Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Creating a DES in Burlington would meet the long-held goal of recovering waste heat and additional steam from BED’s McNeil Generating Station, and then using those sources to provide thermal energy to UVMMC via steam pipe. The DES also would be a significant step toward Burlington’s goal to become a Net Zero Energy city, and would bring meaningful climate action to Burlington, including significant energy savings and an impactful reduction in Burlington’s commercial sector natural gas related greenhouse gas emissions.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced the allocation of just over $770,000 in state tax credits for nine projects, which will support over $47.5 million in downtown and village center rehabilitation projects. Additional funding proposed by the Administration and allocated by the General Assembly during the 2020 legislative session provided a boost to the program, allowing this additional round of awards focused on recovery coming out of the COVID-19 crisis.

Vermont Business Magazine Superior Technical Ceramics, one of the country's most experienced technical ceramics manufacturers, has announced the acquisition of IJ Research, a manufacturer specializing in sapphire-to-metal brazed hermetic assemblies based in Santa Ana, California. The acquisition closed on December 24, 2020. Financial terms were not disclosed.

​Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund through its Farm to Plate Initiative, and the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (VAAFM) have released the Vermont Agriculture and Food System Strategic Plan 2021-2030. With over 1,500 Vermonters providing input and helping to shape its content over an 18-month period, the Plan lays out a vision, 15 goals, 34 priority strategies, and 276 recommendations for advancing the agriculture and food system in Vermont. Focus groups with over 120 Vermont industry members such as beef, dairy, sheep and goat, maple, vegetable and berry producers, Vermont Cheese Council board members, farmers market managers, specialty food association members, and Farm to School leaders were also convened to give input that helped shape the Plan.

Vermont Business Magazine If you thought home prices and values were skyrocketing in Vermont, you were right. ATTOM Data Solutions has released its fourth-quarter 2020 US Home Equity & Underwater Report, which shows that 17.8 million residential properties in the United States were considered equity-rich, meaning that the combined estimated amount of loans secured by those properties was 50 percent or less of their estimated market value. Vermont had the highest percentage of any state in the nation. Vermont (47.8 percent equity-rich) was followed by California (46.1 percent), Idaho (42.7 percent), Washington (41 percent) and Hawaii (40.4 percent).

Vermont Business Magazine This month, the Vermont Business Roundtable announces new and expanded governance of its VBR Research and Education Foundation. The Foundation complements the mission of the Roundtable, by promoting educational opportunities to help Vermonters thrive in a local and global economy. Going forward, the Foundation’s focus strategically aligns with and supports impactful workforce and education programs.

Vermont Business Magazine Price Chopper/Market 32 and Tops Markets today announced that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement that creates a powerful alliance between the two storied independent grocery chains, as it nearly doubles their collective footprint in the Northeast. There are 11 Price Chopper/Market 32s in Vermont and three Tops Markets. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Scott Grimmett, Price Chopper/Market 32's President and CEO, will be CEO of and serve on the Board of Directors of the new parent company which will oversee the operations of nearly 300 Price Chopper, Market 32, Market Bistro and Tops Markets stores and collectively employ more than 30,000 teammates.

by Shawn Shouldice Small business challenges have persisted for years due to wage mandates, health insurance premium increases, paid family leave requirements, climate change policies that raise energy costs, and higher taxes or trouble hiring due to the state’s aging demographics. But when Governor Scott declared a state of emergency on March 13, 2020, a whole new world of “small business challenges” landed on the backs of those small business owners from which they may not recover.

Vermont Business Magazine Value Added Producer Grants Applications for the US Department of Agriculture’s Value Added Producer Grants are now open. These grants are designed to support agricultural producers in generating new products, improving marketing activities, and increasing overall revenue. Funds can be used for processing, marketing and advertising, and, in a more restricted way, for salary and wages.

Vermont Business Magazine Southwestern Vermont Health Care has hired Brian C Lent to direct the health system’s project to repurpose the former Southern Vermont College campus. SVHC was awarded the former college campus through a bankruptcy auction in December. The leadership of the health system, through the direction of its Board of Directors, has expressed its commitment to developing a long-range plan to maximize the use of the campus, including considerations as to how the property could enhance community and health-related services for the southern Vermont region.

Vermont Business Magazine The Stimulus Equity Fund is Vermont's COVID-19 relief fund for those who were excluded from the federal stimulus due to their immigration status. Applications are now being accepted through March 1, 2021. If you were ineligible to receive a 2020 federal coronavirus stimulus payment due to your immigration status, you may be eligible for relief from this program.

by Bill Schubart Change is relentless. Humanity’s efforts to understand, accommodate, and survive it are invariably buffeted by the headwinds stirred up by those whose privilege may be curtailed by that change.