Current News

Vermont Business Magazine David G White, CRE, President, White + Burke Real Estate Advisors, today shared just-released information about important business disruptors – the issues and trends impacting US commercial and residential real estate. White is a member of The Counselors of Real Estate (CRE), the global professional association which annually announces The CRE Top Ten Issues Affecting Real Estate, an update of market trends and conditions, which influence real estate opportunities and risks. The number one issue, unsurprisingly, is the COVID-19 pandemic and the ways in which this will impact the real estate market.

Vermont Business Magazine The Young Inventors’ Program is coming to Vermont! This long-standing STEM education program is expanding across Northern New England to inspire students to explore science and technology while solving real-world problems. YIP is a K-12 project-based learning experience developed to meet evolving education standards including the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) as well as reinforce 21st Century skills including decision making, problem solving, and communications. The flexible curriculum is offered to schools, community organizations, libraries, clubs, and homeschoolers at no cost.

Agency of Commerce & Community Development ACCD is encouraging interested businesses to sign up now for the #BuyLocalVermont program, intended to drive more sales at local restaurants, retail stores, entertainment and performing arts venues, lodging and tourism-related businesses through savings offerings. Businesses can enroll to take part in the program now, which will launch to consumers September 8th.

by Matt Durkee, NBT Bank President of New England The commercial real estate market was hit hard by the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. And no one knows how long the impact will last. In Vermont, our commercial customers and the communities we serve have each experienced the economic impact in various ways, but there are certainly a few areas that will have a more difficult road to recovery. Anything that touches tourism—from hotels to restaurants to retail—has been hit hard. In New England—particularly in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont—the closure of the border with Canada had a profound impact on the summer tourism season, and is likely to continue into the autumn.

Leonine Public Affairs On Tuesday the Vermont General Assembly reconvened for what is projected to be a three to five week session. The primary focus of the fall session is to finalize the FY2021 budget for the remaining three quarters of the fiscal year, October 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021. The legislature approved funding for the first three months of FY2021 before they recessed in June.

Vermont Business Magazine The owner of Mount Snow, Okemo and Stowe Mountain resorts announced opening days and new COVID-19 safety guidelines. Vail Resorts CEO Rob Katz on Friday announced the company’s 2020/21 winter operating plan in a letter to guests, which outlines a comprehensive, out-front approach to operating its 34 North American resorts with the goal of ensuring a safe, enjoyable and successful ski and ride season.

Vermont Business Magazine In celebration of Burlington International Airport’s (BTV) 100^th Anniversary and in recognition of the hard work and dedication of all the first responders in our area, Beta Technologies (BETA) performed a 5-plane formation fly-by around Chittenden County on Friday, August 28^th.

“BTV's last 100 years have been filled with innovation, entrepreneurship, and dedication, which is exactly what BETA embodies as an organization. The Airport looks forward to highlighting this exciting partnership and paying tribute to all our first responders,” said Gene Richards, Director of Aviation.

Located at BTV, BETA was founded in 2017 by Kyle Clark, with a mission to revolutionize the future of aviation with electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. BETA’s team, who double as aviation enthusiasts and private pilots, are dedicated to making flight clean and accessible to everyone.

Vermont Business Magazine Since his earliest days in Richmond, Clint Buxton has yearned to conquer the Long Trail. When COVID-19 dashed his final season as summer camp director at Mt. Norris Scout Reservation in Eden, the suddenly-unemployed 61-year-old decided to lace up his hiking boots to raise awareness and much-needed support for Vermont’s outdoor Scouting programs. The forced closure of the Green Mountain Council’s summer camp operations at Mt. Norris and Camp Sunrise in Benson impacted the plans of nearly 3,000 local families this summer. Without summer programs, the organization is bracing for a $160,000 camp operating deficit to maintain nearly 1,200 acres of wilderness.

Vermont Business Magazine With its Spring Gala and other important fundraisers canceled this year due to Covid-19, the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center (BMAC) is counting on an online auction to provide essential support for its year-round youth and education programs. Hosted by Duane Merrill & Company Auctioneers and Appraisers, the auction will take place on Friday, September 4, starting at 9:45 a.m.—in person at the Merrill & Co. showroom in Williston, Vermont, and online via LiveAuctioneers.com. Details are at brattleboromuseum.org.

​Vermont Business Magazine Vermont retail stores, travelers, tourists, local businesses and folks from around New England welcome our new calendars and planners in the style and spirit of products formerly sold by Vermont Life. Amazing Vermont Calendars introduces our lineup of four beautiful 2021 calendars and planners featuring inspirational photographs that showcase the stunning beauty of Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) Friday announced that the Preservation Trust of Vermont has been awarded a $745,000 award from the Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grant Program grant, administered by the National Park Service. The grant was one of only eight applications funded nationally as part of the Leahy-created program to invest in historic preservation in rural communities around the country. Leahy renamed the program in honor Vermonter Paul Bruhn, a longtime champion of historic preservation and original founder of the Preservation Trust of Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine Health Commissioner Mark Levine, MD said at a press conference Friday that preparations are beginning for flu season, with the goals of keeping Vermonters healthy, and to have the rate of flu be as low as possible to ensure that we do not face a “twindemic” of both flu and COVID-19 cases this winter. Also Friday, Agency of Human Services Secretary Mike Smith provided an update Friday on two of the Coronavirus Relief Fund grant programs being administered by the Agency: Front-Line Employees Hazard Pay Grant Program and the Health Care Provider Stabilization Grant Program.