Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) Secretary Julie Moore invites the public to join her on December 10 from 4-5 pm to discuss a variety of environmental topics. The conversation will start with a discussion on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The Secretary will provide more information about the ongoing PFAS investigation in Vermont, remediation efforts, and the implementation of Act 21.   

Vermont Business Magazine Middlebury-based Stonecutter Spirits announced Tuesday that they will close Highball Social, their bar & restaurant in Burlington, and their tasting room in Middlebury at the end of 2019. The company will continue sales to liquor stores, bars, and restaurants throughout Vermont. However, it no longer is producing its award-winning spirits.

Vermont Business Magazine The United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that Randall Swartz, 59, of Orleans, was sentenced yesterday in United States District Court in Rutland to 48 months of imprisonment following his guilty plea to a charge of mail fraud. Chief Judge Geoffrey Crawford also ordered that Swartz serve three years of supervised release following completion of his prison term and pay restitution in the amount of $452,558.

Vermont Business Magazine Weekly unemployment spiked last week. After a long period of very low numbers, claims have been higher over the last month and now have entered the holiday period, which typically brings with it wild swings in claims, as retailers hire and then fire seasonal workers. Initial claims for the week of November 30, 2019, were 1,124, up 503 from last week and 262 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 4,100 new and continuing claims were filed, an increase of 387 from a week ago, but 683 fewer than a year ago.

Vermont Business Magazine The Northeast Kingdom Fund at the Vermont Community Foundation made $110,243 in grants to 29 organizations in Orleans, Essex, and Caledonia counties this year. The NEK Fund was established in 2011 by the Vermont Community Foundation and local partners as a permanent philanthropic resource for people and communities in the region. In a new initiative for 2019, the NEK Fund grantmaking committee invited a small group of continuously supported NEK partners to apply for multi-year funding to provide for programmatic and operational grant requests. The committee awarded three multi-year grants, which make up a portion of the Fund’s total grantmaking for the year.

Vermont Business Magazine The Made in Vermont Marketplace is pleased to announce a new location for the annual two-day expo highlighting Vermont Made products. The 7^th annual show will take place at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Burlington. The 2020 Made in Vermont Marketplace will take place on April 4^th & 5^th, 2020

Vermont Business Magazine The next three F-35 Lightning II aircraft landed at the Vermont Air National Guard just after 3 pm today. These aircraft are part of the 20 total aircraft assigned to the Vermont Air National Guard, with the full complement arriving by summer 2020. The aircraft departed Thursday morning from Fort Worth, Texas, and were flown by Vermont Air National Guard pilots assigned to the 134th Fighter Squadron.

by Chad Farrell, Encore Renewable Energy In Vermont and across the country, many businesses, institutions and communities are recognizing the benefits that the sun can have on their bottom lines. In fact, our company Encore Renewable Energy, which specializes in the origination, development, financing and construction of community scale solar energy generation projects, has worked with dozens of businesses, schools, hospitals, utilities and municipalities across our state to give them an energy solution that is affordable, reliable, and good for the environment.

Vermont Business Magazine When it comes to profitability, energy efficiency counts. Inefficient lighting, ventilation, and equipment not only hike up energy bills; they also sap employee production and hurt customer experience.

Vermont Business Magazine The largest Button Up Vermont weatherization campaign ever is winding down this week, but Vermonters will benefit from the impacts of the campaign for years to come. The collaboration brought together towns, energy organizations, and energy service providers to provide resources to help Vermonters save money and energy on home heating through weatherization.

Vermont Attorney General TJ Donovan I found the article published yesterday in Seven Days, “Guarded Secrets: Claims of Sexual Misconduct, Drug Use Plague a Vermont Prison for Women,” deeply disturbing. The behavior described is reprehensible, and Vermont’s inmates deserve better. I support the Governor’s directive to his Agency of Human Services Secretary Mike Smith for an investigation of the Department of Corrections. I will offer my assistance in my role as Attorney General to Secretary Smith. While the Department of Corrections is under the Governor’s authority, we should all be concerned for the safety and dignity of those who are in the custody of the Department of Corrections.

Vermont Business Magazine Late Wednesday afternoon, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved legislation to crack down on unwanted and predatory robocalls. The House vote was 417-3. The Senate is expected to approve the bill in the near future and send it to the desk of President Trump for his expected signature. “Vermonters are fed up with intrusive robocalls that are annoying at best and predatory at worst,” said Welch. “These calls often originate from scam artists intent on ripping off unsuspecting consumers, particularly seniors. This bill gives the FCC the tools it needs to be the cop on the beat to go after these bad actors.”