Current News

Vermont Business Magazine To her it’s a treasure hunt. Roaming the countryside and walking through the woods turning over rocks and pulling back tree limbs, all to find the perfect gem. Many times, she doesn’t know what she's after. She will know it when she sees it. Erin Ostreicher, a 33-year-old florist, is looking for wild plants, flowers and whatever else is blossoming to decorate an upcoming wedding. She has about six nurseries and a few flower shops she frequents, she grows her own as well, but foraging is her favorite method for arranging flowers.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Energy Action Network (EAN) released a major new report in May summarizing what Vermont can learn from the “Cap and Invest” approach that has been successfully used by Quebec, California, and nine northeastern states to reduce climate pollution while helping to grow local economies. A “Cap and Invest” system has been in use since 2009 in Vermont, along with eight other northeastern states participating in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), to reduce pollution from the electric sector and make investments in more efficient, clean, and affordable energy use. Unlike some other states and provinces, however, Vermont has not yet applied the “Cap and Invest” framework to fossil fuel pollution outside of the electric sector.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agricultural Hall of Fame is pleased to announce the 2019 inductees: Joanna Samuelson Lidback; Marie Audet; Bill Rowell; Jack and Anne Lazor. Now in its 17th year, the Hall has inducted 80 Vermonters to date. 

Vermont Business Magazine US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will present 19 citizenship candidates to the US District Court for the District of Vermont during a special naturalization ceremony at the Calvin Coolidge Homestead in Plymouth on Thursday. US District Judge J Garvan Murtha will administer the Oath of Allegiance. The 19 citizenship candidates originate from the following 13 countries: Bhutan, Brazil, Burma, China, Congo, Dominican Republic, Ghana, India, Iraq, Jamaica, Poland, Singapore and Sudan.

Vermont Business Magazine Goodwill Northern New England exceeded its $350,000 fundraising goal for its new Roosevelt Fund For Employee Stability. Revenue from the fund will offer relief and support for the nonprofit’s employees for years to come. The Roosevelt Fund will offer various resources to employees who need some help sorting out life’s challenges. This supplements in-person supports for employees. This type of funding is already available to participants in some of Goodwill’s Job Connection programs, but hadn’t been available to employees until now. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Fletcher Free Library will welcome patrons on the Fourth of July for the second year, serving as a cooling station during expected extreme heat. The library will open from noon until 4 p.m. on Thursday, July 4. The Fletcher Free will provide a cool space to gather, read, play games, and enjoy community.

Vermont Business Magazine In response to news of deplorable conditions faced by detainees at border facilities recently visited by members of Congress, as well as revelations that nearly 10,000 current and former Border Patrol agents were involved in a secret Facebook group in which racist and sexist posts were commonplace, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) issued a scathing statement Tuesday evening.

Vermont Business Magazine The boil water advisory in Burlington, affecting parts of the South End, is now lifted. Sample results (from samples taken yesterday after water pressure was restored and hydrants were flushed) were received this morning, July 3rd, and the results were normal, with no indication of contamination. Drinking water is also tested daily at the plant and regularly throughout the distribution system.

Vermont Business Magazine Weekly unemployment numbers fell last week after a steep spike, which is typical for the end of school, before settling back to low levels during the summer. Initial claims for the week of June 29, 2019, totaled 603, down 234 from last week. Claims were 7 fewer than they were at this time last year.

Vermont Business Magazine Warm weather is a welcome sign of summer, but it also creates ideal conditions for cyanobacteria to grow in Vermont waters. Cyanobacteria (sometimes referred to as blue-green algae) are tiny microorganisms. In large numbers they sometimes form blooms on the water’s surface and wash up along shorelines — and can produce toxins harmful to humans and animals.

Vermont Business Magazine In the first five months of 2019, rural travel continues to rise with over 1 million guest arrivals to those states, earning hosts more than $129 million, according to a new Airbnb report. In Vermont alone, the first half of 2019 has brought in about 175,000 guest arrivals, according to Airbnb, with local hosts earning a total of $25 million, the most of any rural state this year. Also according to Airbnb, 59 percent of hosts report that hosting has helped them to stay in their home.  

Vermont Business Magazine The Expanded Site Inspection (ESI) for PFAS (Per-and-Polyfluoralkyl Substances) continues within the vicinity of the Vermont Air National Guard via an Air National Guard contract starting in July. The final results of the expanded site inspection are expected in early 2020.