Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Researchers at the University of Vermont have teamed up with scientists around the U.S. to tackle agriculture’s grand challenge of feeding the world’s growing population while conserving natural resources and reducing its environmental footprint. Using precision agriculture tools, network analysis, artificial intelligence and machine learning, the project will analyze cover cropping strategies at over 100 farms throughout the East Coast and Midwest and survey farmers and advisors across 20 states with the goals of improving profits for farmers and building more sustainable food systems.

Vermont Business Magazine At his weekly press conference Friday, Governor Phil Scott joined the community of West Windsor to celebrate the success of the Brownsville Butcher & Pantry, which opened in November 2018. This collaborative redevelopment project began after the Brownsville General Store went out of business and the property was foreclosed in 2016.

Through individual, local and state support, the Friends of the Brownsville General Store purchased and redeveloped the vacant building, recreating an economic and community hub in the village.

“Creating vibrant, welcoming villages is critical to keeping young Vermonters here and drawing new families and businesses to Vermont,” said Governor Scott. “Together, this community has proven that solutions start from the ground up - at the local level - and has shown how that vision can and should be reinforced with help from the state.”

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced he’s appointed Jessica Zaleski as Caledonia County’s next state’s attorney. This appointment fills the vacancy created following Governor Scott’s selection of the former State’s Attorney Lisa Warren as a Superior Court judge. Zaleski has been serving as the county’s acting state’s attorney since October.

Jessica Zaleski

“Jessica is the right person for this job and is well positioned to build on the strong record left by her predecessor,” said Governor Scott. “We trust our prosecutors to ensure our communities are kept safe and criminals are brought to justice. Jessica demonstrates a commitment to this work and to doing what’s best for her community.”

Robertson Paper Mill. ACCD photo.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today attended a ribbon cutting ceremony at the former site of the Robertson Paper Mill. This ceremony marked the completion of an environmental clean-up effort between local, state, federal and private partners through the state Brownfield Economic Revitalization Alliance (BERA).

The $1.2 million remediation addressed lead, arsenic, asbestos, petroleum and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) at the site. The Bellows Falls Area Development Corporation (BFADC) acquired the property in 2013, identifying it as a site pivotal to redevelopment of the village.

Vermont Business Magazine Weekly unemployment fell a bit last week after spiking the week before. After a long period of very low numbers, claims have been higher over the last several weeks and now have entered the holiday period, which typically brings with it wild swings in claims, as retailers hire and then lay off seasonal workers.

Initial claims for the week of December 7, 2019, were 977, down 147 from last week and 344 more than they were at this time last year. Thanksgiving was much later this year, which could alter the timing of the usual holiday hiring/firing.

Altogether 4,928 new and continuing claims were filed, an increase of 828 from a week ago, and 895 more than a year ago.

Vermont Business Magazine HR 3 would allow Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices, set an annual out-of-pocket cap for seniors in Medicare Part D, and crack down on relentless drug price increases by pharmaceutical companies. In addition, the $500 billion that the Congressional Budget Office estimates taxpayers will save over the next ten years would be reinvested back into the Medicare program to create important new dental, hearing, and vision benefits. These benefits would improve older adults’ health and well-being and reduce future health care costs.

Vermont Business Magazine This week, Governor Phil Scott and senior state officials joined representatives from Walmart and Vermont Smoke & Cure to celebrate American jobs with a tour of the meat stick manufacturing facility. The company became a Walmart supplier after taking part in the retailer’s Open Call to U.S Manufacturers in 2017. As a result of their growing business with Walmart, Vermont Smoke & Cure has today increased its workforce by 20%.  Additional support from the Vermont Departments of Labor and Economic Development allowed Vermont Smoke & Cure to invest in top-notch job training resulting in job proficiency and promotion eligibility.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermontijuana is a media, events, and advocacy organization founded by Eli Harrington under the management of Vermont-based Greenbridge Consulting LLC. Familiar to many as a cofounder and spokesperson of Heady Vermont until his resignation six months ago, Harrington has returned to the cannabis media scenes to apply the last four years of experience to “#ElevateTheState” of the cannabis community in Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine New England Federal Credit Union (NEFCU) has made a number of donations to community organizations to round out its 2019 community giving initiatives. Donations went to nine organizations.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Gas Systems received a largely positive result from an exhaustive report filed Wednesday by a third-party investigator on behalf of the Vermont Public Utilities Commission. The PUC ordered the investigation of the Addison Natural Gas Project based on several charges that VGS violated the terms of its Certificate of Public Good. The interested parties that called for the investigation in February 2018 included opponents of the pipeline, environmentalists, landowners and abutters, and ratepayer groups like AARP. The principal focus was on the safety of the natural gas pipeline, which runs 43 miles from Colchester down to Middlebury.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Glove, a 100-year-old company that hand cuts and stitches gloves in Vermont, launched its retail program, partnering with Vermont retailers Gardener's Supply, Lenny’s Shoe and Apparel, and others. In addition, the storied company will be sold in with national retailers, Huckberry and Airstream Supply Company.

Vermont Business Magazine Most people who experience severe trauma recover their health. But 23 percent develop PTSD, a difficult-to-treat illness that combines intrusive thoughts about the trauma, avoidance of reminders of it, low mood and an exaggerated startle reaction. Which trauma victims will develop the disorder and which will be spared is not well understood.