Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Thirty-five years ago, Ronald Reagan was President of the United States; Live Aid concerts raised funds for famine relief in Ethiopia; and NBC premiered “The Golden Girls”. It was also the year twenty-seven men, many civic leaders in the community and representing a wide variety of local businesses and services, officially launched the South Burlington Rotary Club. John Davis, a member for 34 years, recalls why he joined.

Leonine Public Affairs On Tuesday, Governor Scott unveiled a proposed $6.83 billion budget for FY22 (July 1, 2021-June 30, 2022). The governor highlighted the challenges the state has faced since the pandemic reached Vermont almost a year ago, but emphasized that his budget does not increase taxes, raise fees or cut essential government services. The governor’s proposed budget includes $123 million in capital construction projects; $680 million in roads, bridges and other transportation projects; $1.99 billion in General Fund spending; and $1.89 billion for Pre-K-12 education. The budget includes $210 million in one-time funding for a variety of initiatives such as $20 million for broadband expansion, $25 million for weatherization projects and $20 million for the state college system.

Vermont Business Magazine Northern Vermont University-Johnson announces the successful completion of its Wellness Suite Campaign, raising $45,000 to equip the new Wellness Suite located in the SHAPE athletics facility on the Johnson campus. The Wellness Suite project created two new rooms in the fitness facility: one dedicated to stretching and core work and the other to group exercise classes. It also converted the ground-level area from an underutilized racquetball court into a strength and conditioning facility.

Vermont Business Magazine Bar Harbor Bank & Trust’s employee giving program, Casual for a Cause, recently surpassed the $100,000 mark of total donations made to nonprofit organizations since the program launched in 2018. More than 53 organizations across Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont have received donations through the program.

Vermont Business Magazine Contify, the AI-enabled market and competitive intelligence solutions provider based in Williston, Vermont, has announced that it has deployed its platform to help a global insurance firm automate the process of competitive and market insights across lines of insurance in the global and emerging markets.

Vermont Business Magazine The Lake Champlain Chamber today announced its 110th Annual award recipients via YouTube Live. Five awards were presented recognizing businesses and business leaders for their accomplishments and contributions to our community. An in-person celebration will be scheduled at a later date. They include: Kim Anderson with Community Health Centers of Burlington; GlobalFoundries and Leslie McCrorey Wells with Pizzeria Verità; Burlington Code Academy; Rhino Foods; and they bestowed their 2020 Pivot Award to all businesses in Vermont for perseverance during the pandemic.

Vermont Business Magazine There are now 48,220 people who have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine in Vermont, including nearly 5,000 who are age 75 and older. The VDH is also reporting that the Modern vaccines in question at Springfield Hospital are safe to use. Also, COVID-19 cases have moderated and deaths are holding at 172. However, hospitalizations and ICU stays are at a relatively high level.

Vermont State Police At about 2:30 pm Friday, Jan. 29, 2021, members of the federal Homeland Security Investigations, working on this case in conjunction with the Vermont State Police, located Leydi Lopez safe out of state. Lopez spoke with investigators and indicated she left Vermont voluntarily and wished to remain out of the state, which as an 18-year-old adult she is free to do.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, Maine Governor Janet Mills, Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo, New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu, Vermont Governor Phil Scott, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont, and Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker announced an extension of the suspension of interstate youth hockey competitions for public and private schools and youth hockey leagues through at least March 31, 2021. The prohibition will not impact interstate collegiate, professional, or US national team hockey activities, which will remain subject to existing health and safety protocols and/or restrictions.

Darn Tough Vermont It’s not a mitten, and it’s not a political statement, but it’s absolutely a comforting opportunity to serve our community. Teacher, neighbor, occasional mitten maker, and friend Jen Ellis asked if we could help use her moment of fame (the Bernie Sanders mittens) to benefit others. Absolutely. So, we started knitting. And now they're SOLD OUT!

Governor Phil Scott The favorable revenue picture supporting this budget is not a reflection of a strong Vermont economy – instead, it is a result of fleeting federal funding. We must focus on economic recovery to rebuild the foundational blocks of the state budget, which are predominantly personal and corporate income taxes as well as consumption-based taxes such as rooms and meals and sales and use taxes. We must fortify these revenue streams while responding and recovering from this pandemic. As part of the ongoing pandemic response, this proposa uses $210 million in one-time funding for economic recovery through investments in housing, infrastructure, broadband buildout, environmental stewardship, carbon reducing initiatives, and government modernization, among others.