Current News

Vermont Business Magazine At a public ceremony Thursday in Dover, Governor Phil Scott signed H513, An act relating to broadband deployment throughout Vermont, which invests in expanding broadband connectivity throughout the state.

Vermont Business Magazine This week Governor Phil Scott signed three bills, which will support the state’s economic and workforce development efforts. They expand worker recruitment initiatives, grow the emerging distilled spirits industry and streamline infrastructure projects at state airports. Governor Scott signed S162, which supports economic development at airports, and H13, which supports the spirits and craft beverage sector, during a public ceremony at Caledonia Spirits’ new production facility and tasting room in Montpelier on Wednesday. A third bill, H533, aimed at expanding Vermont’s workforce and other economic development initiatives, was signed Thursday.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) issued the following statement as he voted in support of joint resolutions to block the transfer of $8 billion in weapons to Saudi Arabia and other states in response to President Trump’s announcement of a “national emergency” over Iran, which was intended to bypass statutory Congressional oversight over arms sales.

Vermont Business Magazine Jensyn Acquisition Corp (NASDAQ: JSYN), a Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC) and Peck Electric Company, a leading commercial solar engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) company, announced today that they completed their previously announced combination. The business combination was approved by Jensyn’s stockholders on June 19, 2019, with more than 87% of the voted shares voting in favor of the business combination. Holders of 492,037 shares of Jensyn common stock exercised their redemption rights in connection with the business combination.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced the appointment of Kristi Morris, of Springfield, to complete the term of Representative Robert Forguites, following his passing earlier this year. “I’m pleased to appoint Kristi to the House of Representatives and appreciate his enthusiasm for serving the people of Springfield,” said Governor Scott. “His engineering, management and business experience will bring an important perspective and expertise to his work and will be valuable to the Legislature.”

Vermont Business Magazine Twenty-four Vermont food producers will participate in the Summer Fancy Food Show hosted by the Specialty Food Association in New York City from June 23^rd through June 25^th. The event is North America's largest marketplace devoted to specialty food and beverage producers. Exhibiting offers specialty food producers the chance to connect and promote their products to national and international buyers across every major buying channel.

Vermont Business Magazine Electric net fencing, secure housing and a few other measures can help protect back yard chickens from wildlife predation; Vermont’s turtles on are on the move again this spring, and Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department is asking for the public’s help in keeping them safe; there are still openings for youth at the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Departments Green Mountain Conservation Camps.

Vermont Business Magazine The Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) Secretary Julie Moore invites the public to join her on June 25 from 4:00-5:00 pm to discuss a variety of environmental topics. The conversation will begin with a discussion on composting. The Secretary will provide more information about the universal recycling law which requires food and food scraps to be kept separate from trash by 2020, offer a recap of 2019 composting legislation, give tips for how to start composting and reducing food waste, and provide guidance for how to compost in a way that doesn’t attract wildlife.  

Vermont Business Magazine REI Co-op is launching a new venture to lift up environmental and outdoor journalism through the debut of its own print magazine this fall, and a new partnership to channel matching funds directly to local, nonprofit newsrooms covering crucial issues facing the outdoors. Among others across the nation, REI is supporting the general news online site vtdigger.org based in Montpelier. REI is also opening its first Vermont store this fall in Williston.

Vermont Business Magazine Green America’s People & Planet Award recognized two small businesses offering innovative plastic-alternative products to help reduce plastic pollution, a growing problem globally. “No Plastics” was the theme of this award cycle, and the winners of the award and $5000 were Bee’s Wrap of Middlebury, Vermont, and bioDOGradable Bags of Lake Forest, California.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Public Power Supply Authority (“VPPSA”) and Encore Renewable Energy were joined by Congressman Peter Welch today to celebrate the completion of their 866 kW Trombley Hill Solar project. The project came online earlier this month and is the first developed under a partnership formed last year. This project is expected to produce approximately 1,500,000 kWh per year, enough to power approximately 208 homes.

Vermont Business Magazine Six of the top 10 states in overall child well-being — including New Hampshire (1) and Massachusetts (2) — call the Northeast home, according to the Annie E Casey Foundation's 2019 KIDS COUNT Data Book. Vermont ranked 6th overall. States in Appalachia, the South and Southwest populate the bottom of this year's overall rankings. In fact, save for California and Alaska, these regions claim 18 of the lowest-ranked states, including Mississippi (48), Louisiana (49) and New Mexico (50).