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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.

Vermont Business Magazine Last week Vermont Secretary of State Jim Condos attended the annual Winter Conference held in Washington, D.C. by the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS). Preceding the conference, Secretary Condos and staff members joined with Secretaries, election officials, federal agency staff, and private sector vendors from across the country to participate in an elections security tabletop exercise held by the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).

“Protecting the security and integrity of our democratic process requires non-stop diligence and vigilance,” said Secretary Condos. “It takes a team effort between state election officials, our federal intelligence community partners, and the private sector vendors who support our infrastructure. Opportunities like the CISA tabletop exercise help us all ensure we stay one step ahead of the bad actors.”

Vermont Business Magazine Union Mutual was represented by over 60 employees, independent agency partners, vendors, friends, and family members in the Penguin Plunge to benefit Special Olympics Vermont on Saturday, February 1, 2020 at the Burlington Waterfront. With the widespread support of hundreds of donors, the “Union Mutual Popsicles” were able to set yet another new high-water mark for the event’s fundraising with a grand total of over $131,500. The previous team fundraising record was $44,932, set by Union Mutual in 2019.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Electric Cooperative (VEC) has three seats up for election on its twelve-member board of directors this year. Voting will begin in mid-April and conclude during VEC’s Annual Meeting of the Membership on Saturday, May 9 at Smugglers’ Notch Resort.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Mutual Insurance Group, based in Montpelier, and Guidewire Software, Inc (NYSE: GWRE) of California have announced that Vermont Mutual has successfully implemented Guidewire InsuranceNow to increase business agility by eliminating unnecessary complexity and enabling faster speed-to-market for new products and rate changes. The company implemented InsuranceNow, through its SUMMIT legacy transformation program, for its dwelling fire line of business in the states where it operates and is currently extending the implementation to the rest of its personal and commercial lines of business in those states.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermod, a zero-energy, modular and affordable home builder based in Wilder, Vermont won the Best of the Best Innovation Award at Efficiency Vermont’s Better Building by Design Conference Thursday. Vermod was bestowed the 2020 Best of the Best Innovation Award for a 700-square foot home in White River Junction. The two-bedroom home features an innovative two-box “T” configuration.

Vermont Business Magazine Representative Peter Welch today introduced bipartisan legislation that will more than double funding for the federal Recreational Trails Program (RTP). Since 1991, RTP has provided funding to states to develop and maintain outdoor recreational trails, allowing millions of Americans and their families to enjoy activities such as hiking, bicycling, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling and 4-wheel driving. In 2019, Vermont received $1,028,010 in RTP funds.