Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Last week officials from Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports filed an Act 250 permit application with the state of Vermont to build a new, $2 million adaptive sports facility at Sugarbush Resort’s Mt. Ellen. The application states that Vermont Adaptive is the applicant and Sugarbush Resort is the landowner. If approved, Vermont Adaptive’s Executive Director Erin Fernandez said the organization will break ground on the new facility in the spring.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, Burton officially announced that John Lacy will become the company’s CEO, a role he has shared for the past 18 months with Burton owner Donna Carpenter. Donna will become Chair of the Burton Board of Directors, a position formerly held by her late husband and Burton founder, Jake Burton Carpenter.

Vermont Business Magazine Eight months after a law went into effect requiring Vermont schools to test their drinking water taps for lead, most are finding at least one tap with elevated lead levels – results that health officials say are in line with expectations. Of the 168 schools that have received their water test results to date, 79% have at least one tap with lead levels at or above 4 parts per billion (ppb) – the action level set by state law. If schools have a result at or above 4 ppb, they are required to immediately stop using the fixture and either replace it or permanently disable it. The state’s 440 public and independent schools and 1,200 child care programs must test all taps used for drinking water and cooking by the end of this year. The 2019 law was created after a pilot study of drinking water taps at 16 schools detected lead levels of at least 1 ppb at all the schools tested.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont lost solar industry-related jobs last year, but still ranks third overall in solar jobs per capita. Meanwhile, the US solar industry employed nearly 250,000 workers in 2019, an increase of more than 5,600 jobs (or 2.3%) since 2018, according to the 10th annual National Solar Jobs Census released Thursday by The Solar Foundation. This marks a resurgence in solar industry employment following two years of job losses in 2017 and 2018. Jobs peaked in 2016 with 260,077.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Green Building Network’s (VGBN) eighth annual Vermont’s Greenest Building Awards Competition is now open for submissions. This statewide competition recognizes exemplary residential and commercial buildings that excel in green building strategies – including water, health, transportation, and affordability – and meet the highest standard of demonstrated energy performance.

Submissions are due on Friday, March 6, 2020 at 5 pm EST. Winners of the awards will be announced and showcased at VGBN’s annual Vermont Green Building Celebration on Thursday, April 2 from 6:00 to 8:30 pm at Main Street Landing in Burlington.

Vermont Business Magazine Celebrate the world of wizardry at the 2nd Annual Harry Potter Party at the Fletcher Free Library on Sunday, February 23, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. Watch a movie from the series, create Harry Potter themed crafts, and enjoy magical activities and snacks. There will be life-size cut-outs of the characters to take pictures with and costumes are strongly encouraged. The party is free and open to all ages, but suggested for ages 8 and up.

Vermont Business Magazine Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital (NVRH) and Northeast Kingdom Human Services (NKHS) partnered with Boston-based artist Lynda Cutrell to bring The 99 Faces Project – an exhibit of 99 portraits, sculptures and paintings that destigmatize mental health – to the Northeast Kingdom. A community-focused conversation on mental health – as well as a closing reception for the exhibit – will be held on Friday, March 6, 4 – 6 p.m. in NVRH’s Gray Gallery and NVRH conference rooms 126 and 127.

Vermont Business Magazine An initiative to expand community playgroups for young children and another to support the growth of local news coverage – both Hinesburg-based initiatives – received support recently from the Vermont Electric Cooperative’s Community Fund. The Hinesburg Community Resource Center’s Friends of Families coordinates local playgroups and received $750 to continue the delivery of these services.

Jordan Giaconia, Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility is a business association representing over 730 members in every industry and every county across the state; united in our shared mission to advance an ethic that protects the natural, human, and economic environments of Vermont. From global brands like Ben & Jerry’s and Burton to startups like Mamava and Bee’s Wrap, VBSR members are some of the most successful and iconic businesses in our state, who together shape the Vermont brand. It comes as no surprise that these companies are deeply worried about the looming threat of climate change but increasingly optimistic about the economic opportunities bold climate action presents. That’s why we are urging the Vermont legislature to pass the Global Warming Solutions Act (GWSA.)

Center for Research on Vermont Three-quarters of Vermonters support raising the minimum wage, according to a VPR & PBS poll. National Center for Health Statistics finds northeastern states have lowest teen birth rates in America. The local food movement has increased local food sales in recent years. Act 166, implemented in 2014, provides access to higher quality education for pre-k students.

Vermont Business Magazine Approximately half of Vermont homes rely on fuel oil for heat and hot water. Vermont’s fuel oil tank inspection regulations ensure that this fuel is delivered safely. VFDA, the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, the National Oilheat Research Alliance (NORA), oilheat providers and heating service companies are working collaboratively to make sure all tanks are inspected before the August 15, 2020 deadline. The 2020 Vermont Tank Rebate Program Launch will take place Thursday afternoon in Montpelier.