Current News

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Win Smith, president and part owner of Sugarbush Resort in Warren, announced today in an open letter to the community, that his ownership group is selling the two-mountain resort to Alterra Mountain Group. Alterra, which is owned by investment company KSL Capital Partners and Aspen Snowmass resort in Colorado, also owns Stratton, which it acquired in 2017. Smith said between the rising cost of doing business and the increasing pressure of competition, his group decided the time was right to sell. He described the bittersweet sensation of walking your daughter down the aisle and trusting her with someone else. Financial terms of the proposed sale were not released.

Vermont Business Magazine The Good Food Foundation recently announced the 307 companies in the running for a 2020 Good Food Award, including 12 Vermont food companies. Celebrating its 10th year, the Good Food Foundation noted, “with a demonstrated commitment to environmental stewardship and growing their businesses in harmony with a better food system, these outstanding crafters represent the nation’s best in delicious, sustainable fare." The 12 Vermont businesses are: Champlain Orchards, Redfield – Estate Series and Honeycrisp; SILO Distillery, Semi-Dry Cider; Fat Toad Farm, Cinnamon Goat’s Milk Caramel and Original Goat’s Milk Caramel; Mount Mansfield Maple Products, Organic Coffee Infused Vermont Maple Cream and Organic White Chocolate Maple Bark Candy; Vermont Amber Candy Company, Pumpkin Seed Chipotle Toffee; Savouré Soda, Celery-Lovage-Cardamom Soda; Vermont Tortilla Company, Organic Stone Ground Corn Tortillas; Sugar Bob’s Finest Kind, Smoked Maple Sriracha; V Smiley Preserves, Raspberry Redcurrant Geranium Honey Jam; Small Batch Organics, Cherry Vanilla Bean Granola; SILO Distillery, Vodka; Stonecutter Spirits, Heritage Cask Whiskey.

Vermont Business Magazine The Peck Company Holdings, Inc (NASDAQ:PECK), a leading commercial solar engineering, procurement and construction company based in South Burlington, on Tuesday reported results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2019. Revenue for the quarter ended September 30, 2019 increased 194% to $11.7 million, compared to $3.9 million in the corresponding period in 2018. Higher revenue in the quarter was driven by increased projects. On a GAAP basis, operating income was $0.179 million or 1.5% of sales, compared to $0.543 million, or 13.9% in the prior year period. Adjusted EBITDA in the third quarter was $0.431 million, or 3.5% of sales, compared to the prior year period of $0.640 million, or 16% of sales.

Vermont Business Magazine The Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission (TRORC), which covers towns in parts of Windsor and Orange counties, has been awarded a $40,000 grant from the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, as part of the US Environmental Protection Agency pass-through funds for Water Quality Planning.  This year-long funding will allow TRORC and other Regional Planning Commissions to compile water quality data; and conduct outreach with citizens and municipalities on important surface waters and wetlands. It will also help support water quality monitoring activities.

Vermont Business Magazine REI Co-op is opening its first Vermont store in Williston on November 15. The location is the former Toys R Us space off Marshall Avenue. The new, 31,000 square foot store will offer quality outdoor gear for skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking, trail running and more. In addition, REI Williston will offer a specialty bike, ski and snowboard shop for maintenance and repairs, and snowshoe and cross-country ski rentals. Seattle-based REI has more than 32,000 lifetime members in Vermont.

REI Williston is celebrating the new store with free public activities, events and giveaways throughout the weekend:

Vermont Business Magazine This fall will be the most delicious season yet, because today, King Arthur Flour, the country's oldest flour company and #1 in gluten-free baking, is launching two new products: Paleo Baking Flour and Gluten-Free Single Serve Dessert Cups. King Arthur Flour's Paleo Baking Flour can be substituted 1-to-1 for all-purpose flour (except in yeasted recipes) and its precisely formulated blend of cassava, almond and coconut flour takes the guess work out of baking paleo and grain-free recipes. With four grams each of protein and fiber per serving, every baked good made with Paleo Baking Flour is packed with nutrition and made with no preservatives. 

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont PBS will air the US House of Representatives impeachment hearings against President Donald Trump with analysis from its NewHour team LIVE at 10 am on Wednesday and 9 am on Friday on the Vermont PBS Plus channel and streaming live at www.vermontpbs.org/schedule/. Vermont PBS has also chosen to rebroadcast them on the Vermont PBS main channel during prime time starting at 7 pm on Wednesday and 8 pm on Friday. 

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Auditor of Accounts Douglas R Hoffer released today a largely negative account of the state’s Remote Worker Grant Program. The program, which always had a limited scope with limited funding, received national publicity, whose branding value the auditor did not address. Hoffer notes that this is a report not a traditional audit.

Vermont Business Magazine Mayor Miro Weinberger today announced the appointment of Kara Alnasrawi as Executive Director of the Church Street Marketplace (CSM), making her the fourth director in the Marketplace’s nearly 40-year history. She will take over from the long-serving Ron Redmond. Alnasrawi brings extensive experience to the position as a downtown small business owner and actively engaged downtown stakeholder.

Vermont Business Magazine The Special Needs Support Center (SNSC) based in Lebanon, NH, has received a $10,000 grant from the Lane and Elizabeth C Dwinell Charitable Trust, Bank of America, NA, Trustee. The grant will help SNSC further their mission of co-creating a community where people with special needs, across the spectrum and throughout the lifespan, can live their best lives.

Vermont Business Magazine As the nation recognized service members on Veteran’s Day, the Vermont Department of Labor wishes to highlight the workforce training and education opportunities, and resources available to veterans transitioning from a military to civilian career. At each of Vermont’s 12 local Career Resource Centers, veterans, and qualifying spouses, are given priority status. Veterans Service Specialists, who are veterans themselves, are made available to provide further information and assistance for veterans looking to take advantage of the opportunities offered at the centers.

One such opportunity is apprenticeships, or on-the-job training programs, which serve as an effective way to prepare veterans for civilian employment. The Vermont Registered Apprenticeship Program links job seekers and employers to provide opportunities for Vermonters to start a new career and gain skills while also earning a living wage.

by Jeff Tieman, President and CEO, VAHHS Open Enrollment for Vermont’s health insurance market began on November 1 and runs through December 15. This means that now is the time for individuals and families to obtain or change health insurance plans. Next year, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) will turn 10 years old. The law has had its fits and starts, but overall has dramatically expanded coverage and access throughout the US. I was privilged to work on passing the ACA, which has become a key piece of our coverage and delivery systems. 

Thanks in part to the availability of qualified health plans (QHPs) on Vermont Health Connect—our state’s health insurance marketplace—Vermont’s uninsured rate is just 3.2 percent. While this is something our state should be proud of, it is not true elsewhere: the overall uninsured rate in the US continues to grow. At 13.7 percent, it is creeping up toward the 18 percent mark, where it stood before passage of the ACA.