Current News

The Vermont State Police is investigating a crash that occurred Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, in Jericho involving an SUV and a bicyclist that resulted in the death of the 9-year-old girl riding the bike. The victim is identified as Kinsley Millard of Jericho.

Vermont Business Magazine Eight of Vermont’s specialty food producers received thirteen awards across seven categories in this year’s annual sofi Awards presented by the national Specialty Food Association (SFA). The sofi Awards, which stands for “specialty outstanding food innovation,” are the most prestigious awards in the specialty food industry and honor excellence across a variety of food categories, from vinegars to vegan snacks. Winners were announced on August 25th with three of Vermont’s producers awarded gold: Big Picture Farm, Mount Mansfield Maple Products, and Vermont Creamery.

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General TJ Donovan today filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump Administration’s final rule to roll back requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) that federal agencies review and assess the impact of their actions on the environment. The lawsuit, filed with a coalition of attorneys general, argues that the final rule also limits public participation in the review process, robbing vulnerable communities of the opportunity to make their voices heard on actions that are likely to have adverse environmental and health impacts. The coalition argues that the final rule abandons informed decision making, public participation, and environmental and public health protections in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) and NEPA.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott and the Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD) today announced that Twin Pines Housing has received $65,000 in grant funding from the State’s Brownfield Initiative to work with Evernorth (formerly Housing Vermont) to remediate the former Tip Top Tire site in Wilder and construct four units of affordable housing.

Vermont Business Magazine As National Water Quality Month comes to an end, the Vermont Agricultural Water Quality Partnership (VAWQP) celebrates the progress that has been made in protecting Vermont’s water quality, while looking forward to water quality improvements yet to be accomplished. The leadership of the VAWQP is encouraged by data indicating measurable results in water quality improvement, thanks to farmer efforts and a strong conservation commitment from the partnership.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Weekly unemployment claims continued their descent last week in Vermont, though last week more slowly. After a steep decline as the economy began to reopen in April, initial unemployment claims for the last several weeks flattened, rose slightly and now have been falling consistently since the beginning of July.

​Vermont Business Magazine Despite COVID-19 pandemic putting many normal aspects of life on hold, a new survey has revealed a strong willingness to travel during 2020 among Americans nonetheless, with domestic travel preferred and Vermont the number 1 travel destination this winter. According to the survey of 746 U.S.-based respondents, conducted by SkiDriven.com, 72% of Americans still plan on traveling in 2020, while 91% are more likely to travel domestically than internationally. The latter finding reflects not only travelers’ preferences, but necessity, given the current bans on American visitors in the European Union and worldwide due to the ongoing surge of coronavirus cases in the US.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott and Vermont officials today congratulated the Ministry of Transport Quebec (MTQ) for breaking ground on the third segment of construction of Autoroute 35 (A-35), which will connect the Highgate Springs crossing of U.S.-Canadian border directly to Montreal.

“We are very pleased to see this phase of construction begin and we congratulate the MTQ on this exciting next step,” said Governor Scott. “The completion of the A-35 will be an economic boon to both Vermont and Quebec, reducing travel time, providing a more direct route, and encouraging more opportunities for business and recreation on both sides of the border. We look forward to its completion and returning to a time where we can be better connected to our neighbors to the north.”

Vermont Business Magazine The Samara Fund, a component fund of the Vermont Community Foundation, has granted $38,105 to twelve nonprofit organizations in its ninth annual competitive grant round. In addition, the Fund gave five scholarships to graduating seniors from Brattleboro, Colchester, Hinesburg, Springfield, and St Johnsbury in recognition of their advocacy and leadership in support of LGBTQ issues within their schools and communities.

Vermont Business Magazine Today the VDH is reporting 11 new cases of COVID-19. Despite being by far the largest county in the state and in the process of testing thousands of college students, Chittenden County showed no new cases. The 11 statewide cases were spread across the state with Rutland and Addison counties having three each.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott and the Agency of Commerce and Community Development today announced that KAD Properties LLC has been approved for $51,718 in funding from the State’s Brownfield Initiative to remediate the former LW Greenwood property in East Randolph. KAD Models and Prototypes, Inc is a growing prototype manufacturing shop located in the San Francisco Bay Area, and more recently East Randolph.

“Strengthening our manufacturing sector is so important to Vermont’s economy, so we are pleased to welcome KAD to Vermont and appreciate their commitment to supporting our local workforce and education programs,” said Governor Phil Scott. “I also want to thank the state and federal partners who work to make this funding available, which supports both economic development and the environmental health of Vermont communities.”

by Kellie Campbell and Hannah Lane Policy decisions regarding education and child care are gendered. That is a fact that must not be ignored. As public schools in Vermont reopen using a variety of learning models, data signals working women stand to bear the brunt of the impacts. Women experience this from multiple sides: they continue to be primarily responsible for the majority of child-rearing and caregiving, and they make up the vast majority of Vermont’s teachers[i] and child care providers[ii]. Many educators will feel this burden doubly, balancing their careers and the needs of their students with the needs of their own children.