Current News

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Vermont Business Magazine The Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-DBIC) has announced grant awards totaling $112,857 through the Multi-Business Agritourism Grant program. Six dairy farmers, processors, and organizations in Maine, New York, Pennsylvania, and Vermont will launch innovative agritourism projects through the NE-DBIC’s first competitive grant round. The projects funded are designed to raise awareness, understanding, and consumption of Northeast produced dairy products through agritourism activities that impact multiple dairy businesses.

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Vermont Business Magazine AM Best has upgraded the Financial Strength Rating to A+ (Superior) from A (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings (Long-Term ICR) to “aa-” (Superior) from “a+” (Excellent) of National Life Insurance Company and its wholly owned subsidiary, Life Insurance Company of the Southwest (Addison, TX). Concurrently, AM Best has upgraded the Long-Term Issue Credit Ratings to “a” (Excellent) from “a-” (Excellent) on the surplus notes of NLIC. Both companies are life insurance subsidiaries of NLV Financial Corporation (NLVF), headquartered in Montpelier.

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Vermont Business Magazine Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) on Thursday introduced a joint resolution blocking the recent sale of $735 million in weapons to Israel. The resolution introduced by Sanders is privileged, which means the senator will have the option to bring it up for a vote.

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Vermont Business Magazine Grants from the Northern Forest Destination Development Initiative will help 11 communities and organizations serve residents and visitors with improved outdoor recreation opportunities. Vermont will receive over $100,000 for six organizations.​ The program is an initiative of the Northern Forest Center in Maine and New Hampshire, offered in partnership with Northeastern Vermont Development Association and NEK Collaborative in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. The initiative is supported by the Northern Border Regional Commission.

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Vermont Business Magazine The State of Vermont honors the legacy of Leonard “Len” Crouse after his passing on May 6, 2021. Len was appointed the first Deputy Commissioner of the then newly created Captive Insurance division in 2003 and prior to that served as the Director of Captive Insurance since 1990 for the Vermont Department of Financial Regulation. While Deputy Commissioner, Len was responsible for Vermont’s administration and regulation of captive insurance companies at a time when the industry was rapidly growing.

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Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Transportation (AOT) has received federal designation of three highways as alternative fuel corridors, which will further solidify and support Vermont’s efforts to de-carbonize its transportation system and accelerate electric vehicle (EV) adoption.

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Vermont Business Magazine On Tuesday, Vermont Governor Phil Scott signed into law a nation-leading bill that restricts the sale of consumer products that contain toxic chemicals known as PFAS. The bill bans PFAS chemicals from firefighting foam, food packaging, ski wax, and carpets, rugs, and stain-resistant treatments. S20 was supported by Vermont environmental advocates, firefighters, educators, public health experts, children’s advocates, and businesses.

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Vermont Business Magazine Stave Puzzles in Norwich is hosting a Virtual Silent Auction to benefit The Ellen DeGeneres Wildlife Fund which directly supports global conservation efforts for endangered species around the world. Up for auction is a one-of-a-kind 250-piece pre-crafted Stave Traditional puzzle, Guardian of the Band, by Simon Combes, valued at $2,895. The virtual silent auction will begin on May 21 at 8 a.m. and will continue through May 23 at midnight.

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Vermont Business Magazine The Chittenden Solid Waste District is excited to announce that tires are now accepted at all our Drop-Off Centers EXCEPT the Burlington and Hinesburg locations.

Why are we bringing back tires?

  • Added convenience for our customers.

  • Help reduce the traffic back ups onto Redmond Road at our Williston facility. Williston was the only location taking tires prior to this change.

  • Space for tire collection containers is now available at these locations.

For the most update to date information on the types of tires accepted, associated fees and drop-off center location and hours of operations, please visit:

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Vermont Business Magazine Green Mountain Power is offering customers an instant rebate worth thousands of dollars when they purchase and install a qualified geothermal whole-home heating and cooling system from Dandelion Energy, an innovative company dedicated to making renewable technologies more accessible for all. The highly efficient system is fossil-fuel-free and combats the second-largest source of carbon pollution in Vermont – how we heat our homes and businesses.

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Vermont Business Magazine Today at the Vermont Labor Relations Board (VLRB), clerical, technical and specialized employees at the University of Vermont voted via mail ballot to organize their union, UVM Staff United, AFT Vermont, 333 to 122.

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Vermont Business Magazine As the state finalizes its budget for next year, the Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD) releases its summary of feedback from thousands of Vermonters who weighed in with their ideas of what we need to do in the next few years in order to have a prosperous and sustainable Vermont over the next 30. The non-partisan VCRD, a cornerstone group in COVID recovery efforts, recognized that in this pivotal moment of the state’s history Vermonters need comprehensive, broad-based, and long-range goals to unite behind.