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Vermont Business Magazine Everyone needs to eat. Simple, right? Food, a basic necessity, seems so straightforward, but for many Vermonters, getting affordable and nutritious food can be difficult. From children to older Vermonters, the difficulties in getting enough food that is affordable and nutritious are many. The Vermont Farm to Plate Network recently launched a Local Planning for Food Access Toolkit, a free resource focused on improving food access through municipal and regional plans.

Vermont Business Magazine Norwich University officials announced today that the five-year $100 million bicentennial campaign, “Forging the Future,” concluded at the end of 2019 and far exceeded the goal, raising $121,239,000. The campaign was launched at Homecoming in 2014 and its end was timed to coincide with the university’s bicentennial, which was celebrated all throughout 2019 with special events on campus, in Vermont and across the country with alumni clubs. The campaign’s original goal of $100 million was exceeded a year early, so in January 2019 trustees raised the goal to $110 million.

Vermont Business Magazine Kalow Technologies has added the following services and upgrades and is expanding to Rutland. Kalow continues to grow and integrate its’ over 30+ year custom contract manufacturing, engineering and sheet metal fabrication services, currently in North Clarendon. They are adding high quality powder coating – and – a brand new, state of the art sand blast process to their offerings. They are currently upgrading and renovating 86,000 square feet at 155 Seward Road in Rutland, VT, for a well-executed move anticipated to take place over the next few months.

Leonine Public Affairs Advocates and legislators on the left worked to keep the 51 votes needed to sustain the veto. These groups felt the bill was fundamentally flawed because it did not guarantee paid leave for one’s own illness or injury, and created a privately administered program. Also pushing to sustain the veto were House Republicans and Governor Phil Scott’s staff. They opposed the bill because it raised $29 million in new payroll taxes. This was one of those issues that makes for strange bedfellows.

Vermont Business Magazine On February 5, New Breed became a member of the newly-announced Elite tier of HubSpot's Solutions Partner Program. New Breed is one of only six partners to achieve this program level. The new invite-only Elite tier is for partners who are true extensions of the HubSpot team. To reach this level, Partners must have proven their mastery of maximizing the value customers gain from the HubSpot platform.

Vermont Business Magazine Ben & Jerry's fans have one thing in common: they each have their favorite flavor, and they are passionate about it. They are convinced their favorite is The. Best. Ever. Needless to say, when a flavor is retired and sent to the Flavor Graveyard, hearts are broken. Ben & Jerry's fans have been known to stock up on Limited Batch flavors, sensing they would soon be gone.

Vermont Business Magazine Weekly unemployment claims fell slightly last week as claims follow a pattern of being lower than they were last year. By industry, Construction reported the most claims last week at 44 percent of all claims, and were slightly above in actual number than the previous week. In an average week, Services usually record the most claims.

For the week of February 4, 2017, there were 562 claims, down 13 from the previous week's total and 103 fewer than than they were a year ago. Year-to-year claims have been lower the last several weeks.

Altogether 6,816 new and continuing claims were filed, an increase of 68 from a week ago, and 613 fewer than a year ago.

Vermont Business Magazine Strolling of the Heifers celebrated the achievements of its Founder, Orly Munzing on January 31 at an event honoring her on her retirement. Munzing has served as The Stroll’s Executive Director since 2001. Taking the helm as Executive Director is Lissa Harris, who brings years of nonprofit and marketing experience, as well as a healthy dose of grit.

Executive Director Lissa Harris

“I’m thrilled to carry on Orly’s legacy along with our dedicated staff,” said Harris, “Strolling is a unique gem in the heart of our community and I’m excited to work with our local organizations and businesses to further our mission.”

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Real Estate Company is proud to announce $33 million in sales over 130 transactions in 2019. Since its founding in 2016 by principal brokers Bryce Gilmer and Kara Koptiuch, Burlington-based Vermont Real Estate Company has done over $60 million in home sales. Owners Bryce Gilmer and Kara Koptiuch intentionally spent the first year in business as partners to ensure proper establishment of the company and intentional, sustainable growth. The firm grew from two to 12 agents, doubling the agent roster last year.

Vermont Business Magazine BTV Ignite, a public/private partnership in Burlington, announced the first two recipients of the City of Burlington and Burlington Telecom STEM and Technical Skill Fund grants. Following a rigorous application review process, the BTV Ignite board selected Generator, a design and fabrication consortium for entrepreneurs, and Mercy Connections, an educational organization that creates opportunities for women, to receive $30,000 and $20,000 respectively.

by Vermont Secretary of State Jim Condos Following the results-reporting debacle during the Iowa Democratic Caucus, my office has been asked numerous times about Vermont’s Presidential primary process, and if the problems that occurred in Iowa could happen here. The simple and straightforward answer is “no.” I want to take a moment to clear up how Vermont’s Presidential Primary process is different from the Iowa Caucuses.