up recycling while residents are responsible for contracting for their individual trash pickup and managing their compost. This results in multiple trash and compost haulers serving the same streets.

Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission The State of Vermont Department of Finance and Management has opened a web portal where Vermont municipalities may request their share of $58,788,245 in American Rescue Plan Local Fiscal Recovery Funding. Every city and town in Vermont, and many villages, must take action in the next 30 days to ensure their community receives this funding.

by Paul Costello For more than 20 years at the Vermont Council on Rural Development, we have hosted community conversations with the goal of helping Vermonters come together, consider their local assets and challenges, decide on priorities for action, and then get to work making those priorities happen. At these “Community Visits,” as we call them, one of the most decisive moments comes when community members have chosen areas of action to drive forward together.