Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott and Vermont and Quebec leadership were at the Canadian border today for the official opening of the East Richford-Sutton International Bridge after completion of a joint Vermont-Quebec project to rehabilitate the historic truss bridge.

Vermont Business Magazine Four months after a major landslide significantly impacted access to a popular recreation area in Mount Mansfield State Forest, Cotton Brook Road in Waterbury has reopened. While initial assessments of the landslide area have determined that the road can be opened for public recreation, officials with the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation (FPR) caution that continued observation and a new management strategy will be necessary to ensure public safety.

Vermont Business Magazine Killington Resort began blowing snow Friday night on Rime and the headwall of Superstar with plans to continue as temperatures allow. It’s official; The Beast is awake! The HomeLight Killington Cup returns to Vermont November 29-December 1, featuring the best female alpine skiers in the world racing on Killington’s world-class snow, including Olympic champion Mikaela Shiffrin.

Vermont Business Magazine Weekly unemployment numbers edged up last week, but remained under 300 claims. Summer typically brings very low claim levels and these have slipped into fall. Initial claims for the week of September 28, 2019 totaled 249, up 13 from last week and 15 fewer than they were at this time last year.

Altogether 2,069 new and continuing claims were filed, an increase of 34 from a week ago, and 302 fewer than a year ago.

Nationwide, according to the US Labor Department for the week ending September 28, initial claims for state unemployment benefits rose modestly 4,000 to 219,000. This is higher than economists' expectations. The 4-week moving average held at 212,500. After a long decline from the Great Recession in 2009, claims have now generally leveled off over the past year.

Vermont Business Magazine A bit of rain, wind, and clouds did not hinder the staff of FoodScience Corporation from swarming the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps (VYCC)’s 400-acre campus in Richmond last week for a fall day full of inspiration, synergy and hard work.

Food Science Corporation — a Williston-based developer and manufacturer of nutritional supplements for animals and humans — was closed on Wednesday, Oct. 2, so that all 170 employees could help tackle an extensive wish list of projects that the VYCC wanted to complete before this winter and the 2020 spring growing season. Much of the work focused on ways to help the VYCC’s Food & Farm Program.

Vermont Business Magazine The drawbridge in North Hero is set to be demolished beginning this week. Testing in July by the Agency of Transportation yielded positive results for some lead as well as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which delayed the demolition process.

Week of events to showcase outstanding Burlington companies and innovations

Vermont Business Magazine The fourth annual Innovation Week, October 15-19, 2019, is a series of events that aim to strengthen our local entrepreneurial, technological, and creative ecosystem through community engagement. Organized by BTV Ignite and community partnerships, this year’s Innovation Week is organized around SevenDays TechJam and will highlight and celebrate a range of innovative technologies, practices, and people across a range of sectors. This unique experience connects the greater Vermont community with innovators in tech, entrepreneurship, healthcare, manufacturing, art, and more, with nearly every event free and open to the public.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Works for Women announces its 21st annual Women Can Do conference, taking place at Vermont Technical Center in Randolph on October 17, 2019.  Up to 500 high school girls from across the state will participate in dozens of hands-on activities designed to expose them to highly attainable careers considered non-traditional for women. These include jobs in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), and the skilled trades. Press is invited to make arrangements to visit Women Can Do at any point during the conference (8:30am – 2:30pm).

Vermont Business Magazine F-35s finally arrive in Vermont; Mary Powell to leave GMP, Mari McClure to become CEO Jan 1; GMCB holds hospital budgets under targets, total increase 4.3%; GMP rates increase 2.7 percent; Burlington International Airport awarded $15.9M for taxiway; General Fund taxes missed goals in August; Unemployment rate holds at 2.1 percent, labor force falls; Marlboro College and Bridgeport end merger discussions; and more...

Small Business Administration In February 2017, the two owners and co-founders of one of the most popular breweries in Vermont sold their business. It was significant news throughout Vermont because the brewery was not sold to an out-of-state entrepreneur or “Big Beer,” but to the employees. Bill Cherry and Jeff Neiblum sold 100 percent of Switchback Brewing Company to the Switchback employees through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Bennington Regional Chamber of Commerce will donate $1,000 in the name of Lindy Lynch to the local Cancer Center Community Crusaders. Lindy Lynch passed away in early August after a long battle with cancer. Before her passing, Lynch was chair of the Garlicfest, as the festival is otherwise known as, for the past 12 years.  Lindy is credited, along with her team of Garlicfest Captains, for growing the Garlicfest over 260% in those years. It is the main fundraiser and event for the Chamber.  Lindy also served on the board of directors for the Chamber and was a Past President of the board.

by Kathy Demars, RN, Executive Director, Lamoille Home Health and Hospice As September, National Suicide Prevention Month, has drawn to a close, I hope that we all carry the messages we’ve heard last month with us throughout the year. Suicide rates in the U.S. have grown by 20 percent in the last decade. They are at the highest level since 1942. Here in Vermont, the picture is even bleaker. Suicide rates in our state have increased by 73.1 percent since 1999.