Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Today at the Vermont State House, 30 Vermont organizations presented a policy plan for climate action in 2020. The four legislative priorities include: Enacting a Global Warming Solutions Act that enables and requires state government to achieve climate emissions reductions, by holding the state accountable to developing and implementing a plan that will meet our commitment to the Paris Climate Accord by 2025 and achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050; Making a commitment to 100% renewable energy by 2030 to move our state infrastructure away from imported fossil fuels and strengthen our local economy; Modernizing Vermont’s energy efficiency utilities, enabling them to focus on reducing climate pollution through innovative new technologies while reducing the cost burden by helping low- and moderate-income Vermonters access cleaner, healthier, and more affordable heating and transportation solutions; and, Participating in a just, equitable implementation of the Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI), a regional effort to reduce climate pollution by placing a cap on emissions from fossil fuel companies and using revenue raised to help participating states invest in cleaner transportation options.

Vermont Business Magazine The employee-owners of PC Construction announced today that the company raised $52,682 for United Way of Northwest Vermont’s annual campaign. This year marked PC Construction’s 54th annual United Way campaign. In the 1966 inaugural year, the company donated a total of $213 to the organization. This year, the enthusiasm and energy of PC’s employee-owners surpassed prior giving and each of those contributions was doubled by a 100% corporate match.

Vermont Business Magazine Flex-A-Seal, an international manufacturer of mechanical seals headquartered in Vermont, has consolidated and moved its two Essex Junction facilities to one location in Williston, VT. The 66,000-square-foot building at 291 Hurricane Lane is now the central location for 140 Vermont employees and houses all aspects of operation.

Vermont Business Magazine Norwich University’s Design+Build Collaborative (DBC) along with partners TD Bank, Downstreet Housing & Community Development (Downstreet), Washington County Mental Health Services (WCMHS) and Vermont Housing and Conservation Board announced today the completion and siting of LIFT, an affordable, energy-efficient tiny house designed and built by Norwich University students and faculty.

Vermont Business Magazine As the snow begins to fly, Darn Tough Vermont, the fastest growing American manufacturer of premium performance outdoor and lifestyle socks, proudly debuts its new Fall 2020 collection. With new socks in the Snow category, Darn Tough is also expanding its compression offerings as well as introducing the brand’s softest yarn yet. And no matter the season, Darn Tough’s award-winning socks are always backed by a lifetime guarantee and deliver the best comfort, durability and fit available.

by Win Smith, President, Sugarbush Dear Sugarbush Community Member: Today, Sugarbush officially became a member of the Alterra Mountain Company family. My family and I have thoroughly enjoyed our eighteen years of ownership, and we are grateful for your support and loyalty and all that you have done to make us successful. I am also very thankful for the support we have received from Adam Greshin and the other investors in Summit Ventures. And I remain grateful to Bob Ackland and Tom McHugh, who were responsible for bringing the Sugarbush opportunity to Joe Riemer and me, which led to our purchase of the resort from American Skiing Company in 2001, and who were an important part of our management in the early years.

Vermont Business Magazine Alterra Mountain Company announced today that it has closed on the purchase of Sugarbush Resort in Warren, Vermont, bringing the company’s total year-round mountain destinations to 15 throughout North America, including the world’s largest heli-skiing operation. Alterra (as Aspen/Snowmass) acquired Stratton, Vermont, and Tremblant in Quebec in 2017.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Welcome Wagon has landed in the Northeast Kingdom with its second chapter in the State open and ready for participants. The VT Welcome Wagon Project (VTWWP) is a program where new arrivals or returnees are connected with current residents, or ‘hosts' through an informal meet and greet. It provides new folks with the opportunity to learn more about the region and ask honest questions with honest answers about the ins and outs of the community---where’s the nearest laundromat? Where do you go out to eat? What’s there to do on a rainy day? What’s the childcare situation like? The goal is to accelerate the time it takes to “figure out” VT and get connected to our community in meaningful ways.

Vermont Business Magazine Results from a follow-up measurement study of height and weight of young schoolchildren in Franklin and Grand Isle Counties show that rates of overweight and obesity have remained the same as of October 2019 compared to fall 2017. Monitoring rates of childhood overweight and obesity is one way to measure progress of community health improvement efforts like RiseVT, the lead primary prevention program of OneCare Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine Sen. Patrick Leahy, Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Peter Welch wrote a letter to Social Security Commissioner Andrew Saul calling on the Social Security Administration (SSA) to hire more staff for Vermont Field offices.

Vermont Business Magazine Northern Vermont University (NVU) has announced the launch of their new online Master of Arts in Education with a Concentration in Digital Media Instruction program. Featuring Discovery Education’s high-quality professional development content, NVU’s innovative program is designed for classroom teachers, educational technology specialists, and other instructional professionals seeking an affordable, flexible way to enhance their professional credentials and improve their classroom practice. Discovery Education is the leader in standards-aligned digital curriculum resources, engaging content, and professional learning for K-12 classrooms.

Vermont Business Magazine The Ben & Jerry’s Foundation has awarded Lamoille Housing Partnership (LHP) a Vermont Economic Justice Grant. The grant will support the affordable housing nonprofit’s continued efforts to reduce housing barriers in Lamoille County and the Town of Hardwick.